Valentino: The Man

Foreword by Gwen Vaughan.

Like a meteor that sweeps across the sky and is gone, leaving behind only a remembrance of its brilliance so Valentino achieved in only five years, a pre-eminance in the history of the cinema which has not been excelled with the exception of Greta Garbo and Charlie Chaplin.

During the fifty years since his dramatic death after an emergency operation for a perforated ulcer and other complications many writers have presented various aspects of ‘The Great Lover’ Some of the stories given to the public after his death were deliberately manufactured by the publicity wallahs who sought to retain his popularity for their own ends. Others were by writers who find famous men and women a gold mine and seek to cash in on those who are unable to defend themselves. Vivid imagination, and guile, is used to arouse interest, defile and debate their subject after they are dead. Valentino has not been alone in this, and there is no legal redress by the relatives, or friends of the victimized.

Now perhaps, the real personality can emerge, and his worth as a man, and an artist, can be assessed in the light of truth by an understanding and discriminating public.

During his lifetime Valentino was subjected to many pressures from outside influences beyond his control. These reduced him to a condition where he had no money and slept on a park bench in Central Park, New York. They also elevated him to the highest pinnacle of fame and fortune., yet he did not find happiness, or tranquillity of the spirit. He always retained his balance and good sense. A few months before he died he remarked to a friend: “Life is too fast for me now. A man should control his life. My life is controlling me. Perhaps if I had remained in italy….I don’t know….. Perhaps, it would have been better”.

Valentino was intelligent, well read, a man who held a conversation, and the interest of his listener by the amount of knowledge he possessed. His interests covered a wide field, these included all forms of Art, Music, and Literature, and the customs of many civilisations. When he died he left a collection of books and an armory, of which he had expert knowledge.

A fine horsemen and boxer he would get up at six in the morning and go through a course of physical training before going to the studio to be made up ready for a days shooting. Nevertheless, he was a man who enjoyed the simple pleasures. He loved children, and animals of all kinds. With a true Italians love of home life he hoped for a happy marriage and children of his own. This he never achieved, both his marriages ended in disaster. Perhaps, the brilliant intellectual mind of the woman he fell in love with was not compatible with the sincere, simple soul who would bear his children, and, consider it her prime duty to be that of a house-wife.

Valentino’s mother, Gabriella Guglielmi, had been his model, and inspiration. She had loved her husband and when he died in 1906 she was heartbroken. This experience had a deep emotional effect on the young Rodolfo who realised the depth of love that had existed between his parents. In 1923 Valentino wrote: “ In my Fathers last moments, I came near to the greatest wonder, and mystery in the world… Love.”

It must not be thought that Valentino was a weakling. He has a great desire to please the women he loved, also, he had a great respect for her abilities as an artist. In any other situation he had strength of character. His fight to appear in better films, choose his own stories, is well known and demonstrates his sincerity, integrity, and his desire to raise the standard of his work. Alone, he threw himself into his work. Took painting lessons from Beltram Masses. The Spanish court painter and set about renovating ‘Falcon Lair’ in the hope that Natasha would relent and return to live in the beautiful house which he had bought and stood high in the hills overlooking Hollywood. His dream never came true.

Inevitibly his name began to be associated with whoever was his dinner companion. The press were ever on his heels, and the tempo of his life increased faster and faster. Rumours abounded of his attachment to Pola Negri, but never at any time did Valentino mention his intention of marrying her.

During the last months of his life Valentino drove himself to a pitch where even his splendid physique could not handle the strain. Also there was an unfortunate attack by an anonymous Chicago news-paper man who called him a “Pink Powder Puff” and when challenged by Valentino to prove his words by coming forward and fighting it out with whatever weapons he chose skulked in the background and refused to reveal his identity. Had he known it, Valentino was a sick man and taking medication for a troublesome ulcer.

Valentino was making a tour of the big cities in connection with a promotion by United Artists to advertise his latest film, “The Son of the Sheik” when he collapsed in a New York hotel and was rushed to The Poly Clinic Hospital where he never recovered.
Of course, Valentino made mistakes. All life is a combination of trial and error but a mans worth lies in his sincerity, his kindness his compassion and his ability to stand by his principles, and remember his gratitude to those who helped forge ‘The Legend of Valentino’. All these qualities Valentino possessed.

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