100th Anniversary of Valentino Superstardom

[The Blackbird]

One hundred years ago today, THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE was released. Rex Ingram's faithful adaption of Ivanez's powerful World War One novel. Rudolph Valentino had appeared in nearly two dozen films since 1914 without making much of an impression, and must have been wondering if was was sheik out of luck regarding the progress of his career when he successfully lobbied for the role of Julio. His tango scene with Beatrice Dominguez (who died of appendicitis days before the movie was released) became perhaps his most legendary image and as the film earned box office bucks the Italian Stallion was launched into major stardom and never looked back, only to have his own career cut short five years later. It says something about him that nearly a century after his passing his is still a household name.