A black and white photograph of Rudolph Valentino with his dog; Valentino wears a dark suit and bow tie and is shown from the waist up, looking at the camera. The photograph has his autograph in white.
Publicity photograph of Rudolph Valentino and his dog

Rudolph Valentino (1895–1926) was an Italian-born actor in the era of silent films.[1] He emigrated to the United States in 1913 and took a string of temporary menial jobs before becoming a film extra in 1914.[2] He appeared in several films until 1921—many of which are now lost.[3] That year he got his major break when he appeared in the role of Julio in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.[1] According to Valentino's biographer, Noel Botham, the film was "hailed ... [as] a masterpiece and Valentino as a star";[4] the film grossed $4.5 million at the North American box office.[5]

Valentino played leading roles in fourteen films as a romantic figure.[6] When he appeared in The Sheik in 1921, women fainted in the aisles of theaters;[7] the film grossed $1.5 million.[5] His second wife, Natacha Rambova, took increasing control of his career and image, although this meant his screen image turned "increasingly effeminate".[7] The films in which he played a romantic role within the action genre were the more successful at the box office; these included his final two works The Eagle (1925) and The Son of the Sheik (1926).[8] In 1995 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse was inducted into the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant";[9] a second Valentino film was inducted in 2003 when The Son of the Sheik was selected.[10]

Valentino died suddenly of peritonitis on August 23, 1926, at the age of 31.[11] His death at the height of his fame, and extensive media coverage, turned his funeral into a national event, at which large crowds attended.[1][12] According to his biographer, Carl Rollyson, Valentino had a "... trim body, athletic grace, and dark good looks [which] made him an action hero and a romantic legend—the epitome of the silent screen's Latin lover".[1]

Filmography

Film poster showing a stylised image of Rudolph Valentino in profile, dressed in traditional Arab robes, looking to the right. The film's name and other details are shown at the bottom.
Poster for the 1921 film, The Sheik
Film poster showing a stylised image of Rudolph Valentino with a woman in her arms, They appear to be about to kiss, or have just kissed. The film's name and other details are shown at the bottom.
Poster for the 1922 film, Blood and Sand
Film poster showing a stylised image of Rudolph Valentino, dressed in traditional Arab robes. He stands above a seated blonde woman; she looks up at him, while he is staring at her. The film's name and other details are shown at the bottom.
Poster for the 1926 film, The Son of the Sheik
Year Title Role Credited as Notes Ref.
1914 My Official Wife Extra Uncredited Lost film [13]
1914 The Battle of the Sexes Dance extra Uncredited Lost film, only a fragment survives [14]
1916 The Quest of Life Extra Uncredited Lost film [15]
1916 The Foolish Virgin Extra Uncredited Lost film [16]
1916 Seventeen Extra Uncredited Lost film [13]
1917 Alimony Dancer Uncredited Lost film [16]
1917 Patria Extra Rudolph Valentino [17]
1918 A Society Sensation Dick Bradley Rodolpho De Valentina Lost film (original version) Survives (1924 re-release) [18]
1918 All Night Richard Thayer Rodolfo di Valentina Survives [19]
1918 The Married Virgin Count Roberto di San Fraccini Rodolfo di Valentini [20]
1919 The Delicious Little Devil Jimmy Calhoun Rudolpho De Valintine Survives [21]
1919 The Big Little Person Arthur Endicott Rodolpho De Valentina Lost film [22]
1919 A Rogue's Romance Apache dancer Rudolph Volantino Lost film [23]
1919 The Homebreaker Dance extra Uncredited [24]
1919 Virtuous Sinners Bit part Rodolfo di Valentini [25]
1919 Out of Luck/Nobody Home Maurice Rennard Rodolph Valentine Lost film [26]
1919 Eyes of Youth Clarence Morgan Rudolfo Valentino Survives [27]
1920 Stolen Moments Jose Dalmarez Rudolph Valentine [28]
1920 An Adventuress Jacques Rudanyi Rodolph Valentino Survives [29]
1920 The Cheater Extra Rudolph Valentino Lost film [30]
1920 Passion's Playground Prince Angelo Della Robbia Rudolph Valentine Lost film [31]
1920 Once to Every Woman Juliantimo Rudolph Valentino Lost film [32]
1920 The Wonderful Chance Joe Klingsby Rudolph de Valentino Survives [33]
1921 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Julio Desnoyers Rudolph Valentino Survives [34]
1921 Uncharted Seas Frank Underwood Rudolph Valentino Lost film [35]
1921 The Sheik Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan Rudolph Valentino Survives [36]
1921 The Conquering Power Charles Grandet Rudolph Valentino Survives [37]
1921 Camille Armand Duval Rudolph Valentino Survives [38]
1922 Moran of the Lady Letty Ramon Laredo Rodolph Valentino Survives [39]
1922 Beyond the Rocks Lord Bracondale Rodolph Valentino Survives [40]
1922 Blood and Sand Juan Gallardo Rudolph Valentino Survives [41]
1922 The Young Rajah Amos Judd Rudolph Valentino Incomplete [42]
1924 Monsieur Beaucaire Duke de Chartres/Beaucaire Rudolph Valentino Survives [43]
1924 A Sainted Devil Don Alonzo Castro Rudolph Valentino Lost film [44]
1925 Cobra Count Rodrigo Torriani Rudolph Valentino Survives [45]
1925 The Eagle Lt. Vladimir Dubrovsky Rudolph Valentino Survives [46]
1926 The Son of the Sheik Ahmed/The Sheik Rudolph Valentino Survives [47]

References and sources

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Rollyson 2000.
  2. ↑ Botham 2002, pp. 15, 23, 30.
  3. ↑ Ellenberger 2005, p. 3.
  4. ↑ Botham 2002, p. 135.
  5. 1 2 IMPA 1938, p. 492.
  6. ↑ Leider 2004, p. 4.
  7. 1 2 LaGumina et al. 2003, p. 659.
  8. ↑ Browne & Browne 2001, p. 867.
  9. ↑ "Librarian Names 25 More Films to National Film Registry". Library of Congress. December 18, 1995. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Librarian of Congress Adds 25 Films to National Film Registry". Library of Congress. December 16, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ Leider 2004, p. 389.
  12. ↑ Leider 2004, p. 392.
  13. 1 2 Ellenberger 2005, p. 236.
  14. ↑ Ellenberger 2005, p. 235.
  15. ↑ Leider 2004, p. 425.
  16. 1 2 Leider 2004, p. 426.
  17. ↑ Ellenberger 2005, p. 237.
  18. ↑ "A Society Sensation". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  19. ↑ "All Night". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  20. ↑ "The Married Virgin". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  21. ↑ "The Delicious Little Devil". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  22. ↑ "The Big Little Person". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  23. ↑ "A Rogue's Romance". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  24. ↑ Botham 2002, p. 348.
  25. ↑ Botham 2002, p. 347.
  26. ↑ "Nobody Home". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Eyes of Youth". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Stolen Moments". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  29. ↑ "An Adventuress". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  30. ↑ Rambova 2009, p. 254.
  31. ↑ "Passion's Playground". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Once to Every Woman". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  33. ↑ "The Wonderful Chance". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  34. ↑ "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Uncharted Seas". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  36. ↑ "The Sheik". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  37. ↑ "The Conquering Power". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Camille". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Moran of the Lady Letty". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Beyond the Rocks". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Blood and Sand". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  42. ↑ "The Young Rajah". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Monsieur Beaucaire". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  44. ↑ "A Sainted Devil". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  45. ↑ "Cobra". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  46. ↑ "The Eagle". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  47. ↑ "The Son of the Sheik". AFI Catalog. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.

Sources

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