The Valentino Collection (1920)

As one of the most iconic personalities of the silent film era, Rudolph Valentino achieved an unprecedented level of fame, due in part to his exotic good looks and a magnetic personality that leapt from the screen. His undeniable cultural resonance, coupled with his untimely death in August of 1926, has made him a recognizable and still-relevant figure throughout the world. Flicker Alley s 2-Disc THE VALENTINO COLLECTION is the definitive DVD compilation featuring digital reconstructions and home video premieres of four previously unavailable Valentino films a new digital reconstruction of two lost films: The Young Rajah (1922) and Stolen Moments (1920), featuring new musical scores by Jon Mirsalis, A Society Sensation (1918), featuring Bob Mitchell at the pipe organ, and Moran of the Lady Letty (1922), featuring a restoration of the film s original intertitle text and tinting and a new score by Robert Israel. The collection boasts an extensive assortment of bonus short films (with new musical scores), rare audio recordings, previously unpublished photos, promotional materials, production photos and other rare items detailing several aspects of Valentino s remarkable life and legacy, sure to fascinate film fans and scholars alike. DVD FEATURES: *All new, speed-corrected film transfers and new digitally recorded music for all featured films and silent shorts Five Vintage Bonus Films: Rare silent shorts featuring new music scores by Bob Mitchell at the pipe organ, including A Trip to Paramountown, Screen Snapshots, and Character Studies. In addition, two more sound films: Round About Hollywood, an early Cinecolor travelogue, and Rudolph Valentino, an early memorial tribute film Additional Rare Footage: Unique Valentino (and Valentino-related) film clips, including a newly-uncovered, original 35 mm tinted nitrate fragment from Stolen Moments Valentino In Memoriam: An exceptional collection of rare images and vintage audio recordings, including an exclusive audio interview with the original Lady in Black, Ditra Flame Valentino Forever: A new short film by author and historian Tracy Ryan Terhune documenting the Valentino memorial services and the history of the Lady in Black Valentino Landmarks: Explore significant locations of Valentino s life in Hollywood, featuring an interactive video tour of his Falcon Lair estate, slide shows of his Whitley Heights residence and personal belongings, and historic descriptions of the Formosa Apartments and Lasky Studios. A Friend Remembered: A fascinating collection of over 75 captioned behind the scenes and candid images (many never-before-published) photographed by Valentino s close friend, Paul Ivano Who's Who In Hollywood: Over 80 pages of biographical information and unique photographs of the major performers and technicians involved with the four featured VALENTINO COLLECTION films, as well as key persons in Valentino s life Virtual Scrapbooks: Over 175 historical documents from the four featured VALENTINO COLLECTION films including lobby cards, poster art, advertisements, production stills, and other surviving promotional materials Two Remarkable Slide Show Presentations: Valentino The Athlete and Valentino and His Beloved Pets feature two different sides of the Valentino persona New Booklet Essay: DVD introduction by Emily W. Leider, author of Dark Lover - The Life and Death of Rudolph Valentino Product Description

Rudolph Valentino and his los movies.

wow, great 2-DVD-Set. there are two long believed lost movies.
Attention: those 2 movies are not complett. any scenes are added with photo from that movie. Maybe one day will discovered the whole movies.

Very nice too any audio-takes. July 31, 2008

Truly Phenomenal Set.

Once again Flicker Alley has come through with another top notch release to join GARDEN OF EDEN, JUDEX, and PHANTOM. VALENTINO: REDISCOVERING AN ICON OF SILENT CINEMA (to give the set it's full title) is a 2-DVD set that contains 4 of Rudy's lesser known films and a boatload of extras. This time around the extras are better than the films offered. This is primarily because 2 of the 4 films survive in shortened form (STOLEN MOMENTS, A SOCIETY SENSATION) while a third (THE YOUNG RAJAH) is actually a realization created from stills and surviviving 16mm footage. Only MORAN OF THE LADY LETTY (based on a book by Frank Norris) is presented more or less intact with proper tints and title cards which is good because this follow-up to THE SHEIK shows Paramount creating a more macho image for Valentino to counter criticisms about his "masculinity" and to show off his physique to good advantage. There are lines/title cards in the beginning referring to him as "a dancing master" and a "lilly of the valley".
The extras though are something else altogether. Bonus films, rare footage, landmarks, rememberances, and a 10 page booklet chock full of photos and information. The packaging is first rate and the quality of the material is as good as it can be which makes this set ideal for people just becoming acquainted with Valentino as well as the longtime afficionado. For those just becoming familiar with Rudy don't forget to check out the major Valentino releases such as THE SHEIK/SON OF THE SHEIK, BLOOD AND SAND, COBRA, and FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE (where is the Photoplay edition on DVD?). Hardcore fans will already have these titles in their collections along with everything else Valentino. Now if Flicker Alley could just see their way to releasing to the home market their collection of early Howard Hughes films (TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS, THE RACKET, THE MATING CALL) then silent film fans would have something else to be thankful for. On a more scholarly note Flicker Alley's DISCOVERING CINEMA containing documentaries on the development of color and sound in the movies is also now available. September 24, 2007

A boon for Valentino and silent film fans

This wonderful 2-disc set is crammed with a variety of exciting extra features besides rare and less-known films by Valentino, and for the effort to put it all together in this beautifully presented package this Flicker Alley DVD release already deserves a full 5-star rating. As one of Hollywood's greatest screen legends from the silent era, Rudolph Valentino is still attracting fans of all ages decades after his untimely death in 1926, which is a testament of the extraordinary on-screen magnetism that made him such a huge star in his short-lived career. The films on these two DVDs, however, are not the ones that made him one of Hollywood's first sex symbols and idol for many swooning women, but they do fill the gaps and show Valentino in transition from playing villain roles in short or less significant films, to being the star in a hero-type role for which he is best remembered these days. As such, there are none of the trademark intense and soulful looks in these earlier films for which he later became so beloved, nor are they of the same calibre as "The Sheik" or "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse", but they are important steps in Valentino's career which would interest not only his fans but also the general silent film enthusiast. Two of the films are only about half an hour in length, and the picture quality is not the best, but with good piano or organ accompaniment and an interesting story, they are enjoyable to watch. "Stolen Moments" intrigued me the most, mainly because this was Valentino's last villain role, and wearing a moustache, he appears like a different person altogether. The 1-hour feature, "Moran of the Lady Letty" is a standard romance-adventure with Valentino as the hero who finds freedom and love on the high seas when he is shanghaied by a crew involved in illegal trade, but perhaps the highlight of the four films is the one that is incomplete and has been lovingly reconstructed, namely "The Young Rajah". The themes of mystic Indian powers of foresight which Valentino as the young rajah has inherited, but who was whisked to safety New England when his father's throne was usurped, make this one of his most fascinating and interesting films, even in this incomplete condition. The use of many still photographs and good intertitles to fill the gaps summarizes the story very well, especially in the first half of the film which is sadly missing. The film footage that does exist is in poor shape, but all together this condensed and reconstructed version which still runs for about an hour is satisfying to watch nevertheless, and gives insight into Valentino's other popular roles of the early 1920s.

Along with this variety of four different films from Valentino's transition years, there is a very nice little booklet and many bonus features of all sorts from slide shows, videos of Valentino's Beverly Hills home, never-before-seen short featurettes such as behind-the-scenes on "The Sheik" and a 1931 tour around Hollywood, profiles on many people Valentino knew and worked with, and a radio interview with the `Lady in Black' who was seen attending Valentino's memorial every year on the anniversary of his death, and who has become part of the enduring Valentino legacy and memorial. Needless to say, this DVD set is a real treat for Valentino fans, but also interesting historic information for the serious film enthusiast.
September 21, 2007

Interesting, But Nothing to Go Overboard About

I bought this for a much lower price elsewhere. As a Valentino fan, of course, I had to have it. Am I satified? Somewhat. Would I recommend it? Somewhat.
I am not so enthusiasic about it as the other reviewer. It is interesting IF you are a Valentino fan; some pictures of Valentino and others are rare and the DVD as a whole is a fine concerted effort, although I did spot an error in writing here and there.
His earlier films are here, but missing are the LATER, more popular and well known movies. This is my problem with this DVD, or one of my problems. The real treat, for me, anyway, is the Natacha Rambova (we have the same name!) trailer for When Love Grows Cold---now THAT was interesting. I really cannot say that the entire content was material I did not come upon in other books or documentaries---yes, some shots I was quite amazed to see. Bottom line: Look, if you are a Valentino fan, it's a nice DVD to own---even if you are a fan and pass this up, don't worry.....you are really not missing THAT much; for others; a no go. September 18, 2007

Valentino really is forever!

What a fabulous job Jeff Masino of Flicker Alley and his co-producer on this project, Tracy Terhune did for this beautiful 2 DVD set devoted to the silent hero and hearthrob Rudolph Valentino.

For the Valentino fans who have been waiting for this set, I am certain that I am preaching to the choir here, but let me tell you that you will not be at all disappointed when you put in either of the 2 DVDs into your player.

There are four films in the set, and as Emily Leider wisely notes in the booklet, this does cover important periods in Valentino's ascent on the road to stardom.

In chronological order then:

A Society Sensation predates Valentino's stardom, he was a contract player at Universal and not quite on the brink of stardom. He plays a young American which was quite the change for he was typically cast as a villain at this stage of his career.

Stolen Moments captures Valentino just before his meteoric rise to fame in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (hello, Warners, this film NEEDS to be on DVD), he is a slick villain and it is clear, he is taking a great delight in the thankless role, so smooth and despicable he is!

Moran of the Lady Letty is a sleeper hit from 1921, filmed after Valentino made a splash as The Sheik and it is a real sleeper in the way of Valentino films. Valentino plays a young and weathy dandy of San Francisco society who ends up being shanghaied and becomes a man, and finds love with his unlikely sea captain, Moran of the Lady Letty. Valentino gives a very naturalistic performance and it's worth it to see him looking every inch an able seaman swabbing decks.

Of the films, the disappointment to some will be the restored portions of The Young Rajah. But, let's face it folks, it's all we are likely ever to get on this film. The care that went into trying to recreate the experience of the film is not to be sneered at. Cinematically, the print leaves one wanting, but there is gold in there, too.

I cannot even go into the extras, there are so many. The photos and memorabilia and fabulous to see, even the DVD menus are done with great care and attention to detail. There is much rare candid footage of Valentino, footage of his former home Falcon Lair and an incredible collection of photos from Valentino's close friend Paul Ivano, none of which have seen the light of day prior to this DVD. There is also a new documentary on Valentino Forever and the history of the annual memorial services in Hollywood. I could go on and on, if you love silent film, if you love Valentino, this is a terrific set to have.

This set is 100% worth every penny, and then some, as there is so much to it. It will keep a Valentino fan happy for many many hours. Do not hesitate, this is so worth having. As a Valentino fan you owe it to yourself, and a silent film fan, you owe it to yourself and if you wait to receive it as an Xmas gift, you will be sorry you waited.

Valentino in this set truly is forever. August 29, 2007

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