Valentino
Directed byLewis Allen
Written byGeorge Bruce II
Produced byEdward Small
StarringAnthony Dexter
Dona Drake
Eleanor Parker
Otto Kruger
CinematographyHarry Stradling Jr.
Music byHeinz Roemheld
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
March 10, 1951 (1951-03-10)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.3 million[1]
Box office$1,550,000 (US rentals)[2]

Valentino is a 1951 American drama film billed as the life story of film legend Rudolph Valentino. Valentino was played by near lookalike actor Anthony Dexter.

Plot

Rudolph Valentino arrives in America and becomes a movie star. He falls in love with an actress and dies an early death.

Cast

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.[4] 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.[5]

Florence Ryan wrote a script in 1939 but this was often rewritten.[6] Others who worked on it (estimated over 3) include Frederick Jackson, Virginia Van Upp and George Oppenheimer.[7][8]

Louis Hayward was mentioned as an early possibility.[9] In 1946 it was announced Small tried to secure Cornel Wilde for the lead but was unable to.[10] Frederik Vayder also auditioned.[11] The final script was heavily ficitionalised to avoid lawsuits.[12]

Antony 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.[13] Lewis Allen was hired from Paramount and was paid $60,000.[1]

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.[14] (In the 1940s there was another proposed project starring Victor Mature and Pola Negri.[15])

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.[16]

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.[17][18]

The film was one of Edward Small's few box office failures.[1] However it did well in South America where Anthony Dexter subsequently went on a dancing tour.[19] Dexter made one more film for Small then they terminated their contract by mutual agreement.

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.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ a b c Bernard Dick, The Merchant Prince of Poverty Row : Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures Lexington, Ky. : University Press of Kentucky, c1993. p 136
  2. ^ 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1951', Variety, January 2, 1952
  3. ^ Front Views & Profiles: Latin Type LUCY KEY MILLER. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 02 May 1951: b2.
  4. ^ HIGHLIGHTING THE WEEK'S NEWS New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 19 June 1938: 3.
  5. ^ HOLLYWOOD DOSSIER: Long Hunt for Actor to Play Valentino Finally Ends -- Other Studio Items By THOMAS F. BRADYHOLLYWOOD.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 14 Aug 1949: X3.
  6. ^ 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 (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 06 Nov 1939: 20.
  7. ^ 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 (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 04 May 1939: 33.
  8. ^ Drama: Ed Gardner to Star Rediscovered Player Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 01 June 1950: A8
  9. ^ Louella O. Parsons' Close-Ups and Long-Shots Of the Motion Picture Scene The Washington Post (1923-1954) [Washington, D.C] 28 Mar 1939: 18.
  10. ^ Paramount's English Plans Get Green Light Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 15 May 1946: 9.
  11. ^ DRAMA AND FILM: Wilde, 20th Reconcile; Cathy Downs Starred Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 08 Oct 1947: A9.
  12. ^ 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 (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 02 June 1950: 34.
  13. ^ NEWCOMER TO PLAY VALENTINO IN FILM: Tony Dexter, 29, 'Dead Ringer' for Silent Star, Is Named by Edward Small for Role By THOMAS F. BRADYSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 11 Aug 1949: 27.
  14. ^ HOLLYWOOD WIRE: Theatre Owners Advised How to Combat Television Inroads -- Other Matters By THOMAS F. BRADYHOLLYWOOD.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 18 Sep 1949: X5.
  15. ^ DRAMA: Pola Negri May Play in Story of Valentino Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 16 Apr 1942: A10.
  16. ^ Drama: Joe E. Brown Expected for Big Legion Revue; Animals Haunt Director Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 26 June 1950: A7.
  17. ^ A Rudy by Any Other Name . . . By Richard L. Coe. The Washington Post (1923-1954) [Washington, D.C] 10 Apr 1951: 20.
  18. ^ 'Valentino' Fleetingly Limns Idol Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 14 Apr 1951: 8.
  19. ^ ctors Leaving Films Attempt To Lose Professional Names The Washington Post (1923-1954) [Washington, D.C] 19 June 1952: 16
  20. ^ Alice Terry Suit Over Valentino Film Settled Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 06 Jan 1953: A1
  21. ^ Look-Alike Surgery: Filmland Tried to Make What Valentino's Brother Lacked Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 15 June 1981: 20.
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