Rodolph Valentino — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

Rodolph Valentino [Rudolph Valentino], whose ascent to screen heights quickly followed his characterization in “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” is a native of Castellaneto, Italy. From life on a farm he was sent to the Royal Military Academy, Peregua, and the College of Genoa, where he acquired his alert military bearing and a taste for athletics.

Five feet, eleven inches tall, weighing 156 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, Valentino’s grace and good looks were turned to good account as a vaudeville dancer with Joan Sawyer, after he came to America.

He gravitated to motion pictures, at first playing minor parts, one of which was with Richard Carl in “Nobody Home.” Then Rex Ingram cast him in the role of Julio in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, where his handling of the role made him a screen prize of the first magnitude.

He made pictures with other producers, supporting Nazimova [Alla Nazimova] on one occasion. But after he and Agnes Ayers [Agnes Ayres] glittered forth in The Sheik, he was promptly signed by Paramount for a long term as star.

After his colorful role in The Sheik, Valentino was set opposite Dorothy Dalton in George Melford’s Paramount production of “Moran of the Lady Letty,” Frank Norris’ stirring tale of the sea. Later he played opposite Gloria Swanson in Elinor Glyn’s second original story for the screen, “Beyond the Rocks.” In this he had the role of an English lord of Spanish ancestry, a part to which Valentino, with his Latin grace and bearing, was admirably suited. Then came his first starring vehicle, Blood and Sand, rated as one of the finest pictures ever made. Valentino’s latest production is The Young Rajah.

It is of interest to know that at the beginning Valentino was listed at the various casting directors’ offices as a “heavy” type. And it was as such that he made his debut in pictures.

Valentino fell into the “villain” class because he had sleek, black hair and wore it combed slick back on his head. Because of this he could not get a “sympathetic” role. He did impress directors as the type for a leading man. He looked more able, in their estimation, to play the scoundrel. So they always put him down in a cast to do the “dirty work” He had more offers to play heavy roles, but none of the other variety. So he played the heavies.

He is married to Winifred Hudnut [Natacha Rambova].

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It was in this character make-up that Rudolph Valentino gained sudden fame in Blood and Sand.

Portrait by Abbe • Los Angeles

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)