Italian immigrant Rudolph Valentino makes it big in silent Hollywood, but he ends up struggling between his career and the woman he loves.
| Tagline | The legitimate behind the scenes story of the man so many women loved |
| Release Date: | Mar 08, 1951 |
| Genres: | Drama, Romance |
| Production Company: | Edward Small Productions, Columbia Pictures |
| Production Countries: | United States of America |
| Casts: | Anthony Dexter, Eleanor Parker, Richard Carlson, Patricia Medina, Joseph Calleia, Dona Drake, Lloyd Gough, Otto Kruger |
| Status: | Released |
| Budget: | $1300000 |
| Revenue: | 1550000 |
"I believe that my success is based on the fact that I have never appeared twice with the same leading lady!" Anthony Dexter is really poor in this largely fictitious biopic of screen legend Rudolph Valentino. Lewis Allen's lacklustre and wordy depiction of the latter stage lives and loves of this most iconic of actors is actually quite boring at times. He woos the fictional "Joan Carlisle" (Eleanor Parker) and most of the film follows their turbulent relationship's ups and downs with only their mutual respect and fondness for director, and her husband, "Bill King" (Richard Carlson), drawing them together without sparks - a scenario only made worse after they made one hugely successful film together. Come to think on it, Carlsen is maybe the only thing in this that comes away with any sense of credibility. It is very stage bound in presentation, and the melodrama isn't really helped by quite an intrusive score from Heinz Roemheld who seriously overdoes the violins at times. A man of his standing, with a reputation for being as ruthless as he was a Lothario, really did deserve better than this slushy mess that ends as it runs - disappointingly. Pity.
