Natacha Rambova is NOT my favorite person. I have set my opinion on her. However, the childish back and forth that i see coming from RV and his marrige can be judged by one person alone and that's Rudy. The proof is in the pudding, we know how she treated him, and bearing that in mind, you can either lik her or not, but enough with this ridiculous bickering and try to stay relevant to the topic. This vid is about Rudy and his formor wife-not a religious debate.
@ccipollini1984 How can you have a fixed opinion on someone when most the negativity projected toward her is based upon distorted facts, biased opinions and falsehoods? For me, that is being deplorably closed-minded.
Number one, I did not know not liking Natacha Rambova was a crime. Number two, I have formed my opinion on Natacha based on my own assesments and own observations. Your "like Natacha or go to Hell" attitude is the close minded one. Stop fighting it and let it go.
@ccipollini1984 Disliking Rambova is certainly not a crime. It is, however, hard to take your opinion seriously when your unabashed man-love for "Rudy" is clearly the driver for your Rambova disdain. I personally like and respect them both.
Don't marginalize my respect for RV as "manlove". It's just reverence and respect.
Don't analyze why I don't like her either. I don't see the need to. Is is really so important that you must harp on about it like a 12 yr old? Accept the fact I (gasp) have an opinion other then yours and let it GO.
same as msrudyfan. she was vain, cold and used Rudy to her owns means. I don't see what you are driving at.Why does this mean so much to you? People like you make youtube a sour experience. Coming here to turn a video into a debate and carry on like a child.
She was strange/haughty--and almost derailed V.'s career. BUT she was also ahead of her time as one of the first female directors and designers. They were ALMOST soul mates--but it just didn't work.
p.s. you have no idea what it is like growing up in Utah and not being the typical Mormon- if you are different in any way -religion- race or especially sexual orientation- you are treated like a pariah- I respect her because she rose above that AND MORE........I was raised mormon and witnessed firsthand what this culture does to people-
Would you try to keep it relevant to the topic. If you feel so strongly about this, then write a book. Also, i saw your snarky comment on Msrudyfan's page and how you claimed to be a gentleman. You sir, are as much a gentleman as bald is a hairstyle.
I really don't give a damn about Valentinos or Rambovas personal life- The fact is everyone that knows for sure is DEAD- there is as much evidence their marraige was a "violet" one as a straight one-My comments were made from the opinions made about Rambova and Valentino- the fact is a woman doing what she did even under a nom du plume in her age was REVOLUTIONARY - I'm sich of Valentinos "corpsehags" attacking her
Great video with appropriate music - love this! Rambova was pretty & Rudy a living doll, but eventually she would have ruined him - she almost did. If someone loved me that much, I would have given up everything for him....
Thanks for posting all these great photos of Rambova. I personally think Michelle Phillips was physically a good choice to potray her in the movie Valentino. She looks quite a bit like her.
to ccipollini1984 - you may be gay but you are a moron - in Valentinos' own journal- in his own hand he records an explicit one night stand with a man in 1924.............Rambova is a superstar in my opinion, but she had many roles including that of the wife of a "straight" Valentino at the most he was bi- but not straight........She is one of the best things Utah ever produced but is ignored because she wasn't a " good mormon girl mormons are morons
You got alot of reading up to do. Even the author of Dark Lover said it was speculation, but hey, believe what you want. Calling people names if they don't agree with you. Nice.
Oh and FYI- you must be refering to the "Intimate Journal of Valentino", which is almost all fiction and highly sensationalized. I wouldn't pay 5 cents for it.
@WGBudd801 It was published in 1931 by William Faro Publishing. This book is not truly the intimate journal of Valentino, it is not written by him in anyway. You actually think Valentino would write something like that in a journal, come on now..In future please refrain from calling people on my channel "Morons"
@deep71483 I have a photo of her with her first husband in this video, its a dance photo, so pre-Valentino. But I dont think Ive seen a pic of her older, maybe in some of the books out there??
@staclynn72 Theodor Koslov was not Rambova's husband--he was married to someone else when she was having an affair with him at age 17 after getting kicked out of a British boarding school. Valentino was her first husband. Her second was Alvaro de Urzaiz, a Spanish aristocrat, who divorced her. Alvaro does resemble Valentino, though.
@deep71483 There's a biography of her that has such photos. She had a heart attack at age 40. She developed an auto-immune disorder that caused her organs to slowly change into scar tissue, including her esophagus. Eventually, she was unable to swallow and became delusional due to malnutrition. A cousin took her to Pasadena, CA, where she died. She didn't look that great after Valentino. She married a Spanish aristocrat who resembled RV. He divorced her. She refused him children as well.
@deep71483 I saw one pic of her after Valentino's death. She looked pretty much the same except her hair was cut in a long bob. She was still beautiful but did not seem to stand out as much.
I forgot to say that I love this. It is time the myths surrounding Rudy's sexuality are put to rest & NR certainly disproved any speculation. I don't really care if Rudy was gay or bi (I have friends that are) but Rudy cared. He cared enough to risk his health & looks by getting into a fight over the rumors. The biographer of DARK LOVER Emily Leider (who is considered the most authoritive expert on Rudy) found nothing supporting the rumors. She did, however, find he loved NR.
I myself am gay and I am telling everyone (and i know what colorful characters float around the Valentino fanbase) THIS was a very straight man. The way people debate it and agrue it to death is utterly pointless to me. Men have wished thier favorite male stars gay since shakesphere. Hell, I'd love it it Bradley Cooper was gay (drool) but when you dot all the "I's and add everything up, RV's supposed homosexuality is Hollywood Myth 101.
@ccipollini1984 hey, you got Richard Chamberlain, and that's enough. Be grateful for that. lol. If Valentino would turn out to have been gay, I'd start hating gay men.
I am the biographer of Natacha Rambova, the author of MADAM VALENTINO published by Abbeville Press in 1991. This is a superb video tribute to a woman who is still much maligned. I am familiar with many of these pictures as they come from my book, and many of the comments also reflect information contained therein. Thank you for this wonderful tribute. You did a great job! M Morris
@NRambova I have recently been learning about her and her impact on the media. How did so many of us miss such a talent? I have a question not only about her, but about so many silent screen actresses. Have you noticed how many of them did not have children? Many did not. I wonder why.
@Kathylouu I guess work consumes them..their passion is their work... Life for a woman in Natacha's time would be sitting at home raising kids...I can't see her being happy with that.
@staclynn72 I hope that is the case. I'd read that during the roaring 20's there was quite a bit of VD spread amongst the stars (I don't want to ruin it for everybody) they had cures but they were not as good as today's (of course). It was rumored that Rudy had VD and his first wife-Acker- would not sleep with him (she was also a lesbian) so who knows. I read that Rudy really wanted children and I read NR had a spellbinding effect on him. IDK, it is just sad. Read she had 3 abortions.
@Kathylouu Yes, all those are the rumors, I think the story of Syphilis was by his Brother, and he said Rudolfo got it from a Prostitute in Italy..I cant remember what I read. I'm sure someone will add to this topic at sometime on this video! Speaking of VD I work in OBGYN..Theres still a lot of VD out there, I need to make TShirts saying your STD is my job security! ;)
@ccipollini1984 Yeah, I admit I was concerned it would be offensive. Somehow I got caught up in messaging the author of MADAM VALENTINO and it is here on the wall for all to read. Sorry if I ruined it for you. I extend my apologies to others that find it offensive as well. I was just curious. I certainly would not be offended if the creator of this beautiful tribute chooses to delete my comments. Best wishes to all.
The Madam Valentino book and the Affairs Valentino book seem a little "tabloid-ish"for my tastes. The author has been saying alot of things that sound like little more than rumor and unfounded speculation. In my opinion, the only great books on Rudy are "Dark Lover" and his journal from his european trip overseas. The latter is hard to come by. But for the grace of ebay do i have a copy.
@staclynn72 I heard it was gonorrhea, and that Jean Acker said she told him he had contracted it. They did have cures for it then, although not as successful as today's antibiotics, they were successful much of the time. That didn't seem to stop him from being sexually active, as there is much proof of this. If he had a scorching case of the clap, I imagine he wold have infected some of his partners and they would have said something--they or later on. I think he was cured.
@staclynn72 This is a classy video and you have great flair. I am glad you used as many images as you did and such a variety. If you ever need more photos for future work on Rambova I have many in my own collection from having written her biography 20 years ago. The new biography on Valentino written by Evelyn Zumaya helps to explain why Rambova never had a child by Valentino. It was more complicated than rumors of VD. It would seem that he already had another child from a previous liaison...
@NRambova Her refusal to have children isn't complicated at all. She also refused to have children with her second husband. If you look at her life starting with getting kicked out of a British boarding school, to running off with a married man, to using Valentino to advance her career, to her obsession with Egypt and seances, I think narcissism explains her best. Ullman and other contemporaries did not like her. She threatened to sue anyone who included information about her in RV films--why?
I am big fan of both Valentino and Rambova, and even I can say that the Valentino fans here are being unfairly harsh and judgmental toward Rambova. So she doesn't smile in her pictures....big deal! As more books come out, she seems to be less scorned upon and in recent times her talent has become more evident. Gotta love everyones enthusiasm though!
@thisgunforhire05 Thanks for your "intelligent comment" all this fighting over the Rambova topic is getting really old..."Like she said herself, I shall undoubtedly be serverly criticized"....Did she know for how many years!!!!!!
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My issue with Rambova is that she had everything--family wealth, a sweet, loving mother, the passionate love of the world's most desired man, artistic opportunities and beauty, but in every picture she looks bored, bitchy or unhappy. Books say she was demanding, unreasonable, manipulative and difficult to get along with and she inflicted a lot of pain on her mother and RV. If she had the talent she thinks she had, she would be remembered as something more than the wife of Valentino.
Natacha Rambova had more talent in her pinky than Valentino did in his whole body. And the title of this video is degrading to her ingenious, highly revered art direction skills.
@classics4life The Title "The Wife of Rudolph Valentino" had to be there, as people these days would have no idea who she was....sad but true. I happen to like the woman, she was talented, I respect her, if you take this the wrong way because of the title of the video, then your thinking too hard. The song reflects the relationship they had with each other, not my opinion of her. Thanks for your commets and defending her, your one of the few! ~Respect~
Personally, I disagree. I think she was a talented artist, yes. I mean the sets of Camille are unbelievably beautiful, but I truly believe she used Rudy. The public also disliked her. Case in point her film "What Price Beauty" which was a flop. A very cold character.
@ccipollini1984 THANKS! for your comment, I actually watched your review of the Valentino thing with Dexter this morning,! Thanks for voicing your opinion on her! Come see my new facbook page for Rudy..Rudolph Valentino and other men from Old Hollywood. Link is on my Youtube page.
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@classics4life Please cite examples proving her "talent". Her designs were copied from Aubrey Beardsley. "The Young Rajah" and "Monsieur Beaucaire" prove her ideas didn't have commercial or critical success, and she was never a leader in the fields of Egyptology or the occult, which were trendy at the time. She thought herself superior to everyone, including RV, but was not successful on her own, either professionally or personally. She alienated RV from his friends and broke his heart.
@msrudyfan Natacha Rambova's personal life has nothing to do with her artistic talent, and making references to it in every comment, only makes one appear disturbingly biased against her. Also, the fact that many of her film projects (most notably with Nazimova) were critical and financial failures has nothing to do with her talent, as well; for we all know many revered artists that went unnoticed during his/her lifetime.
@msrudyfan In addition, it would be ignorant to dismiss NR's impact on the early development of American art house cinema; her talents were more praised across the Atlantic (most famously by Erte, the Father of Art Deco) and influential on European and Soviet cinema a la Marcel L'Herbier and Aelita: Queen of Mars (1924).
Could be wrong but heard NR had 3 abortions and never told Rudy. But don't think Rudy left her anything in his will which is kinda a slap in the face.
@staclynn72 Nita Naldi, RV's co-star in "Blood and Sand" and "Cobra", leaked the story about the abortions. She accompanied NR to one of them, which was performed in France when she and RV went there to purchase costumes, etc for "Hooded Falcon", that was never made. In the 1950's when her mother asked her if it was true, NR replied "I told you I'd never have children." This was reported by a relative. I think it's more than a rumor. I don't know when NN leaked the story or if RV knew.
@shellakers10 He had assets and liabilities. After the probate of it all, I'm not sure what the final accounting was. He left behind an array of high quality items, a house, some animals, at least one nice car. He had a will. I think his brother ended up living in his house for awhile or something like that. However to answer your question, I don't know.
@Kathylouu When he died "Son of the Sheik" had just been released, and it proved to be very successful, eventually making lots of money, but at the time of his death, he was in serious debt. Alberto moved the US and did live at Falcon Lair for several years. RV's possessions didn't fetch their true value, but eventually there was money to distribute to Alberto, Maria and Aunt Teresa. I just saw photos of a gorgeous Isotta Frachini that was on order when he died and delivered after his death.
@80stimeagain HA HA HA! Having our parents hire private detectives to find us after we run off to see the world is something that runs in the family.
@staclynn72 Thanks for posting this, I think Natacha's quote at the end of your video says all that needs to be said.
And to everyone who has anything negative to say about er life, I want you to remember one thing- before her designing career, her life as a spiritualist and before egyptology, Natacha was first and foremost a scholar
@aziraphale1334 Was she a scholar before or after she got kicked out of the British boarding school for conduct unbecoming a lady--or, was it before or after she, at age 17, became the mistress of a married man? Just wondering. Are any of her "scholarly" works in publication, other than her comments about RV? Did Hollywood beat down her door wanting her to design for them? No--they banned her from studio property. Did any of her contemporaries speak highly of her--No. She was very disliked
It is so easy to condemn people you don't know, isn't it? Did it ever cross your mind that some men need a strong women just as some women need a strong man in their lives?
If he didn't want someone to handle his affairs and problems he would not have hooked up with such a strong women. I like strong women, and so did he. I think you women would embrace an early feminist; but since you don't know her you pass judgment so quickly. Open your minds if you can....
@trevorwozny Thanks for the comment, like I keep telling people., we don't know who Valentino really was any more than we know who she really was, I told one person RV could have been a little shit to live with. They need to let it go. I read her book, I think she was a woman before her time. Just because she didn't want children does not make her evil. Again Thanks for the post.
@trevorwozny When RV saw the rave reviews for "The Eagle", he cried, not just because of the praise but according to his friends, he realized how much better his acting could have been on previous films if he hadn't listened to NR. RV was not sophisticated in business and was very trusting. She was manipulative and egotistical. He didn't "need" her at all for acting. He did love her, however, but would not have gone through life without children, so the marriage would never have worked.
This woman was an oportunistic bitch of the worst kind. she should have just married herself so poor rudy didn't end up getting his heart torn to peices like she caused him to do.
@MollyAnn2009 Miss Molly Ann: Yes, she was strong, probably intelligent, but also irritable, abrasive, narcissistic, controlling, selfish and arrogant . She left a lot of emotional distress in her wake, Rudy being the main one, but her mother as well, who seemed like she was a nice lady. United Artists barred her from even entering their property because she was a troublemaker when Rudy was acting. If she was as talented as she thought she was, the studios would have put up with her.
@msrudyfan There's no dout that she was a difficult person, but she must have had some really good points also in order for Ruddy to love her so much.
@MollyAnn2009 I think that many men, including Rudy, define themselves by the woman on their arm. She was beautiful, and was very bright. At the time, she was celebrated as an art deco artist. At the studio, all the men were interested in her. When they first got together, they had fun scraping by hunting small game and collecting mussels to help make ends meet. He was a rising star and she was there when he was fulfilling his dreams of sucess, but he had other dreams she couldn't fulfill.
@msrudyfan Thanks for commenting, I am surprised by all the negative comments about her. None of us know this woman, or what she was really like. I love Valentino and everything about him.....Although... We don't know what he was really like either! he could have been a little shit in real life! I won't speak bad about the dead. They can't fight back...
@staclynn72 You are right, of course, no one living today actually knew either one of them, and so the only thing to judge them by are the comments and opinions of those who did know them. NR had many detractors while she was living, most of whom were persons who loved Rudy and saw what she did to him. Also, NR gave interviews to movie magazines, one of which is an article entitled: "May a Wife Deny Her Husband Children?" He was the first superstar and the consensus is that she used him.
@staclynn72 One other thing: To my knowledge, the only person who knew Rudy that had anything negative to say about him was Alice Terry, who said the best thing he did for his career was to die. Her husband was director Rex Ingram, who didn't like Rudy, and who said he could take any handsome Latin man and turn him into a Valentino--he tried this with Anthony Moreno and Ramon Novorro, and failed, so he made a fool of himself. He quit directing when the talkies started.
@staclynn72 You don't have to speak badly about her--those who knew her in real life already have. Ullman's book was published about 2 months after RV's death. He had nothing good to say about her and describes in detail how egotistical she was, how she manipulated him and how he had to leave the house sometimes to get away from her bitching. He describes in detail the pain she caused him. I think he soft-pedaled her refusal to have children to keep the public from throwing eggs at her.
@msrudyfan This topic has been done to death. I'm going to refrain from further comments on Mrs Valentino. But Thanks for posting a comment and watching my video. :)
I really want to read that book, but sadly have to save my funds right now. last time i checked, it was on ebay and the price was upto and including 300 dollars and even then it was pretty "chewed"...
@ccipollini1984 The Natacha book I found first at my local library, and then I got a copy from Amazon. Ullman's book was more expensive, but not anywhere close to $300.00. I think I got it on Amazon too. There were lots of copies printed in 1926. This book was released in October, 1926, less than 2 months after Rudy's death. Ullman really cared about Rudy and really disliked Natacha. Those who like NR say that he was competing with her over controlling Rudy, but I don't think so.
@ccipollini1984 Just checked Amazon--they have 3 copies, ranging from $48 to $79. None of them is in pristine condition, and they don't have dust covers, but this is better than $300.00.
@staclynn72 We can thank the famous Art Deco painter Federico Beltran-Masses for taking the gun away from him. When this didn't work, he started driving recklessly and did have wrecks, but no serious injuries. All the time, the stress was eating a hole in his stomach until it eventually killed him. NR's cousin said that she vacillated between feeling terrible remorse over the way she treated him to saying she wished she never met him--consistent with her narcissistic personality.
without going into a long diatribe, she was cold hearted and controlling. She kept RV on a leash and aborted several of his children. She had ironclad control of his film and isolated alot of Valentino's closest friends from him. She can go to hell.
@ccipollini1984 The book "Madame Valentino" describes her life and death in detail. Her second marriage failed because she refused to have children. She had a heart attack at age 40. She acquired an auto-immune disease --scleroderma, and became very emaciated and dehydrated because her esophagus turned to scar tissue. She was involuntarily committed when she became delusional due to malnutrition and died a slow, painful death. I don't like what she did but wouldn't wish this on anyone.
@ccipollini1984 He was planning to find a nice Italian girl like Ada, his sister in law and wife to brother, Alberto, and settle down and raise kids. NR publicly made fun of him because he had already picked out an Italian military school for the sons he believed he would have one day.
I guess everyone is different. Not everyone is called to be a parent. However, Rudy should have married someone with his same compatibility. He was a kind and loving person. He would have been a loving father if he had his children. There is no daubt in my mind. May he rest in God's peace.
@Kathylouu Natacha never wanted or had children with any man. It had nothing to do with Rudy. I read that Natacha and afterwards Pola Negri had an active sex life with Rudy. Neither Natacha nor Pola ever suggested that Rudy had any kind of std.
@Kathylouu Gonorrhea was treatable in the 1920's, but the success rate was lower than today. Jean Acker is the source of the story about gonorrhea--she told this to her lesbian girlfriend. RV had sexual relations with a lot of women, but none of them ever claimed he infected them, so if he really did have it once, it was probably cured. NR didn't want babies because she was selfish, and despite knowing how badly RV wanted children, she had 3 abortions.
@Kathylouu They treated newborn babies' eyes with antibacterial ointment then and still do today. I think Rudy fell in love with the idea of being the husband of a beautiful, classy woman from a prominent family. When he first came to the US, he worked for rich people on Long Island and admired these women. When he finally got one, he found out that this isn't what he needed to be happy. He said all he wanted a wife and mother who would greet him at the door every night, with his children.
I certainly enjoyed this compilation. I can understand why Rudy was attracted to Rambova, she was a very beautiful woman. Tis quite a shame that she wasn't able to provide for him a quiet, stable, and relatively normal life at home. Who knows, maybe if they hadn't split, Rudy might have lived out his entire life in relative peace and comfort.
@pastelpinkgirly Thanks for the book and blog info. I recently viewed a virtual tour of Falcon Lair at "rudolph(dash)valentino(dot)com"; it was one of the most artistic, poignant tributes that I've ever seen on the web. Thanks again for your comments.
I have "Dark Lover" on waitlist at my local library, I rely heavily on them for books. I just finished "Valentino" (Shulman) and have waitlisted: "V.: Dream of Desire" (Bret), "V.:The First Superstar" (Botham), "R.V." (Walker), and "Intimate Life of R.V." (Scagnetti). Would like to read George Ullman's book about RV, RV's "Day Dreams", and several others not in library system; will have to look online for those. Obviously, I find RV very intriguing.
I never heard of her and know nothing about her life, only the marriage/divorce to Rudy that broke his heart. She reminds me of Wallis Simpson, must be the clothes and hairstyle. There's a biography of her ( "Madame Valentino" ) that I hope to read very soon. Thanks for posting this to YT.
@pastelpinkgirly NR was a selfish, spoiled person who exploited RV to try to achieve being a major influence in motion pictures. She succeeded in alienating him from most of his friends, encouraged him to go on strike, so we lost the films he could have made, she cheated on him when he signed the contract with United Artists and then dumped him when she couldn't use him any more to carry out her ambitions. She aborted 3 of his babies. How could you claim to love a man and treat him this way?
@staclynn72 She looked bitchy, bored or unhappy in almost every photo, which is consistent with what most people said about her personality. I think the worst photos of all are her wedding pictures. Rudy looks like he's on cloud 9 and she looks like she wants to vomit. Her dress and hat are ugly too, which is sort of unusual, because one thing I have to give her is that most of her clothes were beautiful and she usually looked good in them.
"He knew what I was when I married him"??? Hey, lady, don't forget -- so did you, and you knew damn well what he was, too -- someone who wanted children and would have made a wonderful father.
It was her right not to have children if she didn't want to, but that also means she should not have married a man who did. Everything she said above only confirms that she married him only to use his name to advance her career. It was such a reprehensible thing to do it makes me sick.
@staclynn72 There is conflicting information about whether they were an item. He did escort her to premiers and other events. She fell in love with and married Rod LaRoc. They stayed married until he died. They never had children, so she became a golfer.
@staclynn72 I am reading George Ullman's book--he says RV was very fond of Vilma and he escorted her to several plays, etc. They had lunch together in his bungalow during films. GU says that although they saw a lot of each other after Natacha left him, he doesn't think they were involved sexually, but he couldn't be sure. She was a nice person.
@staclynn72 Hmm, ok, i wasn't sure. I just assumed it was Rudy. It does look a little like him in the face. Yes, i know she was doing ballet before. Thanks for share. ;)
@80stimeagain That's not Rudy with Natacha in that picture--check out the book "Madame Valentino"--the man is Theodore Kosolov, her married lover, and head of the Russian ballet. This publicity still was from some ballet they did together. She hooked up with him when she ws 17, after getting kicked out of a British boarding school for conduct unbecoming a lady. Her mother had to hire a private detective to find her, and she fled to Canada to avoid returning home, to be with her married lover.
WOW! A lot of the pictures I never have seen before! And wonderful pictures qualitiy! Also a ver good montage and a fine song. Summasumarum: GREAT JOB!
Thank ou very much! Thumbs ub and it goes to my favs :-)
A few of those pics i have not seen of course! But, Rudy was blinded by Natacha. Lol. They met because they worked together on the movie set. They made a name for each other in the movies. Maybe her independent untraditional ways intrigued him at first. But, then it later frustrated him greatly. I think after his career got under way, he wanted a less avant garde type of person. A person who wanted to settle down. I just don't think Winifred fit this bill. Fitting song.
@80stimeagain I agree with much of what you say. You make some very good points. I wonder if he wasn't also attracted to Rambova because of her ballet background. Rudy, however, didn't need Rambova to make a name for himself. He was already a well established star/actor when he met her. His career took off in spite of her. For a brief time, Rudy's career declined because of her influence, but sky rocketed when he finally rid himself of her.
I never said that Rudy needed her, but they did work together. I think when they met (maybe on Uncharted seas), she may have got him the part in Camille. Not sure though. But, I think mostly after Four Horsemen or the Sheik, she benefitted from working on his films as a set designer. It seemed to me their marriage was more a business arrangement than anything. Yes i agree some of his movies are better than others.
@80stimeagain I read that when Rudy first came to the US when he got a job as a gardener he studied the courting behavior of wealthy people on Long Island because he wanted the skills to attract high-class women. This is where he got the hand kissing thing. He thought it would make him happy to have an educated, classy woman who wore beautiful clothes and who was desired by other men. He got one, but it didn't make him happy, so he re-assessed his goals. He wanted a wife and mother.
@80stimeagain I think this is true. He came to the US as an ambitious 18 year old after observing the high life in Paris. He saw how the wealthy lived in New York and Long Island and wanted those classy women who wore beautiful clothes and jewelry and that other men found desirable. He discovered he really wanted a happy family life, which was impossible with NR. He couldn't even have a career or friends with her around. Her comment about being criticized shows she knew she was wrong.
I DESPISE Rambova, but I love your video. Excellent pictures and musical choice-- the song selection works beautifully. I especially like how the video focuses on Rudy as the lyrics ". . .he wore his courage like a king wears a crown" are sung.
What a VIPER!! That quote of hers can go both ways. She knew what Rudy wanted most when she married him. Knowing fully well she wanted and valued a career over marriage and family, she shouldn't have married a man who she knew desired, with all his heart, a loving wife, home and children. It's obvious from her own words she married a loving man worth his weight in gold only to advance her career. She accomplished what she did because she was married to Rudy. She was NOTHING without him.
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Some biographers said that She really was a "balls-breaker" (rompicoglioni)
yallowrosa 3 weeks ago
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yallowrosa 3 weeks ago
What's the title of the song? I want to know please
magandaakoh15 1 month ago
@magandaakoh15 The Baffled Queen by Stephanie Schneiderman
staclynn72 1 month ago
@staclynn72 Oh thanks a lot :) I heard this song only this video and I just fell in love with it right away. Thanks again!
magandaakoh15 1 month ago
whats the title of the song? I really like it !
magandaakoh15 1 month ago
Natacha Rambova is NOT my favorite person. I have set my opinion on her. However, the childish back and forth that i see coming from RV and his marrige can be judged by one person alone and that's Rudy. The proof is in the pudding, we know how she treated him, and bearing that in mind, you can either lik her or not, but enough with this ridiculous bickering and try to stay relevant to the topic. This vid is about Rudy and his formor wife-not a religious debate.
ccipollini1984 3 months ago
@ccipollini1984 How can you have a fixed opinion on someone when most the negativity projected toward her is based upon distorted facts, biased opinions and falsehoods? For me, that is being deplorably closed-minded.
classics4life 3 months ago
@classics4life
Number one, I did not know not liking Natacha Rambova was a crime. Number two, I have formed my opinion on Natacha based on my own assesments and own observations. Your "like Natacha or go to Hell" attitude is the close minded one. Stop fighting it and let it go.
ccipollini1984 3 months ago
@ccipollini1984 Disliking Rambova is certainly not a crime. It is, however, hard to take your opinion seriously when your unabashed man-love for "Rudy" is clearly the driver for your Rambova disdain. I personally like and respect them both.
classics4life 3 months ago
@classics4life
Don't marginalize my respect for RV as "manlove". It's just reverence and respect.
Don't analyze why I don't like her either. I don't see the need to. Is is really so important that you must harp on about it like a 12 yr old? Accept the fact I (gasp) have an opinion other then yours and let it GO.
ccipollini1984 3 months ago
@ccipollini1984 Funny, you still cannot provide a valid reason for disliking Rambova other than the fact that she does not smile in her photos.
classics4life 2 months ago
@classics4life
same as msrudyfan. she was vain, cold and used Rudy to her owns means. I don't see what you are driving at.Why does this mean so much to you? People like you make youtube a sour experience. Coming here to turn a video into a debate and carry on like a child.
ccipollini1984 2 months ago
She was strange/haughty--and almost derailed V.'s career. BUT she was also ahead of her time as one of the first female directors and designers. They were ALMOST soul mates--but it just didn't work.
windstorm1000 4 months ago
p.s. you have no idea what it is like growing up in Utah and not being the typical Mormon- if you are different in any way -religion- race or especially sexual orientation- you are treated like a pariah- I respect her because she rose above that AND MORE........I was raised mormon and witnessed firsthand what this culture does to people-
WGBudd801 4 months ago
@WGBudd801
Would you try to keep it relevant to the topic. If you feel so strongly about this, then write a book. Also, i saw your snarky comment on Msrudyfan's page and how you claimed to be a gentleman. You sir, are as much a gentleman as bald is a hairstyle.
ccipollini1984 3 months ago
I really don't give a damn about Valentinos or Rambovas personal life- The fact is everyone that knows for sure is DEAD- there is as much evidence their marraige was a "violet" one as a straight one-My comments were made from the opinions made about Rambova and Valentino- the fact is a woman doing what she did even under a nom du plume in her age was REVOLUTIONARY - I'm sich of Valentinos "corpsehags" attacking her
WGBudd801 4 months ago
Great video with appropriate music - love this! Rambova was pretty & Rudy a living doll, but eventually she would have ruined him - she almost did. If someone loved me that much, I would have given up everything for him....
melmel81154 4 months ago
Thanks for posting all these great photos of Rambova. I personally think Michelle Phillips was physically a good choice to potray her in the movie Valentino. She looks quite a bit like her.
neonmoon82 5 months ago
to ccipollini1984 - you may be gay but you are a moron - in Valentinos' own journal- in his own hand he records an explicit one night stand with a man in 1924.............Rambova is a superstar in my opinion, but she had many roles including that of the wife of a "straight" Valentino at the most he was bi- but not straight........She is one of the best things Utah ever produced but is ignored because she wasn't a " good mormon girl mormons are morons
WGBudd801 6 months ago
@WGBudd801
You got alot of reading up to do. Even the author of Dark Lover said it was speculation, but hey, believe what you want. Calling people names if they don't agree with you. Nice.
ccipollini1984 6 months ago
@WGBudd801
Oh and FYI- you must be refering to the "Intimate Journal of Valentino", which is almost all fiction and highly sensationalized. I wouldn't pay 5 cents for it.
ccipollini1984 6 months ago
@WGBudd801 It was published in 1931 by William Faro Publishing. This book is not truly the intimate journal of Valentino, it is not written by him in anyway. You actually think Valentino would write something like that in a journal, come on now..In future please refrain from calling people on my channel "Morons"
staclynn72 6 months ago 3
I was always wondering why there are no post-Valentino pictures of her. How did she look in her older years?
deep71483 6 months ago
@deep71483 I have a photo of her with her first husband in this video, its a dance photo, so pre-Valentino. But I dont think Ive seen a pic of her older, maybe in some of the books out there??
staclynn72 6 months ago
@staclynn72 Theodor Koslov was not Rambova's husband--he was married to someone else when she was having an affair with him at age 17 after getting kicked out of a British boarding school. Valentino was her first husband. Her second was Alvaro de Urzaiz, a Spanish aristocrat, who divorced her. Alvaro does resemble Valentino, though.
msrudyfan 2 weeks ago
@deep71483 There's a biography of her that has such photos. She had a heart attack at age 40. She developed an auto-immune disorder that caused her organs to slowly change into scar tissue, including her esophagus. Eventually, she was unable to swallow and became delusional due to malnutrition. A cousin took her to Pasadena, CA, where she died. She didn't look that great after Valentino. She married a Spanish aristocrat who resembled RV. He divorced her. She refused him children as well.
msrudyfan 4 weeks ago
@deep71483 I saw one pic of her after Valentino's death. She looked pretty much the same except her hair was cut in a long bob. She was still beautiful but did not seem to stand out as much.
Kathylouu 4 weeks ago
"She is beauty drugged wiith sophistication."
PennyTraition 7 months ago
@PennyTraition Thanks for posting something positive here !
staclynn72 7 months ago
I forgot to say that I love this. It is time the myths surrounding Rudy's sexuality are put to rest & NR certainly disproved any speculation. I don't really care if Rudy was gay or bi (I have friends that are) but Rudy cared. He cared enough to risk his health & looks by getting into a fight over the rumors. The biographer of DARK LOVER Emily Leider (who is considered the most authoritive expert on Rudy) found nothing supporting the rumors. She did, however, find he loved NR.
Kathylouu 7 months ago
@Kathylouu
I myself am gay and I am telling everyone (and i know what colorful characters float around the Valentino fanbase) THIS was a very straight man. The way people debate it and agrue it to death is utterly pointless to me. Men have wished thier favorite male stars gay since shakesphere. Hell, I'd love it it Bradley Cooper was gay (drool) but when you dot all the "I's and add everything up, RV's supposed homosexuality is Hollywood Myth 101.
ccipollini1984 7 months ago
@ccipollini1984 hey, you got Richard Chamberlain, and that's enough. Be grateful for that. lol. If Valentino would turn out to have been gay, I'd start hating gay men.
NightinGal89 6 months ago
I am the biographer of Natacha Rambova, the author of MADAM VALENTINO published by Abbeville Press in 1991. This is a superb video tribute to a woman who is still much maligned. I am familiar with many of these pictures as they come from my book, and many of the comments also reflect information contained therein. Thank you for this wonderful tribute. You did a great job! M Morris
NRambova 7 months ago 2
@NRambova I have recently been learning about her and her impact on the media. How did so many of us miss such a talent? I have a question not only about her, but about so many silent screen actresses. Have you noticed how many of them did not have children? Many did not. I wonder why.
Kathylouu 7 months ago
@Kathylouu I guess work consumes them..their passion is their work... Life for a woman in Natacha's time would be sitting at home raising kids...I can't see her being happy with that.
staclynn72 7 months ago
@staclynn72 I hope that is the case. I'd read that during the roaring 20's there was quite a bit of VD spread amongst the stars (I don't want to ruin it for everybody) they had cures but they were not as good as today's (of course). It was rumored that Rudy had VD and his first wife-Acker- would not sleep with him (she was also a lesbian) so who knows. I read that Rudy really wanted children and I read NR had a spellbinding effect on him. IDK, it is just sad. Read she had 3 abortions.
Kathylouu 7 months ago
@Kathylouu Yes, all those are the rumors, I think the story of Syphilis was by his Brother, and he said Rudolfo got it from a Prostitute in Italy..I cant remember what I read. I'm sure someone will add to this topic at sometime on this video! Speaking of VD I work in OBGYN..Theres still a lot of VD out there, I need to make TShirts saying your STD is my job security! ;)
staclynn72 7 months ago
Comment removed
Kathylouu 7 months ago
@Kathylouu
That's disgusting. Also irrelevant..
ccipollini1984 7 months ago
@ccipollini1984 Yeah, I admit I was concerned it would be offensive. Somehow I got caught up in messaging the author of MADAM VALENTINO and it is here on the wall for all to read. Sorry if I ruined it for you. I extend my apologies to others that find it offensive as well. I was just curious. I certainly would not be offended if the creator of this beautiful tribute chooses to delete my comments. Best wishes to all.
Kathylouu 7 months ago
@Kathylouu
It's okay. I tend not to read about NR in any capacity. There is nothing about that woman i could read that would change my perception on her-at all.
ccipollini1984 7 months ago
@Kathylouu
The Madam Valentino book and the Affairs Valentino book seem a little "tabloid-ish"for my tastes. The author has been saying alot of things that sound like little more than rumor and unfounded speculation. In my opinion, the only great books on Rudy are "Dark Lover" and his journal from his european trip overseas. The latter is hard to come by. But for the grace of ebay do i have a copy.
ccipollini1984 7 months ago
@staclynn72 I heard it was gonorrhea, and that Jean Acker said she told him he had contracted it. They did have cures for it then, although not as successful as today's antibiotics, they were successful much of the time. That didn't seem to stop him from being sexually active, as there is much proof of this. If he had a scorching case of the clap, I imagine he wold have infected some of his partners and they would have said something--they or later on. I think he was cured.
msrudyfan 4 weeks ago
@NRambova Thanks for commenting..I havnt read the book. Most of my photos I got from Brad Frick and his collection with is permission.
staclynn72 7 months ago
@staclynn72 This is a classy video and you have great flair. I am glad you used as many images as you did and such a variety. If you ever need more photos for future work on Rambova I have many in my own collection from having written her biography 20 years ago. The new biography on Valentino written by Evelyn Zumaya helps to explain why Rambova never had a child by Valentino. It was more complicated than rumors of VD. It would seem that he already had another child from a previous liaison...
NRambova 7 months ago
@NRambova Her refusal to have children isn't complicated at all. She also refused to have children with her second husband. If you look at her life starting with getting kicked out of a British boarding school, to running off with a married man, to using Valentino to advance her career, to her obsession with Egypt and seances, I think narcissism explains her best. Ullman and other contemporaries did not like her. She threatened to sue anyone who included information about her in RV films--why?
msrudyfan 1 month ago
I am big fan of both Valentino and Rambova, and even I can say that the Valentino fans here are being unfairly harsh and judgmental toward Rambova. So she doesn't smile in her pictures....big deal! As more books come out, she seems to be less scorned upon and in recent times her talent has become more evident. Gotta love everyones enthusiasm though!
thisgunforhire05 8 months ago 5
@thisgunforhire05 Thanks for your "intelligent comment" all this fighting over the Rambova topic is getting really old..."Like she said herself, I shall undoubtedly be serverly criticized"....Did she know for how many years!!!!!!
staclynn72 8 months ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
My issue with Rambova is that she had everything--family wealth, a sweet, loving mother, the passionate love of the world's most desired man, artistic opportunities and beauty, but in every picture she looks bored, bitchy or unhappy. Books say she was demanding, unreasonable, manipulative and difficult to get along with and she inflicted a lot of pain on her mother and RV. If she had the talent she thinks she had, she would be remembered as something more than the wife of Valentino.
msrudyfan 8 months ago
@msrudyfan
oh my god that was so spot on. Brilliantly put.
ccipollini1984 8 months ago
Natacha Rambova had more talent in her pinky than Valentino did in his whole body. And the title of this video is degrading to her ingenious, highly revered art direction skills.
classics4life 8 months ago 7
@classics4life The Title "The Wife of Rudolph Valentino" had to be there, as people these days would have no idea who she was....sad but true. I happen to like the woman, she was talented, I respect her, if you take this the wrong way because of the title of the video, then your thinking too hard. The song reflects the relationship they had with each other, not my opinion of her. Thanks for your commets and defending her, your one of the few! ~Respect~
staclynn72 8 months ago
@staclynn72
spoken with such grace.
ccipollini1984 8 months ago
@classics4life
Personally, I disagree. I think she was a talented artist, yes. I mean the sets of Camille are unbelievably beautiful, but I truly believe she used Rudy. The public also disliked her. Case in point her film "What Price Beauty" which was a flop. A very cold character.
ccipollini1984 8 months ago
@ccipollini1984 THANKS! for your comment, I actually watched your review of the Valentino thing with Dexter this morning,! Thanks for voicing your opinion on her! Come see my new facbook page for Rudy..Rudolph Valentino and other men from Old Hollywood. Link is on my Youtube page.
staclynn72 8 months ago
@staclynn72
you watched my review? thanks! It's just me holding camara. I look hellish! lol
I actually left FB and have no intention to return, but I would be happy to youtube friend you!
ccipollini1984 8 months ago
@ccipollini1984 Sure! You actually sounded very intelligent about film...you should review more movies...: )
staclynn72 8 months ago
@staclynn72
That's very sweet thank you. I tend to over analyze. Mabye it's my calling! lol
ccipollini1984 8 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
@classics4life Please cite examples proving her "talent". Her designs were copied from Aubrey Beardsley. "The Young Rajah" and "Monsieur Beaucaire" prove her ideas didn't have commercial or critical success, and she was never a leader in the fields of Egyptology or the occult, which were trendy at the time. She thought herself superior to everyone, including RV, but was not successful on her own, either professionally or personally. She alienated RV from his friends and broke his heart.
msrudyfan 8 months ago
@msrudyfan Natacha Rambova's personal life has nothing to do with her artistic talent, and making references to it in every comment, only makes one appear disturbingly biased against her. Also, the fact that many of her film projects (most notably with Nazimova) were critical and financial failures has nothing to do with her talent, as well; for we all know many revered artists that went unnoticed during his/her lifetime.
classics4life 8 months ago 16
Comment removed
classics4life 8 months ago
@msrudyfan In addition, it would be ignorant to dismiss NR's impact on the early development of American art house cinema; her talents were more praised across the Atlantic (most famously by Erte, the Father of Art Deco) and influential on European and Soviet cinema a la Marcel L'Herbier and Aelita: Queen of Mars (1924).
classics4life 8 months ago 16
@classics4life
Dude, you like her. We GET it!
ccipollini1984 8 months ago
@msrudyfan Good reply here, like I told this classics4life person. No one would even know who she was today if she hadn't been Married to Valentino.
staclynn72 8 months ago
@classics4life Hmm, that's a first. You feel the need to disregard Rudy's talent, so it must be jealousy.
80stimeagain 8 months ago
@80stimeagain
Ouch! Does anyone have some hot chocolate? lol
ccipollini1984 8 months ago
@ccipollini1984 Sounds yummy. lol.
80stimeagain 8 months ago
Could be wrong but heard NR had 3 abortions and never told Rudy. But don't think Rudy left her anything in his will which is kinda a slap in the face.
Kathylouu 9 months ago
@Kathylouu Yeah it was rumored that she had abortions.
staclynn72 9 months ago
@staclynn72 Nita Naldi, RV's co-star in "Blood and Sand" and "Cobra", leaked the story about the abortions. She accompanied NR to one of them, which was performed in France when she and RV went there to purchase costumes, etc for "Hooded Falcon", that was never made. In the 1950's when her mother asked her if it was true, NR replied "I told you I'd never have children." This was reported by a relative. I think it's more than a rumor. I don't know when NN leaked the story or if RV knew.
msrudyfan 8 months ago
@msrudyfan Yep your right it was Nita. Thanks for the comment..!
staclynn72 8 months ago
@Kathylouu I understand his estate was bankrupt? I'm thinking there was nothing to leave in his will.
shellakers10 4 weeks ago
@shellakers10 He had assets and liabilities. After the probate of it all, I'm not sure what the final accounting was. He left behind an array of high quality items, a house, some animals, at least one nice car. He had a will. I think his brother ended up living in his house for awhile or something like that. However to answer your question, I don't know.
Kathylouu 4 weeks ago
@Kathylouu When he died "Son of the Sheik" had just been released, and it proved to be very successful, eventually making lots of money, but at the time of his death, he was in serious debt. Alberto moved the US and did live at Falcon Lair for several years. RV's possessions didn't fetch their true value, but eventually there was money to distribute to Alberto, Maria and Aunt Teresa. I just saw photos of a gorgeous Isotta Frachini that was on order when he died and delivered after his death.
msrudyfan 2 weeks ago
This lady at least tried to have a marriage with Valentino.Which is more than I can say about the first wife,who should have never married any man.
I think women here on yt are angry at her simply because we don't like to see Valentino hurt,and hurt him she did.
4MaryAnna 9 months ago
@80stimeagain HA HA HA! Having our parents hire private detectives to find us after we run off to see the world is something that runs in the family.
@staclynn72 Thanks for posting this, I think Natacha's quote at the end of your video says all that needs to be said.
And to everyone who has anything negative to say about er life, I want you to remember one thing- before her designing career, her life as a spiritualist and before egyptology, Natacha was first and foremost a scholar
aziraphale1334 11 months ago 2
@aziraphale1334 Was she a scholar before or after she got kicked out of the British boarding school for conduct unbecoming a lady--or, was it before or after she, at age 17, became the mistress of a married man? Just wondering. Are any of her "scholarly" works in publication, other than her comments about RV? Did Hollywood beat down her door wanting her to design for them? No--they banned her from studio property. Did any of her contemporaries speak highly of her--No. She was very disliked
msrudyfan 4 weeks ago
It is so easy to condemn people you don't know, isn't it? Did it ever cross your mind that some men need a strong women just as some women need a strong man in their lives?
If he didn't want someone to handle his affairs and problems he would not have hooked up with such a strong women. I like strong women, and so did he. I think you women would embrace an early feminist; but since you don't know her you pass judgment so quickly. Open your minds if you can....
trevorwozny 11 months ago 4
@trevorwozny Thanks for the comment, like I keep telling people., we don't know who Valentino really was any more than we know who she really was, I told one person RV could have been a little shit to live with. They need to let it go. I read her book, I think she was a woman before her time. Just because she didn't want children does not make her evil. Again Thanks for the post.
staclynn72 11 months ago
@trevorwozny When RV saw the rave reviews for "The Eagle", he cried, not just because of the praise but according to his friends, he realized how much better his acting could have been on previous films if he hadn't listened to NR. RV was not sophisticated in business and was very trusting. She was manipulative and egotistical. He didn't "need" her at all for acting. He did love her, however, but would not have gone through life without children, so the marriage would never have worked.
msrudyfan 4 weeks ago
@trevorwozny I couldn't agree more!
shellakers10 4 weeks ago
This woman was an oportunistic bitch of the worst kind. she should have just married herself so poor rudy didn't end up getting his heart torn to peices like she caused him to do.
ccipollini1984 11 months ago
Thanks, for posting! I love Ruddy & Natacha, she was such a strong and intelligent women. Her and Ruddy make such a great looking couple.
MollyAnn2009 1 year ago
@MollyAnn2009 Miss Molly Ann: Yes, she was strong, probably intelligent, but also irritable, abrasive, narcissistic, controlling, selfish and arrogant . She left a lot of emotional distress in her wake, Rudy being the main one, but her mother as well, who seemed like she was a nice lady. United Artists barred her from even entering their property because she was a troublemaker when Rudy was acting. If she was as talented as she thought she was, the studios would have put up with her.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@msrudyfan There's no dout that she was a difficult person, but she must have had some really good points also in order for Ruddy to love her so much.
MollyAnn2009 1 year ago
@MollyAnn2009 I think that many men, including Rudy, define themselves by the woman on their arm. She was beautiful, and was very bright. At the time, she was celebrated as an art deco artist. At the studio, all the men were interested in her. When they first got together, they had fun scraping by hunting small game and collecting mussels to help make ends meet. He was a rising star and she was there when he was fulfilling his dreams of sucess, but he had other dreams she couldn't fulfill.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@msrudyfan Thanks for commenting, I am surprised by all the negative comments about her. None of us know this woman, or what she was really like. I love Valentino and everything about him.....Although... We don't know what he was really like either! he could have been a little shit in real life! I won't speak bad about the dead. They can't fight back...
staclynn72 1 year ago
@staclynn72 You are right, of course, no one living today actually knew either one of them, and so the only thing to judge them by are the comments and opinions of those who did know them. NR had many detractors while she was living, most of whom were persons who loved Rudy and saw what she did to him. Also, NR gave interviews to movie magazines, one of which is an article entitled: "May a Wife Deny Her Husband Children?" He was the first superstar and the consensus is that she used him.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@staclynn72 One other thing: To my knowledge, the only person who knew Rudy that had anything negative to say about him was Alice Terry, who said the best thing he did for his career was to die. Her husband was director Rex Ingram, who didn't like Rudy, and who said he could take any handsome Latin man and turn him into a Valentino--he tried this with Anthony Moreno and Ramon Novorro, and failed, so he made a fool of himself. He quit directing when the talkies started.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@staclynn72 You don't have to speak badly about her--those who knew her in real life already have. Ullman's book was published about 2 months after RV's death. He had nothing good to say about her and describes in detail how egotistical she was, how she manipulated him and how he had to leave the house sometimes to get away from her bitching. He describes in detail the pain she caused him. I think he soft-pedaled her refusal to have children to keep the public from throwing eggs at her.
msrudyfan 4 weeks ago
@msrudyfan This topic has been done to death. I'm going to refrain from further comments on Mrs Valentino. But Thanks for posting a comment and watching my video. :)
staclynn72 4 weeks ago
@msrudyfan
I really want to read that book, but sadly have to save my funds right now. last time i checked, it was on ebay and the price was upto and including 300 dollars and even then it was pretty "chewed"...
ccipollini1984 2 weeks ago
@ccipollini1984 The Natacha book I found first at my local library, and then I got a copy from Amazon. Ullman's book was more expensive, but not anywhere close to $300.00. I think I got it on Amazon too. There were lots of copies printed in 1926. This book was released in October, 1926, less than 2 months after Rudy's death. Ullman really cared about Rudy and really disliked Natacha. Those who like NR say that he was competing with her over controlling Rudy, but I don't think so.
msrudyfan 2 weeks ago
@ccipollini1984 Just checked Amazon--they have 3 copies, ranging from $48 to $79. None of them is in pristine condition, and they don't have dust covers, but this is better than $300.00.
msrudyfan 2 weeks ago
She was a cold bitch.
ccipollini1984 1 year ago
Rambova was absolute stupid, a grazy unsuccessful paintress...Her face is vampire`s face. Карга-hag.I felt pity for him. Бедный.бедный Руди...
Nataliya785 1 year ago
Valentino could have done shitloads better then this bitch.
ccipollini1984 1 year ago
@ccipollini1984 Yeah I dont like her face in photos, she looks like an ice queen. Imagine he was going to shoot himself over her!
staclynn72 1 year ago
@staclynn72 We can thank the famous Art Deco painter Federico Beltran-Masses for taking the gun away from him. When this didn't work, he started driving recklessly and did have wrecks, but no serious injuries. All the time, the stress was eating a hole in his stomach until it eventually killed him. NR's cousin said that she vacillated between feeling terrible remorse over the way she treated him to saying she wished she never met him--consistent with her narcissistic personality.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@ccipollini1984
I could do a vid about her, but it would be in the opposite direction then this one was going in...
ccipollini1984 1 year ago
@ccipollini1984 You don't like her?
staclynn72 1 year ago
@staclynn72
without going into a long diatribe, she was cold hearted and controlling. She kept RV on a leash and aborted several of his children. She had ironclad control of his film and isolated alot of Valentino's closest friends from him. She can go to hell.
ccipollini1984 1 year ago
@ccipollini1984 The book "Madame Valentino" describes her life and death in detail. Her second marriage failed because she refused to have children. She had a heart attack at age 40. She acquired an auto-immune disease --scleroderma, and became very emaciated and dehydrated because her esophagus turned to scar tissue. She was involuntarily committed when she became delusional due to malnutrition and died a slow, painful death. I don't like what she did but wouldn't wish this on anyone.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@ccipollini1984 He was planning to find a nice Italian girl like Ada, his sister in law and wife to brother, Alberto, and settle down and raise kids. NR publicly made fun of him because he had already picked out an Italian military school for the sons he believed he would have one day.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
I guess everyone is different. Not everyone is called to be a parent. However, Rudy should have married someone with his same compatibility. He was a kind and loving person. He would have been a loving father if he had his children. There is no daubt in my mind. May he rest in God's peace.
Lismetdetu 1 year ago
ValentinoLover70 is sooooo correct.
susannebass 1 year ago
@pastelpinkgirly
She WAS an ice queen. What Valentino saw in her, I'll never know.
ccipollini1984 1 year ago
Comment removed
Kathylouu 1 year ago
@Kathylouu Natacha never wanted or had children with any man. It had nothing to do with Rudy. I read that Natacha and afterwards Pola Negri had an active sex life with Rudy. Neither Natacha nor Pola ever suggested that Rudy had any kind of std.
80stimeagain 1 year ago
@Kathylouu Gonorrhea was treatable in the 1920's, but the success rate was lower than today. Jean Acker is the source of the story about gonorrhea--she told this to her lesbian girlfriend. RV had sexual relations with a lot of women, but none of them ever claimed he infected them, so if he really did have it once, it was probably cured. NR didn't want babies because she was selfish, and despite knowing how badly RV wanted children, she had 3 abortions.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@Kathylouu They treated newborn babies' eyes with antibacterial ointment then and still do today. I think Rudy fell in love with the idea of being the husband of a beautiful, classy woman from a prominent family. When he first came to the US, he worked for rich people on Long Island and admired these women. When he finally got one, he found out that this isn't what he needed to be happy. He said all he wanted a wife and mother who would greet him at the door every night, with his children.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
I certainly enjoyed this compilation. I can understand why Rudy was attracted to Rambova, she was a very beautiful woman. Tis quite a shame that she wasn't able to provide for him a quiet, stable, and relatively normal life at home. Who knows, maybe if they hadn't split, Rudy might have lived out his entire life in relative peace and comfort.
Tecun85 1 year ago
@pastelpinkgirly Thanks for the book and blog info. I recently viewed a virtual tour of Falcon Lair at "rudolph(dash)valentino(dot)com"; it was one of the most artistic, poignant tributes that I've ever seen on the web. Thanks again for your comments.
Roses0fPicardy 1 year ago
@pastelpinkgirly
I have "Dark Lover" on waitlist at my local library, I rely heavily on them for books. I just finished "Valentino" (Shulman) and have waitlisted: "V.: Dream of Desire" (Bret), "V.:The First Superstar" (Botham), "R.V." (Walker), and "Intimate Life of R.V." (Scagnetti). Would like to read George Ullman's book about RV, RV's "Day Dreams", and several others not in library system; will have to look online for those. Obviously, I find RV very intriguing.
Roses0fPicardy 1 year ago
@pastelpinkgirly
Yes, I sense that NR was her own worst creation; sad, empty person to leave RV.
Roses0fPicardy 1 year ago
I never heard of her and know nothing about her life, only the marriage/divorce to Rudy that broke his heart. She reminds me of Wallis Simpson, must be the clothes and hairstyle. There's a biography of her ( "Madame Valentino" ) that I hope to read very soon. Thanks for posting this to YT.
Roses0fPicardy 1 year ago
@pastelpinkgirly NR was a selfish, spoiled person who exploited RV to try to achieve being a major influence in motion pictures. She succeeded in alienating him from most of his friends, encouraged him to go on strike, so we lost the films he could have made, she cheated on him when he signed the contract with United Artists and then dumped him when she couldn't use him any more to carry out her ambitions. She aborted 3 of his babies. How could you claim to love a man and treat him this way?
msrudyfan 1 year ago
Comment removed
4MaryAnna 1 year ago
staclynn72,can you tell me the name of the music you used for this?
4MaryAnna 1 year ago
@pastelpinkgirly I thought the same thing.. she never smiled, looked unhappy all the time.
staclynn72 1 year ago
@staclynn72 She looked bitchy, bored or unhappy in almost every photo, which is consistent with what most people said about her personality. I think the worst photos of all are her wedding pictures. Rudy looks like he's on cloud 9 and she looks like she wants to vomit. Her dress and hat are ugly too, which is sort of unusual, because one thing I have to give her is that most of her clothes were beautiful and she usually looked good in them.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
She was undoubtedly right.
Terrific video.
Thanx for posting Stacy.:-))
valentinolover70 1 year ago
"He knew what I was when I married him"??? Hey, lady, don't forget -- so did you, and you knew damn well what he was, too -- someone who wanted children and would have made a wonderful father.
It was her right not to have children if she didn't want to, but that also means she should not have married a man who did. Everything she said above only confirms that she married him only to use his name to advance her career. It was such a reprehensible thing to do it makes me sick.
kangadillo 1 year ago
I just watched this again. You did a beautiful job with such a sad story.
-----------Ellen
Shabannie 1 year ago
Awww! The photo at 1:22 is so sweet. Natacha looks so maternal towards Rudy. (And yes, I know it was quite different in real life.)
MissGoldenDreams13 1 year ago
@MissGoldenDreams13 I was taken by the look on his face..poor guy,,thats true love.
staclynn72 1 year ago
This is a beautiful video!
---------Ellen
Shabannie 1 year ago
I love this great video Stacy.
It was great seeing some of the pics of which I haven't
seen before.
She is a beautiful woman but not as beautiful as he.
I wonder if she ever realized how lucky she was.
This song brought tears to my eyes.. it is so romantic.
What a sad love story. I wish he could have found
someone who would have appreciated him.
Thanx for posting. :-))
valentinolover70 1 year ago
@valentinolover70 Thanks, I wish he had gone for Banky!
staclynn72 1 year ago
@staclynn72 There is conflicting information about whether they were an item. He did escort her to premiers and other events. She fell in love with and married Rod LaRoc. They stayed married until he died. They never had children, so she became a golfer.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@staclynn72 I am reading George Ullman's book--he says RV was very fond of Vilma and he escorted her to several plays, etc. They had lunch together in his bungalow during films. GU says that although they saw a lot of each other after Natacha left him, he doesn't think they were involved sexually, but he couldn't be sure. She was a nice person.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@msrudyfan Yeah its too bad he picked all the wrong women, maybe Vilma would have been a good match.
staclynn72 1 year ago
Wow, Rudy and Natacha in some kind of costume at 3:49. How cute they look together. Are they sad or in love with each other?
80stimeagain 1 year ago
@80stimeagain Oh thats some ballet guy, maybe her first husband. Its not Rudy.
staclynn72 1 year ago
@staclynn72 Hmm, ok, i wasn't sure. I just assumed it was Rudy. It does look a little like him in the face. Yes, i know she was doing ballet before. Thanks for share. ;)
80stimeagain 1 year ago
@80stimeagain I think its Theodore Kosloff, I thought it was Rudy too.
staclynn72 1 year ago
@staclynn72 Ok, thanks. ;)
80stimeagain 1 year ago
@80stimeagain That's not Rudy with Natacha in that picture--check out the book "Madame Valentino"--the man is Theodore Kosolov, her married lover, and head of the Russian ballet. This publicity still was from some ballet they did together. She hooked up with him when she ws 17, after getting kicked out of a British boarding school for conduct unbecoming a lady. Her mother had to hire a private detective to find her, and she fled to Canada to avoid returning home, to be with her married lover.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@msrudyfan Yes you and Stacy are right. I had forgot that same picture is shown and is described on the Great Lover dvd too. ;)
80stimeagain 1 year ago
@80stimeagain Where can I get the "Great Lover" DVD?
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@msrudyfan On shop history.com the video is 24.95
staclynn72 1 year ago
@msrudyfan Yes, also amazon.com has it. You can check ebay too. There's grapevinevideo and kino.com too.
80stimeagain 1 year ago
WOW! A lot of the pictures I never have seen before! And wonderful pictures qualitiy! Also a ver good montage and a fine song. Summasumarum: GREAT JOB!
Thank ou very much! Thumbs ub and it goes to my favs :-)
Greez
Eva
GraefinVonSalamanca 1 year ago
A few of those pics i have not seen of course! But, Rudy was blinded by Natacha. Lol. They met because they worked together on the movie set. They made a name for each other in the movies. Maybe her independent untraditional ways intrigued him at first. But, then it later frustrated him greatly. I think after his career got under way, he wanted a less avant garde type of person. A person who wanted to settle down. I just don't think Winifred fit this bill. Fitting song.
80stimeagain 1 year ago
@80stimeagain I agree with much of what you say. You make some very good points. I wonder if he wasn't also attracted to Rambova because of her ballet background. Rudy, however, didn't need Rambova to make a name for himself. He was already a well established star/actor when he met her. His career took off in spite of her. For a brief time, Rudy's career declined because of her influence, but sky rocketed when he finally rid himself of her.
TheLadyMalfoy 1 year ago
I never said that Rudy needed her, but they did work together. I think when they met (maybe on Uncharted seas), she may have got him the part in Camille. Not sure though. But, I think mostly after Four Horsemen or the Sheik, she benefitted from working on his films as a set designer. It seemed to me their marriage was more a business arrangement than anything. Yes i agree some of his movies are better than others.
80stimeagain 1 year ago
@80stimeagain I read that when Rudy first came to the US when he got a job as a gardener he studied the courting behavior of wealthy people on Long Island because he wanted the skills to attract high-class women. This is where he got the hand kissing thing. He thought it would make him happy to have an educated, classy woman who wore beautiful clothes and who was desired by other men. He got one, but it didn't make him happy, so he re-assessed his goals. He wanted a wife and mother.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
@msrudyfan Sometimes what we attracted to and what makes us happy are two different things. This may be true in Rudy's case.
80stimeagain 1 year ago
@80stimeagain I think this is true. He came to the US as an ambitious 18 year old after observing the high life in Paris. He saw how the wealthy lived in New York and Long Island and wanted those classy women who wore beautiful clothes and jewelry and that other men found desirable. He discovered he really wanted a happy family life, which was impossible with NR. He couldn't even have a career or friends with her around. Her comment about being criticized shows she knew she was wrong.
msrudyfan 1 year ago
I DESPISE Rambova, but I love your video. Excellent pictures and musical choice-- the song selection works beautifully. I especially like how the video focuses on Rudy as the lyrics ". . .he wore his courage like a king wears a crown" are sung.
What is the song and who sings it?
TheLadyMalfoy 1 year ago
What a VIPER!! That quote of hers can go both ways. She knew what Rudy wanted most when she married him. Knowing fully well she wanted and valued a career over marriage and family, she shouldn't have married a man who she knew desired, with all his heart, a loving wife, home and children. It's obvious from her own words she married a loving man worth his weight in gold only to advance her career. She accomplished what she did because she was married to Rudy. She was NOTHING without him.
TheLadyMalfoy 1 year ago