Valentino (VHS, 1994)

This film is wonderful - in an off-kilter way.

Nureyev can't help but be fascinating. Ken Russell, the Director, must have felt this way too. Initially, he wanted Nureyev to play the (small) role of Nijinsky. When they met he felt like he had found Valentino. Obviously a leap of faith for both men. This was Nureyev's first major film role. (I must say it is really amusing to hear Nureyev speaking English with an Italian accent!)

I liked this film much more than any review I had read said I would. Maybe it's because I knew Nureyev's history before I saw this film. There was an added dimension that I didn't expect to see. There are parallels here that made me wonder just how much the Director and Nureyev decided to play with Rudolph Valentino's life and Rudolf Nureyev's life as a way to make an interesting comment(for 1977)on the decadent West and the Cult of Celebrity. Incredible gains, tremendous losses...learning to live with Life as a Circus. When Time Magazine asked Nureyev, in 1965, what freedom meant to him, his reply was, "I'm left here alone for my disaster or my good...It was like jumping into the cold water naked." This film has that feel.

I really did enjoy it. I wouldn't rate it Excellent, but I would have rated it Very Good if I had had the option. The story was interesting. The dancing was great(wonder why?!?). The sets and costumes were perfect for the Valentino era. I would mention that Carol Kane's scene nearly stole the film and it would have been generous of the Director if he had let Leslie Caron dance. If you'v seen Nureyev dance L'Apres-midi d'un Faune, there is a clever scene here. A Nureyev/Caron Pas De Deux would have gotten this film an Excellent rating.

I should mention that Nureyev was the reason I wanted to see this. If you loved Valentino you might not be so happy with this film. Reviews stated that certain scenes were not factual and that the Director took liberties regarding Valentino's actual biography.

If you haven't seen this film because of the reviews - don't believe them. See it. It's certainly not a bad way to spend two hours and seven minutes.