Publicity / Candid Style Photo of Rudolph Valentino

Ok, last Birthday post.  I typically post 5 photos at a time.  However, there are some photos that simply stand alone.  This is one of those photos.  This is a fantastic photo of Valentino with laying on his couch with a book and a cigarette in a cigarette holder.  A staged candid photo if you will.  A absolute fantastic photo of Valentino!

Photos of Valentino from The Eagle

These are five photos from the 1925 film, The Eagle.  Even though this was a period film, it had a very modern feel to it.  For me, it seemed to showcase what moviegoers had to look forward to with the upcoming talkies.  It seemed to be a film showcased on a grand scale, with Valentino carrying the film with a great cast including Vilma Banky, Louise Dresser, and Albert Conti.  This would have been the type of film I could have imagined Valentino starring in as a talkie.  One where he, as the lead, would have to pull off an accent.  This was released just 9 months before his death and 11 months before The Jazz Singer.  I still feel Valentino would have made it in the talkies.  I often think about a comparison from this to Elvis making it in the 80's.  Even though Elvis was older, I find it interesting to think about and compare the two.  The 80's, introduced MTV in the music world, imagine Elvis making videos for MTV.  Anyway, I digress, I am a big fan of both and think they would have made it in the next step of technology/advancements in their fields.

Photos of Valentino from the 1922 film, Blood and Sand

I still love to simply scour the internet for photos of Valentino.  I spent a lot of time doing just that when I first started collecting....well a couple of years ago....or something like that, I don't exactly remember.  Anyway, I would find photos and print them, going through a lot of ink at the time.  I know I have said it a million times, but is simply amazes me that I can still come across not only collectible items; but, photos I had never seen before.  The following are 5 photos from the 1922 film, Blood and Sand, one of Valentino's finest.  Some of these poses are not often seen, enjoy!

Early Autographed Photo of Rudolph Valentino

This is a wonderful example of an early Autographed photo of Valentino.  This photo is signed R. Valentino, which is not too common to find.  It is also signed in Valentino's favorite color ink to sign autographs, green.  This is a wonderful example of an early signed photo.  I would love to have a piece like this.  These early signed photos are getting harder and harder to find.

Rare Photo of Valentino as Black Feather

This is a very rare photo of Valentino posing as his spirit guide, Black Feather.  Yes, the photo was for sale on ebay, hence the ebay tag.  However, it was so rare, I had to save it to post.  I find it fascinating that after all these years, it is still possible to come across rarely seen photos!

At the Pool With Pola and Friends

This is a great candid set of photos from 1926 of Rudy, Pola Negri and some friends having what looks to be a pool party.  The photos are a bit blurry; however, it may be appropriate as they appear in some to be a bit "blurry" themselves.  It's great to see these candid photos of Rudy having a good time, post Natasha.

Rare Early Cast Photo

I literally have thousands of Valentino photos (digital files) I have saved from various sites over the years.  Photos, collectibles, you name it, I have saved it.  I was looking for an early rare photo to post, when I came across this one!  I unfortunately am unaware of what film it is from, I assume it is an early film where he played the villain since he is sporting the villainous mustache.  This is such a cool photo.  It appears to not only be the cast; but, possibly some of the behind the scenes workers as well.  The most immediate thing I noticed was Valentino seems to simply "stand out" from the rest.  I'm not just saying that because I'm a huge fan.  In the photo he looks like the only "movie star" in the photo.  I know with all of the Valentino fans, someone will look at the photo and say, oh yeah that is from such and such film.  I am not an expert on the early films.  If anyone knows, let me know and I will update the post.  Enjoy, its a great pic!

Happy Birthday 119th Rudolph Valentino

119 years ago today Rudolph Valentino was born in Castellaneta Italy.  There is no need for me to go into a detailed biography, all of you have heard it and read it a million times.  One thing I would like to point out that many people forget is Valentino only appeared in starring roles from March of 1921 to August of 1926, so essentially 4.5 years.  He rose to stardom and had such a strong fanatical following in such a short period of time.  Now, 88 years after his death, with many of us, there is still a very strong following.  Every single time I have visited the mausoleum I have always seen fresh roses in the vases of his final resting place.  Enjoy the day, watch a Valentino movie, go through your collections, read a book, and remember Valentino!

Valentino Pictured with Other Celebrities

Valentino, which you most likely already know, was included in the Hollywood royalty of the 1920's.  Fans not only adored him, his fellow actors did as well.  I enjoy finding these photos of Valentino pictured with other celebrates of the day.  These photos include him with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Mae Murray, William S. Hart, and John Barrymore,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sorry for the hiatus.  Life seems to be busy as ever.  I hope everyone had a great Holiday and a wonderful New Year.  Hopefully,  your friends or family were able to find you a few Valentino items for the Holidays that were not previously a part of your collection.  I was fortunate enough to receive a bevy of overseas items, which I will post soon.  One of my favorites was an over-sized piece of French sheet music from Monsieur Beaucaire, I had never seen the piece before now, it is fantastic!  I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year.  The below photo is a great candid of Valentino with Consuelo Flowerton, she co-starred with Valentino in the 1921 film, Camille.  More to come....

Photos from The Son of the Sheik

There areso many promotional photos from Valentino's last film from 1926, The Son of the Sheik.  Many of the basic stock photos of Valentino are from this film.  I have included some of the more common photos along with a few you do not see too often.  One, is a fantastic side profile photo, that I just recently came across.

Rare Photos from The Young Rajah

Here are 5 photos from 1922 film, The Young Rajah.  These are great photos from a film that was lost for decades.  The version we have today is only a partial copy, with various scenes still missing.  Many of these photos are not seen too often.  There is one photo I found courtesy of Frau Wulf.

Candid Photos of Valentino

Here are 5 more photos from the Chicago Tribune Archive.  One is a great photo of Valentino sitting in a chair.  The rest are Rudy at trains, two of which are with Natacha and Nita Naldi.  Valentino is sporting his goatee from his European trip where they were in the process of acquiring items for The Hooded Falcon, which of course never came to fruition.  These are just wonderful photos!

Happy Birthday Rudy!

Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla was born 118 years ago today!  TCM played The Sheik and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse earlier today to celebrate Valentino's birthday.  Enjoy the rest of your day remembering Valentino.  I wanted to post some rare photos I recently came across from the Chicago Tribune Archives.  I wonder if the two with Valentino at the mic is from a radio broadcast?  I had never seen these before, enjoy!

Photos from A Sainted Devil

Here are five photos from the lost film, A Sainted Devil.  I would love to see this film, it co-stars my favorite silent actress Nita Naldi.  She co-stared in more films with Valentino than any other actress.  Three total, Blood and Sand, A Sainted Devil, and Cobra.  She was also set to co-star in a fourth, The Hooded Falcon, which was never made.  These are five photos from the film not often seen.  The first photo is from Frau Wulf.

Photos from Moran of the Lady Letty

These are five photos from the 1922 film, "Moran of the Lady Letty." This is not one of Valentino's more popular films; however, there is some great memorabilia out there from this film. These five photos are not too commonly seen. I enjoy collecting movie stills from Valentino's films. The original stills can be very expensive, the newer copies can be bought for a few dollars.