Anthony Dexter

Eleanor Parker

Richard Carlson

Patricia Medina

Joseph Calleia

Dona Drake

Lloyd Gough

Otto Kruger

Lewis Allen

Edward Small

Harry Stradling Sr.

George Bruce

Jan Grippo

Heinz Roemheld

David Chudnow

Daniel Mandell

William Flannery

Howard Bristol

Emmett Emerson

John P. Fulton

Ern Westmore

Marie Clark

Fred Lau

Travis Banton

Larry Ceballos

Drama

Romance

Valentino

Edward Small Productions

Columbia Pictures

United States of America

CinemaSerf

"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.

English