1 more week! 1 MORE WEEK!!! Till what you ask? Till Valentino...a whole MONTH of Valentino...on the BIG SCREEN!
That's right. Back in March I subtlety (and by subtlety I mean bugged until they so kindly agreed) asked the lovely programmers at The Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles, California to do a Valentino month. Minus the glaring omission of 'The Eagle' they have come up with what I am sure is the greatest Valentino month ever. So...read below. Make plans. Buy tickets. Get your Lady in Black get up ready. VALENTINO IS COMING TO THE SCREEN!
June 4th, 8pm
1921
Directed by Rex Ingram
Written by June Mathis
Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Pomeroy Cannon, Josef Swickard, Wallace Beery, and Alice Terry
Bonus Notes: Ramon Novarro was an extra. This was Valentino's break out role, after June Mathis personally selected him. This is also the movie that started that whole tango infatuation thing. Interestingly enough NOT available on DVD...it was but it's out of print and hard to find.
June 11th, 8pm
Camille1921
Directed by Ray C Smallwood
Written by June Mathis (adaption)
Starring: Rudolph Valentino and Alla Nazimova
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Bonus Notes: Alla Nazimova was slightly eccentric...as was her hair in this film. Many Valentino cohorts worked on this film including Nazimova, June Mathis, and his future wife Natacha Rambova. This was one of Patsy Ruth Miller's first films. This was also one of the first film adaptions of Camille.
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Bonus Notes: Alla Nazimova was slightly eccentric...as was her hair in this film. Many Valentino cohorts worked on this film including Nazimova, June Mathis, and his future wife Natacha Rambova. This was one of Patsy Ruth Miller's first films. This was also one of the first film adaptions of Camille.
June 18th, 8pm
Written by Forrest Halsey (adaption)
Starring: Rudolph Valentino and Bebe Daniels
Bonus Notes: You did know Valentino's mother was French right? He spoke French fluently. This was one of his worst performing films, and most likely an ill guided attempt by Natacha and himself at making a movie based on things they had experienced in France. This film also did nothing to help the 'effeminate' cry from his enemies. Stan Laurel even made a paraody of it!
June 25, 8pm
DOUBLE FEATURE: The Sheik
1921
Directed by George Melford
Written by Monte M. Katterjohn (adaption)
Starring: Rudolph Valentino and Agnes Ayres
Written by Monte M. Katterjohn (adaption)
Starring: Rudolph Valentino and Agnes Ayres
and...
1926
Directed by George Fitzmaurice
Written by Frances Marion (adaption)
Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky, and Karl Dane
Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky, and Karl Dane
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Bonus Notes: Ah the Sheiks! Great films, that truely are great to watch back to back!
Bonus Notes: Ah the Sheiks! Great films, that truely are great to watch back to back!
'The Sheik' was the film that solidified Valentino's stardom (and image) for eternity. At times Melford asked him to overact (especially in early scenes) but by the end he's back to his usual natural style. The censors took a chopping to the film, leaving the hot 'rape scene' to be just a kiss and some tears. Don't worry...they fixed all this in the next one. It was said of The Sheik that Rex Ingram was so jealous he tried to copy it by making a film called 'The Arab' with Ramon Novarro...it flopped. The Sheik however did well, making over $1 million (in 1920 dollars) in its first year.
'Son of the Sheik' is 80 times better and even though its ironic Valentino's last role was his most hated (he HATED being The Sheik) its one of his best films. And okay Karl Dane didnt 'star' in it but...he steals the show. The scene were Valentino snaps at him is amazing. I love Karl Dane...seriously give the kid some props.
All the sex and violence cut out of the first Sheik is now back in place, with a steamy rape scene, Valentino being tortured, and some major sword fighting. They even threw in a make out scene for good measure (and God does he look good during it)! Vilma and Valentino got along well, and Vilma was a much better actress then Agnes making the film more enjoyable. Agnes reprises her role, and Valentino plays both son and father...even arguing with himself in one scene! Greatest.scene.ever. Well...rape scenes excluded.
Make the most of the month:
The Silent Movie Theatre screens Silent Films EVERY Wednesday FOREVER at 8pm. Usually a half hour to an hour of short is run, then the feature. Every month is a certain theme, so you can see some really cool rare stuff if you keep your eye on their programming. Each screening is $10 individually but the theatre has this cool membership thing where you can come to as many movies as you want (they have programming almost every day of the week) for $25 a month, or $40 if you want some nifty guess passes. Click here for more information on their memberships.
Oh and they have these cupcakes that are better then sex. If that isn't worth coming in and of itself well I don't know what is. Cupcakes + Valentino = Heaven.
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