Valentino

Valentino is a biographical drama film very loosely based on the life of Rudolph Valentino, directed by Ken Russell. It is based on the book Valentino, an Intimate Exposé of the Sheik, written by Chaw Mank and Brad Steiger. Upon release the movie was critically and commercially a failure most likely due to the dramatic license taken with Valentino's life. Russell has described his decision to make the film as the biggest mistake of his career. Re... more

Valentino is a biographical drama film very loosely based on the life of Rudolph Valentino, directed by Ken Russell. It is based on the book Valentino, an Intimate Exposé of the Sheik, written by Chaw Mank and Brad Steiger. Upon release the movie was critically and commercially a failure most likely due to the dramatic license taken with Valentino's life. Russell has described his decision to make the film as the biggest mistake of his career. Regrettably on occasion events from the film that never really occurred (such as Valentino being a thief or being taunted in prison) are cited as fact by those who take the movie too literally. The film begins with a faux newsreel sequence, showing the chaos around film star Rudolph Valentino’s (portrayed by Rudolph Nureyev) untimely death at the age of 31. Thousands of fans mob the funeral home until order is restored, at which point the important women in Valentino's life come to mourn; each remember him via flashbacks. First a sexy, young,... less