The original theme of Martin Brown’s Play, “Cobra,” having been written for a woman star, obviously puzzled the picture-makers in their efforts to twist it into a virile vehicle for Rudolph Valentino. Therefore, this main idea receives but scant attention in the screen version, the narrative of which, as it is unfurled, is moderately entertaining until the director and his henchmen decide to include a fang or two of the poisonous reptiles. It then becomes quite absurd and the accompanying captions assist in the general decline. Nita Naldi is supposed to officiate in the title rôle, but she is not called upon to appear until the story is well on its way. It is soon after her entrance that the real theme is attacked, the adapter having endeavored to shift the importance of the character from Elsie Van Zlla to Count Rodrigo Torriani, which results in the distressing consequences. Torriani, played by Mr. Valentino, is painted as a happy-go-lucky nobleman who finds any pair of feminine eyes enchanting. One might infer that he is sowing wild oats with a vengeance, as he is constantly discovering himself to be infatuated with some new fascinating creature. He has only to shake their hands, look into their eyes, and the wicked work is started. One of these charming young women happens to be Mary Drake, a stenographer, who is declared to be sweet and innocent, and is an inspiration to the Count to cause him to mend his ways. This good girl is an artist with paint and powder. Her lips are like cherries and her eyes are liberally outlined with mascara. Yet she is declared to be so serious in her attentions that one would expect her to shy at the sight of a lipstick. The Count falls in love with this Mary, but he cannot resist Elsie’s black eyes, even though she is wedded to his fast friend, Jack Dorning; and this brings about trouble. Elsie is burned to death in a hotel fire and Doming eventually learns of the Count’s conduct. So as to ingratiate the Count in the eyes of the spectators, the scenarist has him make a sacrifice. He insists to Mary that he is just as bad as ever, and the consequence is that she marries Doming. So, in this little tale Dorning has two wives, but the Count remains a bachelor. Mr. Valentine takes advantage of the opportunity to wear a variety of clothes. In one sequence he is seen as the Count’s seventeenth century ancestor. After that he wears golf clothes, lounge suits, white flannel trousers with a blue coat, white shoes with a blue suit, and when he dines alone, he is so punctilious that he appears in full evening dress. In one sub-title the Count is alluded to as an “indoor sheik,” and the fight that follows gives Valentino credit for a Firpo blow, while his opponent must have a cast-iron jaw. Casson Ferguson, who officiated as the villain in the film version of “Grumpy.” and recently was seen in a similar part in “The Road to Yesterday.” in this current feature fills the sympathetic role of Doming in a somewhat stereotyped fashion. Miss Naldi, whose eyes match Sir. Valentine’s makes the best of a bad bargain. Mr. Valentine’s acting is acceptable, but he is not indifferent to his much-exploited looks.
Uncategorized
16 Dec 1925 – The Hero Remains a Bachelor
|
“Even stardom doesn’t make a girl immune to loneliness” – Agnes Ayres, 1922
Apr 1922 – Hollywood Boulevardier Chat
Alittle bit of gossip I picked up from friends say Rudolph Valentino’s new house with no bride apparent on Whitley Heights, Hollywood is the most sensatoinal and exotic piece of property in the movie colony. Nobody knows what he is going to do with it. Presumbly he bought it in a fit of exuberance on discovering he would not be paying alimony in connection from his divorce from Jean Acker
9 Dec 1913 – Youthful Dreams Sails
In 1913, on this day, an 18-year-old, Rudolph Valentino, with youthful dreams and ambitions leaves familiarity behind for an unknown. A passenger on the S.S. Cleveland, the ship will take him, and others like him to a better life in America. The S.S. Cleveland was a steam powered ship, operated by the Hamburg America Line, transporting both cargo and passenger. In the end, he was a survivor and achieved the American Dream.


12 Oct 1923 – Sheik Swamped by Demand for a Hair Lock
Rudolph Valentino holidaying in London, has been inundated with requests from English flappers for locks of his hair. He would probably have been balder than Bob Fitzsimmons he had complied with every request.
16 May 1924 – Valentino in Miami Asks Chance to Rest
17 Apr 1927 – Why Europe’s High Society Smashes Beauty’s Perfect Romance
18 Jul 1940 – Valentino Former In-law Donates Foxlair as a Fresh Air Camp
There was 166 New York City youngers arriving Tuesday night at Grand Central Station after spending 25 days as guests of the Police Athletic League at Fox Lair, the Police Athletic League Camp. Part of the inner city Fresh Air Camp which gets kids from low income families time to spend outside of the city to enjoy time hunting, fishing, and other holesome activities during summer months. The camp surroundied by the Adirondack State Park consists of a 1200 acre estate given to the Police Athletic League for Fresh Air Camps by Mrs. Winifred Hudnut, widow of Richard Hudnut. The entire expense of these vacations including transportation is borne by Police Athletic League and a generous donation by Mrs. Hudnut.
10 Jul 1935 – From Tasmania Not forgotten
|
2 De 1026 – Publicity Buzzards
And now they are hearing from the ghosts of Harry Houdini and Rudolph Valentino! The world and his wife tried to get a reflected publicity by herding around Valentino’s bier while he was still above ground. Now they won’t let him or Houdini rest in peace but must
1 Dec 1926 – Voice from Beyond Fake
Dr. Crandon well known spiritualist says spirit messages from Houdini the magician and Valentino the actor are fakes. “A person must be dead four or five years before he can communicate with us. We learn this from spirits with whom we have been in touch”. Physicists wonder where those spirits are when they talk. It they are on one of the distant stars, light with travels 186,000 miles a second would take a million years to get here; and sound, as we know travels more slowly than light, 331 meters a second against 186.000 miles a second. If Houdini and Valentino, on some distant star, began talking loud enough for their voices to reach us, their words wouldn’t reach the earth in time to be heard by our descendants 500,000,000 years from now.
26 Nov 1925- Townsville Daily Bulletin London Rudolph Valentino Returns
Rudolph Valentino, the famous cinema actor who just arrived from America, was the centre of an extraordinary scenes at a West End Cinema theatre, where he personally attended the occasion of the screening of one of his films. He was surrounded by a seething crowd, mostly women. The police forced them back and the doors had to be locked after the performance. Valentino rather than face the crowd which remained in the street, had to escape over the roof of the theatre.
16 Nov 1925 -The Eagle Movie Review
1924 – Superstitious Movie Folk
Agnes Ayres does not like to have anybody sing in her dressing room. But her chief faith in luck is bound up in a wonderful Columbia Clock which has been in her family for years. It is a marvelous mechanism, being made entirely of wood and although of a great age is still running. Miss Ayres firmly believes that her success depends upon the possession of this clock, and so carefully, does she guard the treasure she will not even allow it to be photographed. Her movie colleague, Rudolph Valentino has declared to friends he has no superstitions. But one might wonder why he waited until 14 March to be married to the delightful Natacha Rambova when he could of done so on the 13th as well. Perhaps the fascinating Mrs. Valentino objects to the fatal number. Who knows might be because his first wedding ceremony took place on 13 May. Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. has no faith in crystals or superstitions. Gloria Swanson loves black cats and so tender was her care of the original two pets of the Lasky Studio they sent for all their friends, in-laws, and descendants until 327 cats now live on the lot. This is lucky for the butcher and the cats. Theodore Kostloff treasures a pre-war ten rouble gold piece, now worth $2 million in paper money. Bebe Daniels grandmother has a wonderful collection of dolls and few people know this is a direct result of Bebes belief that good luck follows the purchase of a new doll. Lila Lee is very superstitious about the beginning day of a new film. If she leaves her home in the morning, forgetting something important, she will not turn back herself, but send a messenger after she reaches the studio.
31 Aug 1930 – Two Valentino’s
Nov 1925 – Monsieur Beaucaire Rudolph Valentino Coming
Full of color and romance is “Monsieur Beaucaire” which will be screened at Wests on Saturday, with Rudolph Valentino and Bebe Daniels in the leading roles. It is an elaborate screen version of the popular play, which has been adhered to with remarkable fidelity. There is plenty of suspense in the picture, and an exciting combat between Valentino and six opponents. The Court of Louis, XV, forms a brilliant background for the action, and abounds in colorful scenes, depicting the mad, merry life in that famous court. Ordered to marry the Princess Bourboun-Conti, the Duc de Chartres, played by the star reuses. His efforts to resist the Kings guards provide some of the most thrilling moments that have graced the screen. Hugh sets were constructed for the picture, and the costuming and mounting throughout are on a lavish scale.
21 Nov 1924 – Valentino In Dramatic Role
31Oct 1939 – Marian Adored Valentino
|
25 Nov 1922 – Film Face Worth $26,000 a year
|
7 Feb 1948 – Souvenir
Manhattan restauranteur Sam Slavin still holds an IOU from Rudolph Valentino for $10.00. He lent Rudy money when the great silent film star worked in Slavin’s place for $12.00 a week. Valentino many times tried to buy it back, but Slavin always refused to sell. And its still there, framed, on the wall of the restaurant.
1926 – RV Death Triggers Suicides
|
24 Oct 1926 – Rudolph Valentino Protects his name
|
Hot Well Springs Hotel, San Antonio, TX




|
28 Jun 1931 – The Case of Why Rich Women Prefer to Divorce in Paris
This writer is going to use the divorce case of Winifred Hudnut/Natacha Rambova versus Rudolph Valentino as an example of why women prefer to divorce in Paris. So we know that Winifred/Natacha was granted a divorce in Paris simply on the fact Valentino wrote a letter to her that he definitely and purposely left her and decided to cease all relations with her. Thus she was “grossly insulted”. But lets not forget Winifred got her knickers in a twist when she was no longer Valentino’s de facto manager and barred from movie studios. Hudnut and Valentino journeyed to Paris and it was no secret they were planning to divorce. The ruling of the Seine trial was Hudnut was entitled to all of the rights of as an American because her marriage was in Crowne Point, Indiana and “gross insult” was grounds for divorce. Most French writers contend there are three grounds for divorce under French Civil Code. Grounds for divorce are innumerable: Article 229 A husband may divorce his wife on the basis of her infidelity.Article 230 A wife may divorce her husband on the basis of his infidelity. Article 231 Both spouses may reciprocally divorce each other on the basis for violence, cruelty, or gross insults.Article 232 The condemnation of one of the spouses to a corporal punishment shall be another cause for divorce. Although no local difference is suppose to exist, so as far as husband and wife are concerned French authorities contend that in the case of an indiscretion the courts always seem to look with more indulgence upon the false step of the husband than of the wife.
21 Nov 1924 Valentino In Dramatic Role
|
29 Sep 1921 – Girls Had you heard? Camille has bobbed her hair
|
19 Sep 1952 – Director Now Actor
|
1926 – Suicides due to Valentino Death
|
8 Sep 1926 – Late Valentino Commentary
|
6 Sep 1925 – Rudolph Valentino Injured by Horse
|
1926 – Memories
|
4 Sep 1933 – What Rudolph Valentino Items are Worth
A Rudolph Valentino autograph recently was sold for $75.00. A mechanics weekly salary will buy Rudolph Valentino’s $18,000 Isotta Town Car, now dusting on a used automobile lot. Nina Wilcox Putnam has a Voisin formerly owned by Valentino.
1 Sep 1930 – Two Valentino’s
|
“I think that it would fascinate me to live in such a place, I have very steady nerves or even an imagination that needs such stimulation, but I have always felt strongly akin and at home in places of this kind. I am not afraid of the dead or of ghosts, the whole store and lore of grizzly fears that have shaken the human race at thought, or apprehension of meeting with the dead, is quite foreign to me, I am not afraid of anything pertaining to the life beyond.” And it isn’t because I don’t believe in it it is because I do, I BELIEVE IN THE SUPERNATURAL I don’t believe there is anything I would or could be afraid of. It seems to me we have more cause to be afraid of the living than of those that have gone on shaking off as they go, the lusts and cruelties of the body. What the average man calls death I believe to be merely the beginning of life itself we simply live beyond the shell. We emerge from out of its narrow confines like a chrysalis. Why call it death or, if we give it the name death why surround it with dark fears and sick imaginings?”
My Private Diary’ by Rudolph Valentino 1929
27 Aug 1926 – Readers Complain
Several readers have complained because the newspapers devoted more space to the death of Rudolph Valentino. An editor is not a historian who seeks to put happenings into their proper perspective. If the great preoccupation of the public with Valentino is a thing to evaporate in a short time, that is more reason why it becomes news today. It is well to remember also that the story of Valentino’s death is not concerned alone with the individual in question but with the reaction of the public to this event. When thousands stand in the rain for hours seeking a chance to pass the dead man’s bier, that is news beyond any question. It does not matter that many of the people in line were morbid curiosity seekers. The precise extend of morbidity is also a proper subject of journalistic concern. I rather think that some reports have been too severe in judging the motives of the crowd. I saw long lines at a distance in the dripping rain, and it is my belief that if it had been possible for a reporter to investigate the hearts of all who waiting there he would have found in many who trudged the slow march through the doors a profound emotion. Valentino had become that priceless thing – a symbol. It was not so much a motion picture actor who lay dead as Pan of Apollo whom they are to bury from Campbell’s funeral parlor. He was to the thousands the romance which they never knew. He was Prince Charming and came from the other side of the moon. And if a symbol of romance in the lives of many millions fades, that is a not undignified matter of newspaper interest. It is a long sleep to which Valentino has gone, and soon the thousands will have another symbol to take his place. It seems to me a little cruel to deny a dead actor his last full measure of press clippings.






























You must be logged in to post a comment.