Rudolf Nureyev and Franco Nero.
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Rudolph Valentino
metalman091 — 18 years ago(September 16, 2007 07:05 PM)
How do you view these performances of him?.
I look at the Nureyev film as a guilty pleasure. I know it's not really as accurate as it could be. But since this topic is about the performances and not the films themselves I will say that Nureyev does not convince me he is the great Latin Lover Rudolph Valentino. It's not that he is bad looking, but not exactly handsome enough to provoke the adulation that he endured. The same with Franco Nero, there are moments when both actors do resemble Valentino (when in costume), but they just look average.
Anthony Dexter is an exact clone of Valentino. His American accent hampers the illusion, but he is the closest.
Your opinions. -
Falconeer — 11 years ago(June 21, 2014 09:11 AM)
I despised Nureyev's portrayal of R. Valentino. He played him like a flaming homosexual and that really angered me. I hated the movie as well, and saw it as a character assassination of a legend. It seemed like the director had some personal vendetta against Rudy, who would also hate this movie if he could see it. I really like the film "Valentino" with Anthony Dexter on the other hand. I realize that it was largely a fictional retelling of his life, but the movie is beautiful to look at, and Dexter's haunting resemblance to Rudy makes this a fascinating movie to watch. But yes, he should have attempted an Italian accent. I have yet to see the Franco Nero movie "Legend of Valentino" but I am searching for it now.
"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics' -
!!!deleted!!! (5085627) — 11 years ago(June 21, 2014 11:43 AM)
Agreed, Pinku; Nureyev's portrayal of Valentino was ridiculous, affected, and annoying, which is why his film career never took off after this ill-advised endeavor. However, I am curious about one thing: how do you know Valentino would have "also hated this movie if he could see it"? On top of writing as if you knew him well, do you also channel his spirit?
Even though it was a made-for-television movie with the usual flaws and shortcomings such a production can involve, Franco Nero's portrayal of Valentino was the best and still my favorite. Anthony Dexter may have resembled Valentino, but his acting was wooden and his American accent didn't help. Nero's performance was effective and memorable on several levels, and not just because of the authentic accent. His spot-on portrayal also explains why Nero's had a long and impressive film career and Nureyev and Dexter didn't.
And if you should be able to see Franco Nero's performance in "The Legend of Valentino," please let us all know what "Rudy" thinks of it. I have a feeling he'll like it -
Falconeer — 11 years ago(June 26, 2014 01:50 PM)
How do i know that R. Valentino would have hate5b4d this movie?? Are you kidding? Anybody who knows anything about Rudy knew that he hated nothing more than someone questioning or attacking his masculinity. He was extremely Italian in this way. and this film is a complete, all-out character assassination. Nureyev portrays him as a complete flaming homosexual that spends much of the movie being called a 'pink powder puff' and being laughed at for being too soft and feminine! Take my word for it; Rudolph Valentino would be sickened if he could see this trash. Even I felt offended and sickened for him..your question is as stupid as your insipid attempt at witty sarcasm. Better luck next time troll..
"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics' -
Falconeer — 11 years ago(June 26, 2014 01:51 PM)
How do i know that R. Valentino would have hated this movie?? Are you kidding? Anybody who knows anything about Rudy knew that he hated nothing more than someone questioning or attacking his masculinity. He was extremely Italian in this way. and this film is a complete, all-out character assassination. Nureyev portrays him as a complete flaming homosexual that spends much of the movie being called a 'pink powder puff' and being laughed at for being too soft and feminine! Take my word for it; Rudolph Valentino would be sickened if he could see this trash. Even I felt offended and sickened for him..your question is as stupid as your insipid attempt at witty sarcasm. Better luck next time troll..
"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics' -
TonTon — 3 years ago(September 15, 2022 06:50 AM)
Anthony Dexter had a remarkable resemblance to Valentino, but the 1951 movie was pure soap opera.
Franco Nero's 1975 attempt was pretty good. Yes, the movie was fiction, but Nero has sex appeal in the role of the Latin Lover. Though, fictional, it does capture the appeal of Rudolph Valentino and what made him special. We get the basics of what he represented.
As for Rudolf Nureyev………. The 1977 movie VALENTINO is a guilty pleasure. It's a good/bad movie. It's lavish, vulgar, tasteless, but fun for some reason. However, you get zero understanding of Valentino's appeal. Valentino was mobbed by women everywhere and yet this is absent from this movie. From this movie, you would never know that Valentino was a very popular matinee idol. Most of the women in this movie make fun of him. He is seldom mobbed or looked on as any kind of a sex symbol. Nureyev's awkward acting style makes Valentino look like a parody rather than a flesh and blood portrayal.
And then there's Nureyev's looks. Valentino was extraordinarily handsome. In this movie, Valentino is sometimes referred to as a "pretty boy" but there is nothing about Nureyev that shows this. It's a mess, but a fun mess.