Editing Rudolph Valentino

{{short description|Italian actor (1895–1926)}}
{{Redirect|Rodolfo Valentino|the Filipino politician|Rodolfo B. Valentino|the hairdresser|Rodolfo Valentin}}
{{Redirect|The Latin Lover||Latin Lover (disambiguation){{!}}Latin Lover}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Rudolph Valentino
| image              = Rudolph Valentino - A Pictorial History of the Silent Screen.jpg
| caption            = Valentino in 1925
| birth_name         = Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguella
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1895|5|6|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Castellaneta]], [[Kingdom of Italy]]
| death_date         = {{death date and age|1926|8|23|1895|5|6|mf=y}}
| death_place        = [[New York City]], U.S.
| burial_place       = [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]] ([[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.)
| resting_place_coordinates = 
| years_active       = 1914–1926
| occupation         = Actor
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Jean Acker]]|1919|1923|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Natacha Rambova]]|1923|1925|reason=divorced}}
}}
}}
'''Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguella''' (May 6, 1895&nbsp;– August 23, 1926), known professionally as '''Rudolph Valentino''' and nicknamed '''The Latin Lover''', was an Italian actor who starred in several well-known [[silent film]]s including ''[[The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (film)|The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]'', ''[[The Sheik (film)|The Sheik]]'', ''[[Blood and Sand (1922 film)|Blood and Sand]]'', ''[[The Eagle (1925 film)|The Eagle]]'', 
and ''[[The Son of the Sheik]]''.

Valentino was a sex symbol of the 1920s, known in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] as the "[[Latin lover|Latin Lover]]" (a title invented for him by Hollywood moguls), the "Great Lover", or simply Valentino.<ref>{{cite book |title=Latino Images in Film: Stereotypes, Subversion, and Resistance |last=Ramírez |first=Charles |year=2002 |publisher=U of Texas Press |isbn=0-292-70907-2 |page=76 }}</ref> His early death at the age of 31 caused mass hysteria among his fans, further cementing his place in early cinematic history as a cultural film icon.

==Early life==
===Childhood and emigration===
[[File:Young Rudolph Valentino 02.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Valentino as a boy]]
Valentino was born in [[Castellaneta]], [[Apulia]], [[Italy]] and named Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguella.<ref name="statearchives">{{cite web |url=http://www.antenati.san.beniculturali.it/v/Archivio+di+Stato+di+Taranto/Stato+civile+italiano/Castellaneta/Nati/1895/34/005233047_00417.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=0 |title=Immagine 127 / Image 127 [ Birth certificate no 182 ] |date=May 9, 1895 |access-date=December 28, 2016 |publisher=Archivio di Stato di Castellaneta / States Archives in Castellaneta > Antenati: Gli Archivi per la Ricerca Anagrafica / Ancestors: Archives for Research Registry |language=it}} Birth name: Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi.</ref> His father, Giovanni Antonio Giuseppe Fedele Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguella, was an [[Italian people|Italian]] from [[Martina Franca]], [[Apulia]]; he was a captain of cavalry in the Italian Army, later a veterinarian,<ref>Rudolph Valentino: His Romantic Life and Death, Ben-Allah Newman, Ben-Allah Company, 1926, p. 22</ref> who died of [[malaria]] when Valentino was 11. His mother, Marie Berthe Gabrielle Barbin (1856–1918), was [[French people|French]] with [[Turin|Torinese]] ancestry (the original family name was Barbini, gallicized to Barbin later on), born in [[Lure, Haute-Saône|Lure]] in the [[Franche-Comté]] region.<ref name="walker">Walker, Alexander. ''Rudolph Valentino.'' Stein and Day, 1976. {{ISBN|0-8128-2098-3}}.</ref><ref name=pop>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419201243 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511062035/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419201243/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2009 |title=St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture: Rudolph Valentino |last=Gregg |first=Jill A.  |access-date=April 7, 2008 |work=St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture |year=2002}}</ref><ref name="google">[[#Leider|Leider]], p. 14</ref> She was lady-in-waiting to a local marquess. Valentino had an older brother, Alberto (1892–1981), a younger sister, Maria, and an older sister, Beatrice, who had died in infancy.<ref name="leider1">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 1–3</ref>

As a child, Valentino was indulged because of his exceptional looks and his playful personality. His mother coddled him, while his father disapproved of him. He did poorly in school and was eventually enrolled in agricultural school in [[Genoa]], where he earned a certificate.<ref name="leider20">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 20–40.</ref>

After living in [[Paris]] in 1912, he soon returned to Italy. Unable to secure employment, he departed for the United States in 1913.<ref name="leider41">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 41–60</ref> He was processed at [[Ellis Island]] at age 18 on December 23, 1913.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passRecord.asp?pID=100823030192 |title=The Statue of Liberty&nbsp;– Ellis Island Foundation, Inc |publisher=Ellisisland.org  |access-date=May 15, 2010}}</ref>

Valentino never applied for United States citizenship, and retained his Italian citizenship.

===New York===
Arriving in New York City, he supported himself with odd jobs such as busing tables in restaurants and gardening.<ref name="leider41" /> Valentino once worked as a bus boy at Murray's on 42nd Street and was well liked, but didn't do a good job and was fired. While he was living on the streets, Valentino would occasionally come back to Murray's for lunch and the staff would slip him some food. Around 1914, restaurateur Joe Pani who owned Castles-by-the-Sea, the Colony, and the Woodmansten Inn was the first to hire Rudolph to dance the [[tango]] with [[Joan Sawyer (dancer)|Joan Sawyer]] for $50 per week.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mok|first1=Michel|title=Joe Pani, Purveyor of Epicurean Viands, Once Staked Valentino to Coffee and Cakes|journal=The New York Post|date=June 15, 1939|page=15}}</ref> Eventually, he found work as a [[taxi dancer]] at Maxim's Restaurant-Cabaret.<ref name=embezzler>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/38/ |title=Embezzler of Hearts |last=Robinson |first=David |date=June 2004 |magazine=Sight & Sound |access-date=April 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022023833/http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/38/ |archive-date=October 22, 2008 }}</ref> Among the other dancers at Maxim's were several displaced members of European nobility, for whom a premium demand existed.

Valentino eventually befriended [[Chile]]an heiress [[Blanca Errázuriz|Blanca de Saulles]], who was unhappily married to businessman [[John de Saulles]], with whom she had a son. Whether Blanca and Valentino actually had a romantic relationship is unknown, but when the de Saulles divorced, Valentino took the stand to support Blanca de Saulles's claims of infidelity on her husband's part. Following the divorce, John de Saulles reportedly used his political connections to have Valentino arrested, along with a Mrs. Thyme, a known madam, on some unspecified vice charges. The evidence was flimsy at best, and after a few days in jail, Valentino's bail was lowered from $10,000 to $1,500.<ref name="leider61">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 61–85</ref>

Shortly after the trial, Blanca de Saulles fatally shot her ex-husband during a custody dispute over their son. Following his own well-publicised trial and the subsequent scandal over the murder, Valentino could not find employment. Fearful of being called in as a witness in another sensational trial, Valentino left town and joined a traveling musical that led him to the West Coast.<ref>{{cite book |last=Parish |first=James Robert |title=The Hollywood Book of Scandals: The Shocking, Often Disgraceful Deeds |publisher=McGraw-Hill Professional |year=2004 |isbn=0-07-142189-0}}</ref>

==Film career==
===Before fame===
[[File:Rudolph Valentino in Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual, 1918.jpg|thumb|left|Valentino in an advertisement for ''[[The Married Virgin]]'' (1918) in which he portrays a villain]]
In 1917, Valentino joined an [[operetta]] company that traveled to [[Utah]], where it disbanded. He then joined an [[Al Jolson]] production of ''Robinson Crusoe, Jr.'', which was travelling to Los Angeles. By fall, he was in San Francisco with a bit part in a theatrical production of ''Nobody Home''. While in town, Valentino met actor [[Norman Kerry]], who convinced him to try a career in cinema, which was still in the [[silent film]] era.<ref name="leider81">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 81–83</ref>

Valentino and Kerry moved back to Los Angeles and became roommates at the [[Hotel Alexandria|Alexandria Hotel]]. He continued dancing, teaching dance, and building up a following that included older female clientele who would let him borrow their luxury cars.<ref name="leider85">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 85–86</ref> At one point after the United States entered [[World War I]], both Kerry and Valentino tried to get into the Canadian Air Force to fly and fight in France.<ref>''The Legend of Rudolph Valentino'' (1962) CBS produced by David Wolper</ref>

With his dancing success, Valentino found a room of his own on [[Sunset Boulevard]] and began actively seeking screen roles. His first part was as an extra in the film ''Alimony'', moving on to small parts in several films. Despite his best efforts, he was typically cast as a "heavy" (villain) or gangster.<ref name="leider61"/> At the time, the archetypal major male star was [[Wallace Reid]], with a fair complexion, light eyes, and an [[All-American]] look, with Valentino the opposite;<ref name="leider86">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 86–88</ref> he eventually supplanted [[Sessue Hayakawa]] as Hollywood's most popular "exotic" male lead.<ref>Dave Kehr, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/movies/homevideo/25dvds.html New DVDs Review]," ''New York Times,'' March 25, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2008.</ref><ref>[[Daisuke Miyao|Miyao, Daisuke]], ''[[Sessue Hayakawa: Silent Cinema and Transnational Stardom]].'' Duke University Press. 2007.</ref>

By 1919, he had carved out a career in bit parts. It was a bit part as a "cabaret parasite" in the drama ''[[Eyes of Youth]]'', starring [[Clara Kimball Young]], that caught the attention of screenwriter [[June Mathis]], who thought he would be perfect for her next movie.<ref name="botham">{{cite book |last=Botham |first=Noel |author-link=Noel Botham |title=Valentino: The First Superstar |publisher=Metro Publishing Ltd. |year=2002 |isbn=1-84358-013-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/valentino00noel }}</ref> Young would later say it was she and [[Lewis J. Selznick]] who discovered him, and that they were disappointed when Valentino accepted a lucrative offer at [[Metro Pictures|Metro]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L1fs4sp3lnQC&q=clara+kimball+young+florence&pg=PA18|title=Maryjane's Notebook: Memoirs of a Hollywood Dress Designer|isbn=9781453555149|last1=Venola|first1=Penelope|last2=Taylor|first2=Guy C.|date=August 31, 2010|publisher=Xlibris Corporation }}</ref>

He appeared as second lead in ''[[The Delicious Little Devil]]'' (1919) with star [[Mae Murray]]. In 1919, Valentino impulsively married actress [[Jean Acker]]. Their marriage was purportedly {{says who|date=April 2024}} never consummated.

===Acting===
[[File:Valentino Four Horsemen 1921.jpg|thumb|180px|Publicity portrait of Valentino as Julio Desnoyers in the 1921 Metro Pictures production ''The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse'']]

Displeased with playing "heavies," Valentino briefly entertained the idea of returning to New York permanently. He returned for a visit in 1917, staying with friends in [[Greenwich Village]], eventually settling in [[Bayside, Queens]]. There he met [[Paul Ivano]], who would greatly help his career.<ref name="leider111" />

While traveling to [[Palm Springs, California]], to film ''Stolen Moments'', Valentino read the novel ''[[The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (novel)|The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]'' by [[Vicente Blasco Ibáñez]].<ref name="leider111">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 111–130</ref> Seeking out a trade paper, he discovered that [[Metro Pictures|Metro]] had bought the film rights to the story. In New York, he sought out Metro's office, only to discover that June Mathis had been trying to find him. She cast him in the role of Julio Desnoyers. For the director, Mathis had chosen [[Rex Ingram (director)|Rex Ingram]], with whom Valentino did not get along, leading Mathis to play the role of peacekeeper between the two.<ref name="leider111" />

''[[The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (film)|The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]'' was released in 1921 and became a commercial and critical success. It was one of the first films to make $1,000,000 at the box office, the sixth-highest grossing silent film ever.<ref name="botham" /><ref>[http://www.cinemaweb.com/silentfilm/bookshelf/7_v_32_4.htm ''Biggest Money Pictures''.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105043830/http://www.cinemaweb.com/silentfilm/bookshelf/7_v_32_4.htm |date=November 5, 2011 }} CinemaWeb.com.</ref>

Metro Pictures seemed unwilling to acknowledge that it had made a star. Most likely due to Rex Ingram's lack of faith in Valentino, the studio refused to give him a raise beyond the $350 a week he had made for ''Four Horsemen''. For his follow-up film, they forced him into a bit part in a B-film called ''Uncharted Seas''. On this film, Valentino met his second wife, [[Natacha Rambova]].<ref name="leider111" /><ref name="leider131">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 131–150</ref> That same year, Valentino's legal wife, Jean Acker, successfully sued for divorce.

Rambova, Mathis, Ivano, and Valentino began work on the [[Alla Nazimova]] film ''[[Camille (1921 film)|Camille]]''. Valentino was cast in the role of Armand, Nazimova's love interest. The film, mostly under the control of Rambova and Nazimova, was considered too ''[[avant garde]]'' by critics and the public.<ref name="leider131" />

Valentino's final film for Metro was the Mathis-penned ''[[The Conquering Power]]''. The film received critical acclaim and did well at the box office.<ref name="leider131" /> After the film's release, Valentino made a trip to New York, where he met with several French producers. Yearning for Europe, better pay, and more respect, Valentino returned and promptly quit Metro.<ref name="leider131" />

===''The Sheik''===
[[File:ValentinoandJadaan.gif|thumb|left|Publicity photo for the 1926 release ''[[Son of the Sheik]]'' showing Valentino with "Jadaan", the [[Arabian horse|Arabian stallion]] in the film]]
After quitting Metro, Valentino took up with [[Famous Players–Lasky]], forerunner of the present-day [[Paramount Pictures]], a studio known for films that were more commercially focused. Mathis soon joined him, angering both Ivano and Rambova.<ref name="leider131" />

[[Jesse L. Lasky]] intended to capitalize on the star power of Valentino, and cast him in a role that solidified his reputation as the "Latin lover". In ''[[The Sheik (film)|The Sheik]]'' (1921), Valentino played the starring role of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan. The film was a major success and defined not only his career but his image and legacy. Valentino tried to distance the character from a [[stereotypical]] portrayal of an Arab man. Asked if Lady Diana (his love interest) would have fallen for a "savage" in real life, Valentino replied, "People are not savages because they have dark skins. The Arabian civilization is one of the oldest in the world ... the Arabs are dignified and keen-brained."<ref name = "leider170" />

Famous Players produced four more feature-length films over the next 15 months. His leading role in ''[[Moran of the Lady Letty]]'' was of a typical [[Douglas Fairbanks]] nature; however, to capitalize on Valentino's bankability, his character was given a Spanish name and ancestry.<ref name="leider170" /> The film received mixed reviews, but was still a hit with audiences.<ref name="leider170" />

In November 1921, Valentino starred alongside [[Gloria Swanson]] in ''[[Beyond the Rocks (film)|Beyond the Rocks]]''. The film contained lavish sets and extravagant costumes, though ''Photoplay'' magazine said the film was "a little unreal and hectic." Released in 1922, the film was a critical disappointment. Years after its release, ''Beyond the Rocks'' was thought to be [[lost film|lost]], save for a one-minute portion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20040418/ai_n12754168 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511074047/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20040418/ai_n12754168/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2009 |title=Lost Swanson and Valentino classic is found |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=April 18, 2004 |newspaper=The Independent on Sunday |access-date=April 5, 2008 }}</ref> But in 2002, the film was discovered by the Netherlands Film Museum. The restored version was released on DVD in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/11/movies/11dvd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |title=New DVD's: 'Beyond the Rocks' |last=Kehr |first=Dave |date=January 11, 2006 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 5, 2008 }}</ref>
[[File:Rudolph Valentino in the Blue Book of the Screen 02.jpg|thumb|Valentino as Juan Gallardo in ''Blood and Sand'' (1922)]]
[[File:Moran of the Lady Letty - scene - Dorothy Dalton and Rudolph Valentino - 1922.webm|thumbtime=1|thumb|Scene from the 1922 film ''[[Moran of the Lady Letty]]'', featuring [[Dorothy Dalton]] and Rudolph Valentino.]]

In February, 1922 ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine reported that, according to the Famous Players press office, Valentino would henceforth be known as "Rodolph" rather than "Rudolph."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sherwood |first=Robert E. |date=23 February 1922 |title=The Silent Drama |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_life_1922-02-23_79_2051/page/22/mode/2up?view=theater |magazine=Life |page=22 |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref>

In 1922, Valentino began work on another Mathis-penned film, ''[[Blood and Sand (1922 film)|Blood and Sand]]''. He played the lead—[[Torero (bullfighter)|bullfighter]] Juan Gallardo—and co-starred with [[Lila Lee]] and [[Nita Naldi]]. Initially believing the film would be shot in [[Spain]], Valentino was upset to learn that the studio planned on shooting on a Hollywood back lot. He was further irritated by changes in production, including a director of whom he did not approve.<ref>{{cite book |last=Porter |first=Darwin |title=Hollywood's Silent Closet |publisher=Blood Moon Productions Ltd. |year=2001 |pages=497–498 |isbn=0-9668030-2-7}}</ref>

After finishing the film, Valentino married Rambova, which led to a bigamy trial, as he had been divorced from his first wife, Jean Acker, for less than a full year, as required by California law at the time. The trial was a sensation and the pair was forced to have their marriage annulled and to be separated for a year. Despite the trial, the film was still a success, with critics calling it a masterpiece on par with ''[[Broken Blossoms]]'' and ''Four Horsemen''. ''Blood and Sand'' became one of the four top-grossing movies of 1922, breaking attendance records, and grossing $37,400 at the Rivoli Theatre alone. Valentino considered this one of his best films.<ref name="leider197">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 197–231</ref>

During his forced break from Rambova, the pair began working separately on the Mathis-penned ''[[The Young Rajah]]''. Only fragments of this film, recovered in 2005, still remain.<ref name="leider197" /> The film did not live up to expectations and underperformed at the box office. Valentino felt he had underperformed in the film, being upset over his separation with Rambova.<ref name="leider197" /> Missing Rambova, Valentino returned to New York after the release of ''The Young Rajah''. They were spotted and followed by reporters constantly. During this time, Valentino began to contemplate not returning to Famous Players, although Jesse Lasky already had his next picture, ''The Spanish Cavalier'', in preparation. After speaking with Rambova and his lawyer Arthur Butler Graham, Valentino declared a 'one-man strike' against Famous Players.<ref name="leider197" />

===Strike against Famous Players===
Valentino went on strike for financial reasons. At the time of his lawsuit against the studio, he was earning $1,250 per week, with an increase to $3,000 after three years. This was $7,000 per week less than Mary Pickford made in 1916.<ref>[[#Leider|Leider]], p. 188</ref> He was also upset over the broken promise of filming ''Blood and Sand'' in Spain, and the failure to shoot the next proposed film in either Spain or at least New York. Valentino had hoped while filming in Europe he could see his family, whom he had not seen in 10 years.<ref name="leider170">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 170–196</ref>

In September 1922, he refused to accept paychecks from Famous Players until the dispute was solved, although he owed them money he had spent to pay off [[Jean Acker]]. Angered, Famous Players, in turn, filed suit against him.<ref name = "leider232" />

Valentino did not back down,<ref name="leider232" /> and Famous Players realized how much they stood to lose. In trouble after shelving [[Roscoe Arbuckle]] pictures, the studio tried to settle by upping his salary from $1,250 to $7,000 a week. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' erroneously announced the salary increase as a "new contract" before news of the lawsuit was released, and Valentino angrily rejected the offer.<ref name="leider197" />

Valentino went on to claim that artistic control was more of an issue than the money. He wrote an open letter to ''Photoplay'' magazine, titled "Open Letter to the American Public", in which he argued his case,<ref name="leider197" /> although the average American had trouble sympathizing, as most made $2,000 a year. Famous Players made their own public statements deeming him more trouble than he was worth (the divorce, bigamy trials, debts) and that he was temperamental, almost diva-like. They claimed to have done all they could and that they had made him a real star.<ref name="leider232" />

Other studios began courting him. [[Joseph Schenck]] was interested in casting his wife, [[Norma Talmadge]], opposite Valentino in a version of ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''. June Mathis had moved to [[Goldwyn Pictures]], where she was in charge of the ''[[Ben-Hur (1925 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' project, and interested in casting Valentino in the film. However, Famous Players exercised its option to extend his contract, preventing him from accepting any employment other than with the studio. By this point, Valentino was about $80,000 in debt. He filed an appeal, a portion of which was granted. Although he was still not allowed to work as an actor, he could accept other types of employment.<ref name="leider232" />

===Mineralava Dance Tour===
In late 1922, Valentino met George Ullman, who soon became his manager. Ullman had previously worked with Mineralava Beauty Clay Company, and convinced them that Valentino would be perfect as a spokesman with his legions of female fans.<ref name="leider232">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 232–255.</ref>

The tour was a tremendous success, with Valentino and Rambova performing in 88 cities in the United States and Canada. In addition to the tour, Valentino also sponsored Mineralava beauty products and judged Mineralava-sponsored beauty contests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midnightpalace.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27|title=Rudolph Valentino & the Mineralava Tour of 1923|last=Lorusso |first=Edward |access-date=April 12, 2008 }}</ref> One beauty contest was filmed by a young [[David O. Selznick]], who titled it ''Rudolph Valentino and his 88 Beauties.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://emol.org/emclub/?q=rudolphvalentino|title=Remembering Rudolph Valentino|date=September 6, 2005|magazine=Entertainment Magazine|access-date=April 12, 2008 }}</ref>

===Return to films===
[[File:Rudolph valentino i sangue e arena, 1922.jpg|thumb|From ''[[A Sainted Devil]]'' (1924)]]
Valentino returned to the United States in reply to an offer from Ritz-Carlton Pictures (working through Famous Players), which included $7,500 a week, creative control, and filming in New York.<ref name="leider256">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 256–279.</ref> Rambova negotiated a two-picture deal with Famous Players and four pictures for Ritz-Carlton.<ref name="leider280">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 280–300</ref> He accepted, turning down an offer to film an Italian production of ''Quo Vadis'' in Italy.<ref name="leider256" />

The first film under the new contract was ''[[Monsieur Beaucaire (1924 film)|Monsieur Beaucaire]],'' wherein Valentino played the lead, the Duke of Chartres. The film did poorly and American audiences found it "effeminate".<ref name="leider301">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 301–325</ref> The failure of the film, under Rambova's control, is often seen as proof of her controlling nature and later caused her to be barred from Valentino sets.<ref name="leider280" /> Valentino made one final movie for Famous Players. In 1924, he starred in ''A Sainted Devil,'' now one of his lost films. It had lavish costumes, but apparently a weak story. It opened to strong sales, but soon dropped off in attendance and ended up as another disappointment.<ref name="leider301" />

With his contract fulfilled, Valentino was released from Famous Players, but was still obligated to Ritz-Carlton for four films. His next film was a pet project titled ''The Hooded Falcon.'' The production was beset with problems from the start, beginning with the script written by June Mathis. The Valentinos were dissatisfied with Mathis's version and requested that it be rewritten.<ref>[[#Morris|Morris]], pp. 156, 157</ref> Mathis took it as a great insult and did not speak to Valentino for almost two years.<ref>[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 323–324</ref> While Rambova worked designing costumes and rewriting the script for ''Falcon,'' Valentino was persuaded to film ''[[Cobra (1925 film)|Cobra]]'' with [[Nita Naldi]]. He agreed only on condition that it not be released until after ''The Hooded Falcon'' debuted.<ref>[[#Morris|Morris]], p. 159</ref>
[[File:Rudolph Valentino with beard 1924.jpg|thumb|Valentino sporting a [[Van Dyke beard]], 1924]]
After filming ''Cobra,'' the cast of ''The Hooded Falcon'' sailed for France to be fitted for costumes. After three months, they returned to the United States, where Valentino's new beard, which he had grown for the film, caused a sensation.<ref>[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 318–319</ref> "I opened once a paper and I tell you what was in. It was Rudolph Valentino with a beard upon his chin. My heart stopped off from beating and I fainted dead away, and I never want to come to life until the judgement day," was soon printed in ''[[Photoplay]].''<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wells |first=Margaret Caroline |date=February 1925 |title=What!!! Valentino??? |url=https://archive.org/stream/pho28chic#page/n199/mode/2up |journal=[[Photoplay]] |location=New York |publisher=Photoplay Publishing Company |access-date=August 21, 2015 }}</ref> The cast and crew left for Hollywood to begin preparations for the film, but much of the budget was taken up during preproduction.<ref>[[#Leider|Leider]], p. 323</ref> Due to the Valentinos' lavish spending on costumes and sets, Ritz-Carlton terminated the deal with the couple, effectively ending Valentino's contract with them.<ref>[[#Morris|Morris]], pp. 160, 164</ref>

===United Artists===
[[File:Son of the Sheik.jpg|thumb|Poster for ''The Son of the Sheik'']]
During the filming of ''Monsieur Beaucaire'', both [[Charlie Chaplin]] and [[Douglas Fairbanks]] approached Valentino privately, due to his contract with Ritz-Carlton, about joining with [[United Artists]].<ref name="leider280" /> Valentino's contract with United Artists provided $10,000 a week for only three pictures a year, plus a percentage of his films. The contract excluded Rambova from production of his films and the film set. Valentino's acceptance of the terms caused a major rift in his marriage to Rambova. George Ullman, who had negotiated the contract with United Artists, offered Rambova $30,000 to finance a film of her own. It became her only film, titled ''[[What Price Beauty?]]'' and starred [[Myrna Loy]].<ref>[[#Morris|Morris]], pp. 162–164</ref>
[[File:The Eagle 1925 Rudolph Valentino (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|''The Eagle'' (1925), starring Rudolph Valentino]]
Valentino chose his first UA project, ''[[The Eagle (1925 film)|The Eagle]]''. With the marriage under strain, Valentino began shooting and Rambova announced that she needed a "marital vacation".<ref>[[#Morris|Morris]], p. 169</ref> During the filming of ''The Eagle'', rumors of an affair with co-star [[Vilma Bánky]] were reported and ultimately denied by both Bánky and Valentino.<ref name="botham" /> The film opened to positive reviews, but a moderate box office.<ref name="leider326">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 326–350</ref>

For the film's release, Valentino travelled to London, staying there and in France, spending money with abandon while his divorce took place. Quite some time elapsed before he made another film, ''[[The Son of the Sheik]],'' despite his hatred of the sheik image.<ref name="leider351">[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 351–370</ref> The film began shooting in February 1926, with Valentino given his choice of director, and pairing him again with Vilma Bánky. The film used the authentic costumes he bought abroad and allowed him to play a dual role. Valentino was ill during production, but he needed the money to pay his many debts. The film opened on July 9, 1926, to great fanfare. During the premiere, Valentino was reconciled with Mathis; the two had not spoken in almost two years.<ref name="leider351" />

==Public image==
[[File:Sheet music cover - RODOLPH VALENTINO BLUES (1922).jpg|thumb|Sheet music cover for "Rodolph Valentino Blues" written in 1922: To quote the lyrics, "Oh Mister Rodolph Valentino / I know I've got the Valentino blues / And when you come up on the screen / Oh! You're so romantic, I go frantic at the views".]]
Dating back to the de Saulles trial in New York, during which his "masculinity" had been questioned in print, Valentino had been very sensitive about his public perception.{{cn|date=March 2024}}  
With the [[Douglas Fairbanks|Fairbanks]]-type being the supposed epitome of manhood, Valentino was sometimes portrayed as a threat to the "All American" man. One man, asked in a street interview in 1922 what he thought of Valentino, replied,
: "Many other men desire to be another Douglas Fairbanks. But Valentino? I wonder&nbsp;..."<ref name=leider197/>
Women in the same interview found Valentino
: "triumphantly seductive. Puts the love-making of the average husband or sweetheart into discard as tame, flat, and unimpassioned."<ref name=leider197/>

Some journalists were still calling his "masculinity" into question, going on at length about his pomaded hair, his [[dandy]]ish clothing, his treatment of women, his views on women, and whether he was "effeminate". 
Valentino hated these stories and was known to carry clippings of the newspaper articles around with him and criticize them.<ref name=leider1/>

{{multiple image
| footer    = Caricatures<ref name="theguardian/2016/valentino-russell-blu-ray">{{cite news |last=Hutchinson |first=Pamela |date=22 February 2016 |title=Last of the red-hot myths: What gossip over Rudolph Valentino's sex life says about the silents |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/feb/22/silent-but-deadly-rudolph-valentino-ken-russell-film-blu-ray |access-date=19 September 2023 }}</ref> of Valentino by [[Richard W. Dorgan|Dick Dorgan]], 1922
| image2    = Dick Dorgan Valentino Caricature 01.jpg
| alt2      =
| width2    = 110

| image1    = Dick Dorgan Valentino Caricature 02.jpg
| alt1      =
| width1= 110
}}

In July 1926, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' reported that a vending machine dispensing pink talcum powder (face powder) had appeared in an upscale hotel's men's washroom. An editorial that followed used the story to protest the supposed feminization of American men, and blamed the talcum powder on Valentino and his films. The piece infuriated Valentino and he challenged the writer to his choice of a boxing or wrestling match, since [[dueling]] was illegal.<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Personal puff |department=The Press | date=2 August 1926 | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,722230,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131185449/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,722230,00.html | archive-date=January 31, 2011 }}</ref> Neither challenge was answered.<ref>{{cite book |last=Edmiston |first=Fred W. |title=The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks: The band that made radio famous |year=2003 |publisher=McFarland |page=31 |isbn=0-7864-1340-9 }}</ref>

Shortly afterward, Valentino met with journalist [[H. L. Mencken]] for advice on how best to deal with the incident. Mencken advised Valentino to "let the dreadful farce roll along to exhaustion",<ref name=afterlife>[[#Ellenberger|Ellenberger]], p. 22</ref> but Valentino insisted the editorial was "infamous".<ref name=afterlife />

Mencken found Valentino to be likable and gentlemanly and wrote sympathetically of him in an article published in ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' a week after Valentino's death:<ref>[[#Ellenberger|Ellenberger]], p. 23</ref>
{{clear}}
{{blockquote|It was not that trifling Chicago episode that was riding him; it was the whole grotesque futility of his life. Had he achieved, out of nothing, a vast and dizzy success? Then that success was hollow as well as vast – a colossal and preposterous nothing. Was he acclaimed by yelling multitudes? Then every time the multitudes yelled he felt himself blushing inside ... The thing, at the start, must have only bewildered him, but in those last days, unless I am a worse psychologist than even the professors of psychology, it was revolting him. Worse, it was making him afraid&nbsp;...

Here was a young man who was living daily the dream of millions of other men. Here was one who was catnip to women. Here was one who had wealth and fame. And here was one who was very unhappy.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mencken |first=H.L. |author-link=H. L. Mencken |year=1982 |title=A Mencken Chrestomathy |publisher=Vintage Books |pages=283–284 }}</ref>}} 

After Valentino challenged the ''Tribune's'' anonymous writer to a boxing match, the ''[[New York Evening Journal]]'' boxing writer, Frank O'Neill, volunteered to fight in his place. Valentino won the bout, which took place on the roof of New York's Ambassador Hotel.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cawthorne |first=Nigel |year=1997 |title=Sex Lives of the Hollywood Idols |publisher=Prion |isbn=978-1-8537-5249-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/sexlivesofhollyw00nige |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]] }}</ref>
 
Heavyweight champion [[Jack Dempsey]], who trained Valentino and other Hollywood notables of the era in boxing, said of him:
: "He was the most virile and masculine of men. The women were like flies to a honeypot. He could never shake them off, anywhere he went. What a lovely, lucky guy."<ref>{{cite book |last=Botham |first=Noel |year=2002 |title=Valentino: The first superstar |publisher=Metro Books |isbn=1-84358-013-6 |page=325 }}</ref>
 
Valentino's sex symbol status and his untimely death were a biographical part in [[John Dos Passos]]' ''The Big Money'' in the [[U.S.A. trilogy]]. His title was the Adagio Dancer.<ref>{{cite book |last=dos Passos |first=John |author-link=John Dos Passos |year=1996 |title=U.S.A. |place=New York, NY |publisher=Literary classics of the United States |edition=compilation, print |series=[[U.S.A. (trilogy)|U.S.A. Trilogy]] }}</ref>

==Other ventures==
[[File:Rudolph Valentino in Picture-Play, November 1928 01.jpg|thumb|Valentino in [[fencing]] gear]]
In 1923, Valentino published a book of poetry titled ''Day Dreams''.<ref name=astor>{{cite book |last=Walker |first=Stanley |title=Mrs. Astor's Horse |date=March 2007 |page=222 |publisher=Read Books |isbn=978-1-4067-3888-9}}</ref> He later serialized events in various magazines. With ''[[Liberty (1924–1950)|Liberty]]'' magazine, he wrote a series entitled, "How You Can Keep Fit" in 1923.<ref name=astor/> "My Life Story" was serialized in ''Photoplay'' during his dance tour. The March issue was one of the best-selling ever for the magazine.<ref name="leider232" /> He followed that with "My Private Diary", serialized in ''Movie Weekly'' magazine. Most of the serials were later published as books after his death.<ref>[http://www.rudolph-valentino.com/books.htm ''Books and Articles by Rudolph Valentino'']. Rudolph-Valentino.com.</ref>

Valentino was fascinated with every part of movie-making. During production on a Mae Murray film, he spent time studying the director's plans.<ref name="leider86" /> He craved authenticity and wished to shoot on location,<ref name="leider131" /><ref name="leider197" /> finally forming his own production company, Rudolph Valentino Productions, in 1925.<ref name="leider326" /> Valentino, George Ullman, and Beatrice Ullman were the incorporators.

On May 14, 1923, while in New York City, Valentino made his only two vocal recordings for [[Brunswick Records]]; "[[Kashmiri Song]]" (''The Sheik'') and "El Relicario" (''Blood and Sand'').<ref>{{cite journal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Music of the Sound Screen |url=https://archive.org/stream/newmoviemagazine02weir#page/n549/mode/2up |journal=The New Movie |location=Jamaica, New York |publisher=Tower Magazines, Inc. |date=November 1930 |access-date=November 9, 2015 }}</ref> The recordings were not released until after Valentino's death by the Celebrity Recording Company; Brunswick did not release them because Valentino's English/Spanish pronunciation was subpar.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,740341,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511035857/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,740341,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2009 |title=International A? |date=May 22, 1930 |magazine=Time  |access-date=April 11, 2008}}</ref>

Valentino was one of the first in Hollywood to offer an award for artistic accomplishments in films; the [[Academy Awards]] later followed suit. In 1925, he gave out his only medal to [[John Barrymore]] for his performance in ''[[Beau Brummel (1924 film)|Beau Brummel]]''. The award, named the Rudolph Valentino Medal, required the agreement of Valentino, two judges, and the votes of 75 critics. Everyone other than Valentino himself was eligible.<ref name="leider326" />

==Personal life==
Valentino once told gossip columnist [[Louella Parsons]] that:
: "The women I love don't love me. The others don't matter."
He claimed that despite his success as a sex symbol, in his personal love life he never achieved happiness.<ref name="The Gay Illiterate">{{cite book |last=Parsons |first=Louella |year=1944 |title=The Gay Illiterate |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.60193/page/n17 |via=archive.org }}</ref>{{Rp|90}}
 
In 1919 – just before the rise of his career – Valentino impulsively married actress [[Jean Acker]], who was involved with actresses [[Grace Darmond]] and [[Alla Nazimova]]. Acker became involved with Valentino in part to remove herself from the lesbian love triangle, quickly regretted the marriage, and locked Valentino out of their room on their wedding night. The couple separated soon after, and the marriage was never [[consummate]]d.<ref name=pop/> The couple remained legally married until 1921, when Acker sued Valentino for divorce, citing desertion.<ref name=botham/> The divorce was granted, with Acker receiving alimony. She and Valentino eventually renewed their friendship, and remained friends until his death.<ref name=pop/>

Valentino first met Winifred Shaughnessy, known by her stage name, [[Natacha Rambova]]—an American silent film costume and set designer, [[art director]], and protégée of Nazimova—on the set of ''Uncharted Seas'' in 1921. The two worked together on the Nazimova production of ''Camille,'' by which time they were romantically involved.<ref>[[#Morris|Morris]], pp. 74, 77, 78</ref> They married on May 13, 1922, in [[Mexicali]], [[Mexico]], which resulted in Valentino's arrest for [[bigamy]], since he had not been divorced for a full year, as required by California law at the time. Days passed and ''Famous Players–Lasky'' (his studio at the time) refused to post bail. Eventually, a few friends were able to post the cash bail.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wallace |first=David |date=7 April 2001 |title=Lost Hollywood |publisher=Macmillan |page=[https://archive.org/details/losthollywood0000wall/page/48 48] |isbn=0-312-26195-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/losthollywood0000wall/page/48 |via=archive.org }}</ref> He was also investigated for a possible violation of the [[Mann Act]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Pajama revel by Valentino party is bared |date=19 May 1922 |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/4303093/pajama_revel_by_valentino_party_is_bared/ |access-date=February 13, 2016 }}</ref>

Having to wait the year or face the possibility of being arrested again, Rambova and Valentino lived in separate apartments in New York City, each with their own roommates. On 14&nbsp;March 1923, they legally remarried at the Lake County Court House in [[Crown Point, Indiana]].<ref>[[#Morris|Morris]], p. 133</ref>

[[File:Valentino at home with Natacha Rambova and their dog.jpg|thumb|Valentino with Natacha Rambova and their dogs]]

Many of Valentino's friends disliked Rambova and found her controlling.<ref name=leider326/> During his relationship with her, he lost many friends and business associates, including June Mathis. Towards the end of their marriage, Rambova was banned from his sets by contract. Valentino and Rambova divorced in 1925. The end of the marriage was bitter, with Valentino bequeathing Rambova one dollar in his will.<ref name=botham/>

From the time he died in 1926 until the 1960s, Valentino's sexuality was not generally questioned in print.<ref name=ReferenceA>[[#Ellenberger|Ellenberger]], p. 15</ref> At least four books, including the notoriously libelous ''[[Hollywood Babylon]]'', suggested that he may have been [[homosexuality|gay]] despite his marriage to Rambova.<ref name="ReferenceC">[[#Morris|Morris]], pp. 263–264</ref><ref name=ReferenceB>{{cite book |last=Soares |first=Andre |year=2010 |title=Beyond Paradise |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |page=295 |isbn=978-1604734577 }}</ref><ref>[[#Ellenberger|Ellenberger]], pp. 15–20</ref><ref>[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 271–272</ref><ref>
{{cite book
 | last = Bret | first = David
 | year = 2008
 | title = Joan Crawford: Hollywood martyr
 | publisher = Da Capo Press
 | page = 28
 | isbn = 978-0-306-81624-6
}}
</ref> For some, the marriages to Acker and Rambova, as well as the relationship with [[Pola Negri]], add to the suspicion that Valentino was gay and that these were ''"[[lavender marriage]]s"''.

Some claim that Valentino had a relationship with [[Ramón Novarro]], despite Novarro stating they barely knew each other.<ref name=ReferenceA/><ref name=ReferenceB/> ''Hollywood Babylon'' recounts a story that Valentino had given Novarro an [[art deco]] [[dildo]] as a gift, which was found stuffed in his throat at the time of his murder. It is believed that no such gift existed.<ref name=ReferenceA/><ref name=ReferenceC/><ref name=ReferenceB/> There were also claims that he may have had relationships with both roommates Paul Ivano and Douglas Gerrad, as well as Norman Kerry, and openly gay French theatre director and poet [[Jacques Hébertot]].<ref>[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 81, 271–272.</ref> However, Ivano maintained that it was untrue and both he and Valentino were [[heterosexual]].<ref name=leider111/> Biographers Emily Leider and Allan Ellenberger generally agree that he was most likely straight.<ref>[[#Ellenberger|Ellenberger]], p. 16</ref><ref>[[#Leider|Leider]], pp. 81, 126, 271–274.</ref>

There was further supposed evidence that Valentino was gay; documents in the estate of the late author [[Phil Andros|Samuel Steward]] indicated that Valentino and Steward were sexual partners.<ref>{{cite news |first=Patricia |last=Cohen |date=25 July 2010 |title=Sexual outlaw on the gay frontier |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref> However, evidence found in Steward's claim was subsequently found to be false, as Valentino was in New York on the date Steward claimed a sexual encounter occurred in Ohio.<ref>{{cite news |first=Thomas |last=Gladysz |date=31 August 2010 |title=The secret historian and the silent film star: One was gay |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-gladysz/the-secret-historian-and-_b_700927.html }}</ref>

Shortly before his death, Valentino was dating ''Ziegfeld Follies'' showgirl Marion Wilson Benda<ref>{{cite book |last=Curley |first=Mallory |year=2016 |title=Zeppo's Marion Benda and Valentino's Marion Benda: A legacy of confusion |publisher=Randy Press |pages=17, 20–22, 29–34 }}</ref> while he was also involved in a relationship with actress [[Pola Negri]]. Upon his death, Negri made a scene at his funeral, claiming they had been engaged, in spite of the fact that Valentino himself had never mentioned this engagement to anyone.<ref name=astor/>

==Death==
[[File:Valentinofuneral.jpg|thumb|A mourner grieves at the [[bier]] of Rudolph Valentino during the actor's funeral]]

On August 15, 1926, Valentino collapsed at the Hotel Ambassador on [[Park Avenue]] in Manhattan. He was hospitalized at the New York Polyclinic Hospital. Following an examination, he was diagnosed with [[appendicitis]] and [[gastric ulcers]], and surgery was performed immediately. (His condition would eventually be referred to as "[[Valentino's syndrome]]"—perforated ulcers mimicking appendicitis.) After surgery, Valentino developed [[peritonitis]]. On August 18, his doctors were optimistic about his prognosis. The media were told that unless Valentino's condition deteriorated, no updates would be given.<ref name="Plattsburgh-sentinel">{{cite news |url=http://news2.nnyln.net/plattsburgh-sentinel/1926/plattsburgh-sentinel-1926-july-september%20-%200091.pdf |title=Valentino Loses Battle With Death: Greatest of Screen Lovers Fought Valiantly For Life |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[The Plattsburgh Sentinel]] |page=1 |date=August 24, 1926 |access-date=May 15, 2010  |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723230738/http://news2.nnyln.net/plattsburgh-sentinel/1926/plattsburgh-sentinel-1926-july-september%20-%200091.pdf |archive-date=July 23, 2011 }}</ref> However, his condition worsened on August 21. He was stricken with a severe relapse of [[pleuritis]], which developed rapidly in his left [[human lung|lung]] due to his weakened condition.<ref name="Plattsburgh-sentinel" /> The doctors realized that Valentino was going to die, but as was common at the time, chose to withhold this information. Valentino reportedly believed that he would recover. During the early hours of Monday, August 23, Valentino was briefly conscious and chatted with his doctors about his future, but soon lapsed into a coma. He died a few hours later at the age of 31.<ref name="botham" /><ref name="Plattsburgh-sentinel" /> Following Valentino's death, doctors who treated him later confirmed that the actor had contracted [[sepsis]], an overwhelming infection.<ref>{{cite news|last=Meeker|first=Harold D.|date=September 4, 1926|title=SURGEON EXPLAINS VALENTINO'S DEATH; Dr. Meeker Describes in Detail the Diagnosis, Operation and Treatment of Actor. OVERWHELMED BY SEPSIS" Letter to Ullman Is Made Public by Dr. Wyman to "Aid Any Possible Investigation."|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1926/09/04/archives/surgeon-explains-valentinos-death-dr-meeker-describes-in-detail-the.html |access-date=October 24, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Funeral===
An estimated 100,000 people lined the streets of Manhattan to pay their respects at his funeral,<ref>Brownlow, Kevin. Hollywood, Episode "Swanson & Valentino," 1980; New York Daily News headline, August 24, 1926.</ref> handled by the [[Frank Campbell Funeral Home]]. Suicides of despondent fans were reported. Windows were smashed as fans tried to get in and an all-day riot erupted on August 24. Over 100 mounted officers and NYPD's Police Reserve were used to restore order. A phalanx of officers lined the streets for the remainder of the viewing. Polish actress [[Pola Negri]], claiming to be Valentino's fiancée, collapsed in hysterics while standing over the coffin,<ref>Brownlow, Kevin. Hollywood, Episode "Swanson & Valentino," 1980; interview with Ben Lyon, who was in charge of Valentino's funeral</ref> and Campbell hired four actors to impersonate a [[Blackshirts|Fascist Blackshirt honor guard]], purportedly sent by [[Benito Mussolini]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Big Town, Big Time |last=Maeder |first=Jay |year=1999 |publisher=Sports Publishing |isbn=1-58261-028-2 |page=57}}</ref> Media reports that the body on display in the main salon was not Valentino but a decoy were continually denied by Campbell.
[[File:Rudolph Valentino Grave.JPG|thumb|Valentino's [[crypt]] at Hollywood Forever Cemetery]]

Valentino's funeral mass in Manhattan was held on Monday, August 30 at [[Saint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church]], often called "The Actor's Chapel," as it is located on West 49th Street in the [[Theater District, Manhattan|Broadway theater district]], and has a long association with show-business figures.<ref name="mystique">[[#Ellenberger|Ellenberger]], p. 193</ref>

After Valentino's remains were taken by train from New York to California, a second funeral was held on the West Coast, at the Catholic [[Church of the Good Shepherd (Beverly Hills, California)|Church of the Good Shepherd]] in [[Beverly Hills]].<ref name="mystique" /> Valentino had no final burial arrangements and his friend [[June Mathis]] arranged a temporary solution when she offered a crypt that she had purchased for the husband whom she had since divorced.<ref>Brownlow, Kevin. Hollywood, Episode "Swanson & Valentino," 1980; interview with Paul Ivano</ref> Coincidentally, she died the following year and was interred in the adjoining crypt that she had purchased for herself; Valentino was never moved to a new location and he remained in the crypt next to Mathis. The two are still interred side by side at [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]] (originally Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery) in [[Hollywood, California]].<ref>Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 48263-48264). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.</ref>

===Estate===
Valentino left his estate to his brother, sister, and Rambova's aunt Teresa Werner, who was left the share originally bequeathed to Rambova.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,880917,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511052407/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,880917,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 11, 2009 |title=People: Sep. 20, 1926 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=March 24, 2008  |date=September 20, 1926}}</ref> His Beverly Hills mansion, [[Falcon Lair]], was later owned by heiress [[Doris Duke]], who died there in 1993. The home was later sold and underwent major renovations. The main building of the estate was razed in 2006, and the property was then put back on the market.<ref name="mystique" />

==Legacy==
[[File:The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) - 5.jpg|thumb|With [[Alice Terry]] in ''The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse'']]

After Valentino's death, many of his films were reissued to help pay his estate expenses. Many were reissued well into the 1930s, long after the demise of silent film. Several books were written, including one by Rambova.<ref>[[#Morris|Morris]], pp. 190, 191</ref> A photo montage print showed Valentino arriving in Heaven and being greeted by [[Enrico Caruso]].

Over the years, a "woman in black" carrying a red rose has come to mourn at Valentino's crypt, usually on the anniversary of his death. Several myths surround the woman, though it seems the first woman in black was actually a publicity stunt cooked up by press agent Russel Birdwell in 1928. A woman named Ditra Flame claimed to be the original "woman in black". Several copycats have followed over the years.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,760116,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113142932/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,760116,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2008 |title=Woman in Black |date=September 5, 1938 |magazine=Time  |access-date=April 11, 2008}}</ref> Although originally a PR stunt, it has become a tradition. The current "woman in black" is motion picture historian Karie Bible. This myth of "woman in black" was also a source of inspiration for the song "[[Long Black Veil]]."

Valentino's hometown of Castellaneta, Italy, has created several services in his honor. The Museo Rodolfo Valentino was opened in his childhood home and a memorial designed by architect Nicola Cantore with a blue [[ceramic]] statue of Valentino by Luigi Gheno was unveiled in 1961. 
The dedication of the memorial is the subject of a vignette in the documentary ''[[Mondo Cane]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nicola Cantore e Luigi Gheno davanti al monumento a Rodolfo Valentino|url=https://patrimonio.archivioluce.com/luce-web/detail/IL0000006615/9/nicola-cantore-e-luigi-gheno-davanti-al-monumento-rodolfo-valentino.html |access-date=August 23, 2021|website=Archivio Storico Luce|language=it}}</ref> Fondazione Rodolfo Valentino was created to promote his life and his work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fondazionevalentino.it/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=53 |title=the Rudolph Valentino Foundation was born in Castellaneta, an organization dedicated to Rudolph Valentino, honorary president is Silvie's Day, the nephew of the great star. |date=February 13, 2009 |publisher=fondazionevalentino.it |language=it |access-date=August 17, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lsdmagazine.com/e-nata-la-fondazione-rodolfo-valentino-nella-sua-natia-castellaneta/ |title=E' nata la Fondazione Rodolfo Valentino nella sua natia Castellaneta|last=Gagliano Candela |first=Eleonora |date=February 17, 2007 |magazine=lsdmagazine.com |language=it  |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref> In 2009, a film school was also opened in his hometown, Centro Studi Cine Club Rodolfo Valentino Castellaneta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libero-news.it/adnkronos/view/59570 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20111005061830/http://www.libero-news.it/adnkronos/view/59570 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 5, 2011 |title=Cinema: Nasce Fondazione Rodolfo Valentino, L'Omagg di Castellaneta Al 'Sud' Divo |date=February 17, 2009 |publisher=libero-news.it |language=it  |access-date=November 28, 2009}} {{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cbignore}}</ref> At the 1995 centennial of his birth, several events were held in his honor. From 1972 to 2006, an Italian acting award—The Rudolph Valentino Award—was handed out every year. Several actors from all over the world received this award, including [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] and [[Elizabeth Taylor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rudolphvalentinoawards.com|title=Rudolph Valentino Awards |publisher=premiorodolfovalentino.it  |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref>

In 1994, an opera by [[Dominick Argento]] (libretto by Charles Nolte) entitled ''The Dream of Valentino'' was premiered by the [[Washington National Opera]] in the [[District of Columbia]] .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boosey.com/pages/opera/moreDetails?musicID=6329|title=The Dream of Valentino |publisher=boosey&hawkes.com |access-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref> Reviews were not enthusiastic.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/17/arts/review-opera-clashing-keys-for-valentino.html|title=Review of The Dream of Valentino|newspaper=nytimes.com |date=January 17, 1994 |access-date=February 19, 2018|last1=Rothstein |first1=Edward }}</ref> The opera was revived by the [[Minnesota Opera]] in 2014, with similar reviews.

In Italy in 2006, a one-off film festival was planned to celebrate the opening of the Museo Rodolfo Valentino.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/puglia/new-festival-and-acting-school-rudolph-valentino|title=New Festival and Acting School For Rudolph Valentino|date=August 25, 2005|publisher=italymag.co.uk |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref> In May 2010, the American Society held the Rudolph Valentino Film Festival in Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://therudolphvalentinofilmfestival.com/about.html|title=The Rudolph Valentino Film Festival|publisher=therudolphvalentinofilmfestival.com|access-date=November 28, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123144201/http://therudolphvalentinofilmfestival.com/about.html |archive-date=January 23, 2010}}</ref>

[[Valentino's syndrome]], the type of medically emergent abdominal pain that caused his death, is named after him. [[Hollywood High School]]'s mascot, the Sheiks, is a tribute to a Valentino character.

Italian fashion designer [[Valentino (fashion designer)|Valentino]] is named after him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/the-last-emperor-inside-the-crazy-world-of-valentino-8348284.html|title=The Last Emperor: Inside The Crazy World Of Valentino|last=Georgieva|first=Zlatina|date=November 26, 2012|website=The Independent}}</ref>

===Films===
The life of Rudolph Valentino has been filmed several times for television and cinema. A 1951 feature film about Valentino's life, called ''[[Valentino (1951 film)|Valentino]]'', starred [[Anthony Dexter]] in the title role.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leh |first=Carol |date=December 2, 1951 |title=A High School Teacher Becomes Valentino |pages=40 |work=[[The Herald-Sun]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/789097662 |access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref> In 1975, [[American Broadcasting Company]] produced the television movie ''[[The Legend of Valentino]]'', with [[Franco Nero]] as Valentino.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jay Sharbutt|title=The Legend of Valentino Due Sunday |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5_BSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6853,3497946&dq=the-legend-of-valentino+franco+nero&hl=en |access-date=July 30, 2012|newspaper=[[Kingman Daily Miner]]|date=November 21, 1975}}</ref> In 1977, [[Ken Russell]]'s film ''[[Valentino (1977 film)|Valentino]]'', [[Rudolf Nureyev]] portrays Valentino.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 4, 1977 |title=Critics blast 'Valentino' |pages=34 |work=[[The Ithaca Journal]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/255242084 |access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref><ref name="theguardian/2016/valentino-russell-blu-ray"/>

In the 1977 spoof comedy ''[[The World's Greatest Lover]]'', Valentino was played by [[Gene Wilder]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Ken |date=December 22, 1977 |title=Gene Wilder romps as comic Valentino |pages=33 |work=[[Hamilton JournalNews]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/36273020/?terms=%22Gene%20Wilder%22%20Valentino%20&match=1 |access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref>

In 1986, the French TV channel FR3 produced the television movie ''Série portrait, Rudolph Valentino'', with Frédéric Norbert as Valentino.

In 2013, Valentino is played by actor/director Alex Monty Canawati in the motion picture ''[[Return to Babylon]]''.

In 2015, Valentino is a supporting character in the [[American Horror Story: Hotel|fifth season]] of the horror anthology series ''[[American Horror Story]]''. In the series, Valentino, who is played by [[Finn Wittrock]], fakes his own death in 1926 after being transformed into a vampire. Valentino then turns his fictional lover, Elizabeth Johnson ([[Lady Gaga]]), into a vampire, as well. Elizabeth goes on to become the Countess, the central antagonist of the show's fifth season, while Valentino is eventually killed by Donovan ([[Matt Bomer]]), one of Elizabeth's many lovers, in a jealous rage.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lambert |first=Marjie |date=October 13, 2013 |title=Visiting Rudolph Valentino's Hollywood |pages=J6 |work=[[Miami Herald]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/655407089 |access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref>

{{anchor|Silent Life: The Story of the Lady In Black}}In 2018, Vladislav Alex Kozlov had been set to play Valentino and direct an upcoming [[Indie film|indie]] [[biopic]] ''Silent Life'', with [[Franco Nero]] playing Valentino's spirit.<ref>{{cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/sherilyn-fenn-rudolph-valentino-biopic-silent-life-1202894930/|title='Twin Peaks' Star Sherilyn Fenn Joins Rudolph Valentino Biopic 'Silent Life'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 3, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref> Written by Vladislav Alex Kozlov, Ksenia Jarova, and Natalia Dar, the film stars [[Terry Moore (actress)|Terry Moore]], [[Isabella Rossellini]], [[Franco Nero]], [[Sherilyn Fenn]], Jeff DuJardin, [[Paul Rodriguez (actor)|Paul Rodriguez]], and [[Monte Markham]].<ref name="deadline/1235249623"/> Dreamer Pictures, and Vladislav Alex Kozlov produces, and Joy Boileau, Tyler Cassity, and Yogu Kanthiah, executive produce.<ref name="deadline/1235249623"/> On 19 February 2023, ''Silent Life: The Story of the Lady In Black'' U.S. premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival.<ref name="deadline/1235249623">{{cite news |last1=Complex |first1=Valerie |title=Oscar Nominee Terry Moore Returns To Film In Vladislav Alex Kozlov's Rudolph Valentino Biopic 'Silent Life' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/oscar-nominee-terry-moore-returns-to-film-in-rudolph-valentino-biopic-silent-life-1235249623/ |access-date=19 September 2023 |work=Deadline |date=4 February 2023}}</ref>

===Music===
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2022}}<!-- https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Rudolph+Valentino%22&and%5B%5D=mediatype%3A%22audio%22&and%5B%5D=year%3A%5B1926+TO+1974%5D -->
Shortly after his death, several songs in tribute to Valentino, including "There's a New Star in Heaven Tonight" and one by his first wife, Jean Acker, titled "We Will Meet at the End of the Trail", became bestsellers.<ref name="embezzler" /> In 1964, [[Freddie Hart]] recorded a ballad titled "Valentino".

* "Valentino", written by Shimrit Or and performed by [[Gali Atari]] in 1978.
* "Tribute to Tino", written and performed by Dutch-Indonesian new-wave singer [[Taco (singer)|Taco]] for his album ''[[After Eight (album)|After Eight]]'' in 1982
* "[[Valentino (Cadillac song)|Valentino]]", song performed by Spanish band Cadilac in the 1986 Eurovision song contest. 
* "Rudi" by [[Bebi Dol]], Yugoslavia (Serbia) in 1983
*"Valentino" was on [[Melanie Harrold]]'s first LP ("Fancy That" released 1979 under the pseudonym "Joanna Carlin").

==Filmography==
{{main|Rudolph Valentino filmography}}

==Works==
* Valentino, Rudolph (1923). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=IioPAAAAQAAJ Day Dreams].'' New York: [[MacFadden Publications]].{{open access}}<ref name="google/books=IioPAAAAQAAJ">{{cite book |last1=Valentino |first1=Rudolph |title=Day Dreams |date=1923 |publisher= [[MacFadden Publications]] |location=New York |url=<!-- https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCoPAAAAQAAJ -->https://books.google.com/books?id=IioPAAAAQAAJ |access-date=19 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* Valentino, Rudolph (1923). ''[https://archive.org/details/HowYouCanKeepFitByRudolphValentino How You Can Keep Fit].'' New York: [[MacFadden Publications]].{{open access}}<ref name="loc/1923/Copyright">{{cite book |author1=Copyright Office |title=Catalog of Copyright Entries. New Series: 1923 |date=1924 |publisher=Library of Congress |location=DC |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V6AhAQAAIAAJ&dq=Valentino+Rudolph+1923&pg=PA1272 |language=en}}</ref>
* Valentino, Rudolph (1929). ''My Private Diary.'' Occult Publishing Company.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Valentino |first1=Rudolph |title=My Private Diary |location= Chicago |publisher=Occult Publishing Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pGRRAQAAMAAJ |date=1929 |access-date=19 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Cited sources==
*{{cite book|ref=Ellenberger |title=The Valentino Mystique: The Death And Afterlife Of The Silent Film Idol |last=Ellenberger |first=Allan R. |author2=Ballerini, Edoardo  |year=2005 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=0-7864-1950-4}}
*{{cite book|ref=Leider|title=Dark Lover: The Life and Death of Rudolph Valentino|author=Leider, E.W.|date=2004|publisher=Faber & Faber, Incorporated |isbn=9780571211142}}
*{{cite book|ref=Morris|last=Morris|first=Michael|title=Madam Valentino|year=1991|publisher=Abbeville Press|isbn=1-55859-136-2}}
*{{cite book |ref=Rambova |last1=Rambova |first1=Natacha |author1-link=Natacha Rambova |title=Rudy: An Intimate Portrait of Rudolph Valentino |date=1926 |location=London |publisher=[[Hutchinson & Company]] |url=https://archive.org/details/rudy01ramb |language=en}}{{open access}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Rudolph Valentino}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.glbtq.com/arts/valentino_r.html |title=Valentino, Rudolph (1895–1926) |publisher=glbtq.com |access-date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924070037/http://www.glbtq.com/arts/valentino_r.html  |archive-date=September 24, 2012}}

'''Recordings'''
*{{cite web |last1=Valentino |first1=Rudolph  |title=El Relicario |url=https://archive.org/details/78_el-relicario_rudolph-valentino-1895-1926-jack-l-caidin_gbia0417513a |publisher=Celebrity Recording Company |location=[[Hollywood, California]] |language=English |date=May 14, 1923 |via=[[Internet Archive]] |quote="El Relicario" (from ''[[Blood and Sand (1922 film)|Blood and Sand]]'') recorded for [[Brunswick Records]], [[New York City]]}}{{open access}}
*{{cite web |last1=Valentino |first1=Rudolph  |title=Kashmiri Song |url=https://archive.org/details/78_kashmiri-song_rudolph-valentino-jack-l-caidin_gbia0417513b |publisher=Celebrity Recording Company |location=[[Hollywood, California]] |language=English |date=May 14, 1923 |via=[[Internet Archive]] |quote= "[[Kashmiri Song]]" (from ''[[The Sheik (film)|The Sheik]]'') recorded for [[Brunswick Records]], [[New York City]]}}{{open access}}

'''[[Metadata]]'''
* {{Librivox author |id=13979}}
* https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/136269
* [https://www.kinotv.com/page/bio.php?namecode=105390 Rudolph Valentino] at KinoTV by Unicorn Media
* {{Tcmdb name|336470%7C136269}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20171207224152/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f18d2e3]
* {{IMDb name|884388}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valentino, Rudolph}}
[[Category:Rudolph Valentino| ]]
[[Category:1895 births]]
[[Category:1926 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian male actors]]
[[Category:Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery]]
[[Category:Deaths from peritonitis]]
[[Category:French emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Italian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Italian male film actors]]
[[Category:Italian male silent film actors]]
[[Category:Italian people of French descent]]
[[Category:Italian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:French Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures contract players]]
[[Category:People from Bayside, Queens]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Taranto]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Male actors from Apulia]]