Valentino (1977)

In 1926 the tragic and untimely death of a silent screen actor caused female moviegoers to riot in the streets and in some cases to commit suicide - that actor was Rudolph Valentino. ... See full summary »

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Ken Russell (screenplay), Mardik Martin (screenplay),

Stars:

Rudolf Nureyev, Leslie Caron, Michelle Phillips

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rudolf Nureyev	...	Rudolph Valentino
Leslie Caron	...	Alla Nazimova
Michelle Phillips	...	Natasha Rambova
Carol Kane	...	Starlet
Felicity Kendal	...	June Mathis
Seymour Cassel	...	George Ullman
Huntz Hall	...	Jesse Lasky
Alfred Marks	...	Richard Rowland
David de Keyser	...	Joseph Schenck
Linda Thorson	...	Billie Streeter
Leland Palmer	...	Marjorie Tain
Lindsay Kemp	...	Angus McBride
Peter Vaughan	...	Rory O'Neil
Anthony Dowell	...	Vaslav Nijinsky
Penelope Milford	...	Lorna Sinclair (as Penny Milford)

Storyline

In 1926 the tragic and untimely death of a silent screen actor caused female moviegoers to riot in the streets and in some cases to commit suicide - that actor was Rudolph Valentino. Ballroom dancer Valentino manipulated his good looks and animal-like grace into a Hollywood career. His smouldering love making, tinged with a touch of masterful cruelty, expressed a sexuality which was at once both shocking and sensual.

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Plot Keywords:

actor | death | dancer | love | riot | 

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Taglines:

In life he was a movie star, in death he became a legend.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1977 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ken Russell's Valentino

Filming Locations:

Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists, Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is listed among The 100 Most Amusingly Bad Moves Ever Made in Golden Raspberry Award founder John Wilson's book THE OFFICIAL RAZZIE® MOVIE GUIDE.

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Connections

References The Sheik (1921)

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Soundtracks

"El Choco"
(uncredited)
Arranged and adapted by Stanley Black

User Reviews

A very good Ken Russell film

A film that purports to tell the true story of Valentino (played by Rudolph Nureyev). It doesn't. It does bring up his alleged homosexuality (heck, it opens with him dancing with a man!) and the fact that his two wives were both lesbians. But, according to this, Valentino was seriously wounded in a boxing match that led to his death. There never was a boxing match. That's one of many inaccuracies in the film. Still, Ken Russell's films always play quick and loose with the facts so it didn't really bother me. This is one of his better films--but not one of his best.

It starts off with Valentino's funeral and, one by one, we meet the women in his life and (by flashback) we see his life and career. The two main ones are Alla Nazimova (Leslie Caron) and Natasha Rambova (Michelle Phillips). Nazimova's entrance into Valentino's is a REAL eye-popper (even by Russell standards) and really has to be seen to be believed. Unfortunately Caron is not that good in the part. She overplays way too much. She does fake a Russian accent--but it renders most of her dialogue unintelligible. Phillips is much better as Rambova. She doesn't try and fake an accent and gives a very easy-going, pleasing performance.

The sets are just beautiful--large, colorful (especially the funeral) and really opulent. Ditto the costumes--they're true to the period and just look great. The picture moves quickly and I was never bored. So why do I think it's only good and not great? One word--Nureyev.

He's terrible. He looks nothing like Valentino--Valentino was handsome, Nureyev isn't. Also Valentino was 31 when he died--Nureyev was 39 when he made this--and looks it. Valentino was a tall, muscular man. Nureyev is short and not muscular at all. However he IS nicely toned (from all that dancing) and he holds his own in a surprising nude scene (with a full frontal shot). Also he's Russian and he tries to imitate an Italian accent--it makes most of his dialogue incomprehensible (the dialogue scenes between him and Caron are bewildering--neither one can be understood!). Also Nureyev was known for his dancing, not acting. He really does try and occasionally pulls out a good moment or two but, ultimately, he's all wrong for the role. And there are way too many sequences of Nureyev dancing. His dancing is great...but Valentino was not really known for that.

I do recommend it but I really wonder what Russell was thinking when he cast Nureyev. A must for Russell fans.