Valentino is also usually slighted as bad actor, someone who couldn't act hard if his life depended on it. "Just had to sit and look pretty for the camera" if you will. And that's not fair...because he was a VERY good actor. One of the best. And to prove that point one only needs to watch his comedies to appreciate the fact.
Though I have yet to see every film he made, or at least the surviving ones (very few are lost), its hard to say with a smug certainty that this is the authoritative list. "Son of the Sheik", "The Conquering Power" and "Moran of Lady Letty" possess comedic parts, but are not comedies for the most part let alone a good chunk. I am pretty certain this is the complete 'leading man' comedy list. If not, then its damn close.
All Night
Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Carmel Myers, William Dyer, Mary Warren
Directed by: Paul Powell
Scenario: Fred Myton
Released: November 13th, 1918
DVD Status: Released via GrapeVine. Click here to purchase!
My rating (out of 5 stars): 3
Itty Bitty Review: If I'm gonna make it through Sheik Week we're gonna cut these shorter than the epic novels that the rest of the Valentino Films have received as reviews. But just as good I promise! "All Night" was made in 1918, before Valentino was of note to anyone. However for anyone who says he didn't know how to act or know how to act before Nazimova/Rambova they can bite me: All Night is proof he just learned all on his own...or some other way we're still not really in the know.
Beyond Valentino the plot line is contrived and the other actors really not of note. Valentino outshines them all and he is probably the only person in the world who could make the plot line work. Its like a bad 1918 version of "Three's Company": a married couple invite two single friends over. Richard (Valentino) has a crush on Elizabeth (Carmel Meyers) and the wife Maude (Mary Warren) is trying to set the pair up. However Elizabeth has a strict father and to make matters worse husband William (Charles Dorian) has an eccentric boss (William Dyer) who tends to be nosy and insists his employees are on the up and up. He unexpectedly shows up to the dinner, and since the servants have quit the married couple pretend to be the servants while Elizabeth and Richard pretend to be the couple (why you ask? Because no servants would be unrespectable to the boss apparently...)
The Boss is indeed nosy as hell, and insists that he'll stay the night, that the couple should go to bed, and should get on MAKING CHILDREN RIGHT NOW! This...is literally hilarious because he UNDRESSES VALENTINO in what is possibly the best scene I have ever seen in my life.
Hilarity ensues, Valentino ends up in a barrel full of water, Elizabeth's father arrives, more hilarity ensues, and all is right in the end apparently though its a bit rushed. Honestly this is some of Valentino's FINEST comedic acting since it wasn't trying to live up to any Sheik-y image. The undressing scene and the one following (where Valentino is pouting in the bed with his pajamas on) is just amazing. So is the scene where he and William get locked out accidentally. Boring weird story, but thanks to Valentino its a must see. Added note: I don't think that still is from this film, but its early Valentino so it will just have to do.
Monsieur Beaucaire
Starring: Rudolph Valentino and Bebe Daniels
Directed by: Sidney Olcott
Scenario: Forrest Halsey
Released: August 11th, 1924
DVD Status: Released via GrapeVine. Click here to purchase!
My rating (out of 5 stars): 5
Itty Bitty Review: We've already done this one for Valentino Month...but to recap quickly: Valentino is a French Dandy who learns the true meaning of love which is in short "Love should mean more than money or status". Valentino's comedic chops are evident through the whole thing and the best scenes by far are when he is hilariously sparring with Bebe Daniels. I personally enjoyed when she held out her hand thinking he would now grasp it as is custom, and he pulls his hand away instead looking all smug like. The scene where she says she will never speak to him again and he smiles and says, "In that case you'll make a very fine wife in deed" is possibly the second best thing ever. I laughed for 5 minutes straight when I first seen that.
The Eagle
Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky
Directed by: Clarence Brown
Scenario: George Marion Jr.
Released: November 8th, 1925
DVD Status: Released via Image Entertainment. Click here to purchase!
My rating (out of 5 stars): 5
Itty Bitty Review: The Eagle is 8 shades of awesome. And I got a surprise for you: it will be airing in August at the Silent Movie Theatre!!! They love me, I love them...its Valentino love all around! There will be a blog on it soon, promise.
Anyways this not only Valentino's final comedic masterpiece, but one of his last masterpieces ever (seeings how he died not one film later with Son of the Sheik). Even better it's an action romantic comedy! Like Blood and Sand only funny! In this film Lt. Vladimir Dubrovsky (Valentino) must go into hiding after snubbing the affections of the ugly old Czarina (Louise Dresser...who eerily enough looks a LOT like Hilary Clinton). In addition to this his father died and asked him to avenge his people because Kyrilla Troekouroff (James Marcus) is terrorizing the countryside peasants. Dubrovsky vows on his father's death bed he will, and thus creates that whole "Black Eagle" thing where he's like a Russian Robin Hood...only he has a black mask!
As Black Eagle is righting the wrongs, he again runs into a woman he saved earlier in the film named Mascha Troekouroff (Vilma Banky). Turns out she's the daughter of Kyrilla. As the Black Eagle goes about his business he accidentally runs into a confused French Man named Marcel Le Blanc (Mario Carillo). The man asks if he speaks French and Dubrovsky says he does but he is very busy and can not help him. Le Blanc insists saying he needs directions to the Kyrilla Manor because he is Mascha's French tutor. Dubrovsky schemes, and ends up stealing Le Blanc's identity to infiltrate the manor...and try and kill Kryilla.
While in the manor Dubrovsky falls madly in love with Mascha, while he earns the trust of Kryilla. After some extremely hilarious twists and sexy gun play, Mascha has learned who Dubrovsky is and asks him to not kill her father. Some crazy scenes ensue, and Dubrovsky is captured by the Czarina's men. As he awaits his execution he and Mascha are married. Meanwhile the Czarina feels bad and changes her mind, mainly because after Dubrovsky snubbed her she met her latest boy toy. She asks him to fix the matter and he does. "Dubrovsky" is executed in name only, and Dubrovsky and Mischa leave for France with the Czarina's blessing...Dubrovsky now going under the name "Marcel Le Blanc".
One of Valentino's best movies. Some of his finest acting, and definitely some of his best comedic work. Personally, beyond the comedy, the sexual tension between him and Mascha is great. There's a Bible message scene, a few gun scenes, its like "Mr and Mrs. Smith" 1925. A MUST to check out, even if you're not a major Valentino fan (which...after this week...you better be.)
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