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Rudolph Valentino
After a trip to Europe, where he finally got to visit his family, Valentino returned to the States and signed what looked like a great deal. Ritz Carlton Pictures offered him $7,500 a week, full creative control, and permission to film in New York. Rambova negotiated the deal, though the pair later found it was not as it seemed. The films would be distributed through their old enemy, Famous Players, they still had to make two pictures for Famous Players, and eventually they found their budget and location restraints too constricting.
Valentino's comeback picture was "Monsieur Beaucaire" which was released in 1924. The pair were given full artistic control and Natacha designed the costumes and sets. However it was a poor story choice for bringing back the virile popular Latin Lover and many small town viewers found it 'too artsy and effeminate'. The film is usually blamed as Natacha's misstep, though Natacha claimed they were given the choice between only two stories and this was the better of the two. The film flopped and whether fairly or not, the blame was given fully to Natacha. Despite this, "Monsieur Beaucaire" holds up better over time, being one of the rare films Valentino was allowed to do comedy.
The couple's next film "A Sainted Devil" (now lost) was again blamed as a Natacha misstep. The film went for a stylized Latin Lover story, but again did poorly at the box office. Glad to be done with Famous Players the pair set about their pet project, "The Hooded Falcon".
"The Hooded Falcon" (never made) was a disaster at every turn. Rambova started on a script, but felt her writing ability wasn't strong enough. Valentino asked Mathis to work on it but Rambova rejected Mathis' work. Thus ended the friendship, as June refused to speak to either of them until the divorce (the reasons behind this split are probably more complex than generally realized; click here for more details.)
Several other writers were brought in, but a suitable script seemed out of reach. Rambova spent too much on costumes, blowing twice the original budget before the film had been shot. Ullman feared the film would flop anyways; it was the story of a Moorish Prince in which Valentino would wear a beard. He indeed grew the beard which was the subject of much debate in the press.
Before "The Hooded Falcon" fully imploded, Ritz Carlton convinced Valentino and Naldi to work on a quick film, "Cobra". "Cobra" used most the same cast and crew as Hooded Falcon but was much less artistic. The film once again flopped, thus meaning Valentino had not had a box office success since 1922's "Blood and Sand".
Ritz Carlton had enough and terminated the contract. United Artists approached Valentino and offered $10,000 a week, a percent of profits, and again creative control. However, a stipulation was Rambova would be barred from his sets. Desperate to keep his career going, Valentino took the deal. Rambova was given a peace offering of $30,000 to finance her own film, with which she made titled, "What Price Beauty?" (now lost). While she made this film, Valentino was waiting for his contract to finalize and unable to work. During this time, their marriage fell apart. Natacha was deeply hurt by his acceptance of the contract and felt her help with his career was not fully appreciated (indeed she had handled the business side better than he ever had). She began an affair to get back at him. There had been deeper troubles before this. Valentino had wanted a housewife and mother, not an independent career woman (which, indeed, Rambova was). Rambova didn't care for children and according to Naldi had no less than 3 abortions during the marriage (of course this is impossible to prove). Ironically, one of the few people to state Natacha wanted children was George Ullman, who did not get along with her. Meanwhile, Valentino had desperately wanted children. As Rambova headed back to New York for what was to be a quiet separation, she announced it to the press unbeknownst to Valentino. He was hurt and divorce proceedings soon began. The divorce took place before the end of 1925.
Valentino set to work on "The Eagle" which was the first of his pairings with Vilma Banky. Likely they were just friends as Valentino embarked on an affair with Pola Negri soon after. Negri threw a grand performance during his funeral, which damaged her public reputation. She claimed they were to be married, but those who knew the pair said they were just having fun and no engagement took place.
"The Eagle" was released in 1925 and did moderate box office. Compared to his last few films it was a smash hit. To this day it is one of his best performances, mixing comedy and action. As one reviewer noted, it was like an early James Bond film.
Valentino then began work on "Son of the Sheik". He had hated the Sheik image his entire career, yet knew the money would be too good to pass up. This time around the film had a solid writer (Francis Marion), solid co-stars (Vilma and the incredibly funny Karl Dane), and authentic costumes he had bought during his travels. The film plays off way less stereotypes than the first; and his acting is superb. In full irony it is one of his best films, and makes one wonder what he could have done had he lived.
"Son of the Sheik" opened in 1926, right before his death. The film had great fanfare and box office, which went into overdrive when Valentino died on August 23rd, 1926. He had been ill for sometime, complaining of stomach pain. Several friends including June Mathis tried to persuade him to see a doctor, but he refused. On August 15th, he collapsed at the Ambassador Hotel and underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer. The surgery went well, but infection set in, which is what caused his death. He had been wiring Natacha during his illness (she was in Europe) and both Ullman (who was with Valentino during his final days) and Natacha, believed a reconciliation had taken place. She was devastated to learn he died. Valentino himself seemed optimistic, telling his doctor he would take him on a fishing trip for being so good to him. Ullman said during one of his last days he asked for a mirror, 'so he could see what he looked like when he was sick, so he can act it right in film'.