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.
The Capsule Critic 