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Valentino (1951 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Valentino' is a 1951 American biographical film directed by Lewis Allen and starring Eleanor Parker.
Plot
It is a romantic biopic of the actor Rodolfo Valentino, or "Rudolph Valentino" as he is better known, who arrives in the United States of America from Italy and soon becomes a movie star.
He falls in love with an actress and dies at an early age.
Cast
* Eleanor Parker as Joan Carlise, also known as Sarah Gray
* Richard Carlson as Bill King
* Patricia Medina as Lila Reyes
* Joseph Calleia as Luigi Verducci
* Dona Drake as Maria Torres
* Lloyd Gough as Eddie Morgan
* Otto Kruger as Mark Towers
* Anthony Dexter as Rudolph Valentino
* Charles Coleman as Albert (uncredited)
* Eric Wilton as Butler (uncredited)
Production
Edward Small had announced the project in 1938, with Jack Dunn first mooted to play the title role as a follow up to his debut in 'The Duke of West Point'.HIGHLIGHTING THE WEEK'S NEWS
'New York Times' 19 June 1938: 3. However the film had been delayed by script troubles, legal threats, the war, troubles making a movie with the lead character was Italian, and looking for the right actor to play the lead."HOLLYWOOD DOSSIER: Long Hunt for Actor to Play Valentino Finally Ends -- Other Studio Items" by THOMAS F. BRADY HOLLYWOOD.. 'New York Times' 14 Aug 1949: X3.
Scripting
Florence Ryan wrote a script in 1939, but this was often rewritten."SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Cooper Gets Lead in 'Triumph Over Pain,' Paramount Film of Dr. Morton's Life EIGHT OPENINGS THIS WEEK French Picture, 'That They May Live,' Has Premiere Tonight at Filmarte Fred Stone in "The Westerner" Coast Scripts" by DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. 'New York Times' 06 Nov 1939: 20. Others who worked on it (there were an estimated over 30 drafts) include Edward Chodorov, Stephen Longstreet, Sheridan Gibney, Frederick J. Jackson, Virginia Van Upp and George Oppenheimer.SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Warners Pick 'Skipper of the Ispahan' as a Vehicle for George Brent TWO NEW PICTURES TODAY 'Lucky Night' and 'East Side of Heaven,' With Bing Crosby, to Have Local Premieres Various Castings By DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. 'New York Times' 04 May 1939: 33."Drama: Ed Gardner to Star Rediscovered Player" 'Los Angeles Times' 1 June 1950: A8Eventual director Lewis Allen described the film as "an imaginary, romantic story with acting as a background.""VALENTINO STORY REACHES THE EDITING ROOM: POSTING SCENES FROM A TRIO OF THE WEEK'S INCOMING PICTURES" by THOMAS F. BRADY. 'New York Times' 13 Aug 1950: X83. Edward Small could not get clearance from either of Valentino's wives, Jean Acker or Natacha Rambova so the script did not feature either; instead he has three fictitious lovers in the film, one of whom is his married co-star.
Casting
Del Casino and Louis Hayward were mentioned as early possibilities.Louella O. Parsons' "Close-Ups and Long-Shots Of the Motion Picture Scene" 'The Washington Post' 28 Mar 1939: 18.In Hollywood With Hedda Hopper'The Washington Post' 11 Nov 1939: 16. In 1946 it was announced Small tried to secure Cornel Wilde for the lead but was unable to."Paramount's English Plans Get Green Light" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 15 May 1946: 9. Frederik Vayder auditioned and Louis Jourdan, Helmut Dantine and John Derek were also considered."DRAMA AND FILM: Wilde, 20th Reconcile; Cathy Downs Starred" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 08 Oct 1947: A9."Looking at Hollywood" Hopper, Hedda. 'Chicago Daily Tribune' 28 Mar 1949: A7."Looking at Hollywood" Hopper, Hedda. 'Chicago Daily Tribune' 13 Dec 1946: 36
The final script was heavily fictionalised to avoid lawsuits from Valentino's former wives, industry associates and his family namely his brother Alberto."VELENTINO MOVIE BEFORE CAMERAS: Edward Small Starts Picture About Silent-Era Star After 12 Years of Preparation" by THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. 'New York Times' 02 June 1950: 34.
Anthony Dexter was selected over 2,000 actors who auditioned. He was under contract to Small for two years taking acting and dancing lessons before being used in the film."NEWCOMER TO PLAY VALENTINO IN FILM: Tony Dexter, 29, 'Dead Ringer' for Silent Star, Is Named by Edward Small for Role" by THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. 'New York Times' 11 Aug 1949: 27. Lewis Allen was hired from Paramount and was paid $60,000.
In 1949, another producer Jan Grippo announced plans to make a rival project but eventually came to an agreement with Small; Grippo became an associate on the film."HOLLYWOOD WIRE: Theatre Owners Advised How to Combat Television Inroads -- Other Matters" by THOMAS F. BRADY HOLLYWOOD.. 'New York Times' 18 Sep 1949: X5. (In the 1940s there was another proposed project starring Victor Mature and Pola Negri."DRAMA: Pola Negri May Play in Story of Valentino" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 16 Apr 1942: A10.)
Shooting
Filming started on 2 June 1950 and took place at the Columbia Ranch and the Sam Goldwyn Studios. George Melford, who directed Valentino in the 1920s, had a supporting role."Drama: Joe E. Brown Expected for Big Legion Revue; Animals Haunt Director" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 26 June 1950: A7.The film includes recreated sequences from such Valentino films as 'The Sheik' (1921), 'Blood and Sand' (1922), 'A Sainted Devil' (1924) and 'The Eagle' (1926).
Reception
Reviews were mostly poor."A Rudy by Any Other Name . . ." by Richard L. Coe. 'The Washington Post' 10 Apr 1951: 20."'Valentino' Fleetingly Limns Idol" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 14 Apr 1951: 8.
The film was one of Edward Small's few box office failures. However it did well in South America where Anthony Dexter subsequently went on a dancing tour."Actors Leaving Films Attempt To Lose Professional Names" 'The Washington Post' 19 June 1952: 16
It was announced that Dexter would appear in a remake of 'The Sheik' (1921), the rights for which Small had purchased in order to show segments of that film in 'Valentino'. However he only made one more film for Small - 'The Brigand' - then they terminated their contract by mutual agreement."Mitchell Likely Cap'n Andy; Preston to Star as Heavy With Rooney" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 22 Aug 1950: A11.
Alice Terry sued the filmmakers for $750,000 complaining she was depicted in the film as carrying out an illicit love affair while still being married. Valentino's brother and sister launched a $500,000 lawsuit against the filmmakers. Both cases settled out of court.Alice Terry Suit Over Valentino Film Settled
'Los Angeles Times' 06 Jan 1953: A1"Look-Alike Surgery: Filmland Tried to Make What Valentino's Brother Lacked" 'Los Angeles Times' 15 June 1981: 20.
References
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