Erich von Stroheim

From my new book on the life and times of Rudolph Valentino, to be published in the fall of 2014: Rudy’s observations on one of the most creative, and controversial, directors of all time.

One of Hollywood’s most notable personalities, he traded on his German ancestry. We met, of course, although casually, on several occasions and I was very familiar with his work, his explorations of some of mankind’s baser instincts, and with such visual cues so as to sear them into the minds of those who watched his productions. He possessed great creativity which mostly flowed freely though he would self-block from time to time, leading to cost overruns and friction with powerbrokers, studio heads, or accounting departments.

A von Stroheim film I fondly remember is “Foolish Wives” where he was also on screen. He did not achieve the pinnacles others did as far as consistent popularity and box office but his films sparked controversy and therefore were the subject of many discussions. His Prussian bearing was slightly affected yet no one questioned it ~ part of his allure, the attraction that was von Stroheim. He and I did not have a strong connection but I admired his ability to be daring, stretch limits, call attention to some of the issues of the day.” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Gloria Swanson

In 1922, Paramount cast Gloria with Rudy in the film adaptation of Elinor Glyn’s novel, “Beyond the Rocks” ~ a confection that allowed them both to toy with their celebrity. Once believed lost, this picture reflects their joy in being a screen couple. Here Rudy reminisces about the shoot and his relationship with Ms. Swanson. This is an excerpt from my new Valentino project in which he comments on some of the people and events that colored his life, including his leading ladies. ~ Wayne Hatford

My darling co-star! How we pranked each other, almost every day, and in every way! What creativity our endeavors did require! She was so much fun to work with and she did not consider me an inferior, not Miss Swanson, she of the ‘glorified’ heights! Her career was at a summit, somewhat akin to the one portrayed in our film. Her eyes sparkled, winked a lot, as we took the scenario, tongue in cheek. This saved the production actually as the audience reacted to our levity in a positive way. Had we been too serious, we could have easily gotten the hook.

Gloria and I did not broach intimacy, knowing, as we did, that that move would have been disastrous. Instead, we rode, in motorcars, and on horses, were friends who understood the most intricate aspects of each others’ psyches without having to have direct experiences with them. Bravo, Gloria! You were always a tour de force!” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Excelsior

“Going for Excelsior” will soon be available on Amazon.com as a print book, complementing the already published electronic version. The product of my third literary effort as a medium and second collaboration with the spirit essence of Rudolph Valentino, this book focuses on the senior experience ~ how to embrace where you’re at in your life, find hidden gems, turn up the voltage. Thriving in “Seniorhood” is about going beyond what’s expected or being directed at you by the host society and GFE provides the reader with the tools and understandings to accomplish that goal ~ a blueprint for active living!

Here is my definition of Excelsior:

Upward and onward, a state of being characterized by a constant striving for greater balance and integration that is predicated on an ever-growing awareness of multiple planes of existence, or the art of negotiating the Cosmos from the highest possible vantage point (encountering the apex.) To be able to do so requires a conscious breaching of the Veil, the demarcation line between the dimensions.

Also, the loose packing material that temporarily shields our souls for the length of each incarnation. Instead of brine, we’re packed in excelsior, what we perceive as skin which, because of its properties as both transmitter and transponder, enables us to transcend. As such, it acts like insulation, protecting us from harm but also allowing for entry and exit, not only for our souls when we are born or die but also for all other manner of vibration. Yes, our light shines through and we feel the light of others as it impinges upon this material. Were it not for excelsior, we would never be able to “be” in the body. Indeed, our skin is a personal version of the Veil, echoing it in form and substance. ‘Going for Excelsior’ is analogous to furthering infinity consciousness. ~ Wayne Hatford

 

Cecil B. DeMille

One of the greatest seers of all time! What people do not know or at least not consciously so is that Mr. DeMille could read the public pulse better than most anyone in Hollywood. Not even the studio execs had a better nose for what would sell. And then he was brilliant in the execution, making loads of cash for Paramount along the way. He tweaked American sensibility, soothed it yet also was quite challenging, holding up a mirror so that we could look at ourselves. What a pioneer! What a student of morality! The mores of the 1920’s were never clearer than in productions that flourished under his hand. Then too, the studio knew every DeMille picture was going to contain a certain amount of moxie. A man totally in tune with his times, he adapted, also did excellent work in the sound era, having a lengthy and laudable career. We only superficially crossed paths but I observed him on his sets, saw how he challenged his actors, and worked with their occasional insufferableness too ~ truly a gifted individual!” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

From time to time I like to comment on current actors, and their miens. Mr. Rhys Meyers would have been a great silent era star as he has mastered the art of pause; in fact, his acting is pregnant with them, to excellent effect. And, he always does more with less, which is to say he engages, meshes, both with his characters, internally, and externally, with his audiences. No matter his nationality, he can play any role he desires, and his ear is keen to language. Possessing great poise and a sense of personal destiny, these attributes join to make him quite intriguing to the public. Bonne continuation, Monsieur! Je vous salue!” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Mirrors

Mirrors are magical devices, not only for glancing or protracted viewing but also as ‘glamour-enhancers’ ~ meaning a quick look, unfocused, is all we need sometimes to adjust that which has gone askew. We can use mirrors, therefore, to right ourselves ~ as tools or more specifically as linkages between our personalities and souls because a mirror is one place where we can see both, simultaneously.

What does a mirror show of a thousand years ago? How it was and when; therefore, it’s an apparatus for expanding consciousness, a gateway to other dimensions.

In terms of what might be useful, it would be good to strategically place a few mirrors in your home or living space ~ a must actually, as they are also transmitters, able to be used to amplify energy. When possible, create the endless reflection of mirror facing mirror, if nothing more than to remind you of you, the many yous that are part and parcel of ‘the you’ you now perceive yourself to be. Mirror = ‘Specchio.’  I do like my language, that native one, for this word: specch-i-o, looking at yourself under a glass, like a specimen, as that is also what a mirror allows us to do. They are magnifiers too, and that is why they lend grace to any environment. Janice pointed out (making reference to my first book, “Letters from Janice) that ballrooms are often awash in mirrors. Rightfully so, as that’s where we can lose ourselves, cut loose from our personalities ‘du jour,’ even escape to other realms while still clothed in a body. Interesting, don’t you think? So, you can imagine with mirrors, use them as a means for mind expansion and time travel.

Visualize yourselves in other garb; see yourselves in other guises in terms of your features and sex. Squint and then look – mirrors are a wonderful tool for self appreciation and assessment, in other words, for soul-gazing.” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Poetry

Rudolph Valentino penned a book of “Other World” inspired poetry, entitled “Day Dreams,” in 1923.  Here he comments on his on-going love affair with that genre.

“You ask about poetry and why I am partial to it. The answer is simple. Poems tell stories in concise and picturesque ways, often with a witty turn of words. As far as the poems in “Valentino Speaks” are concerned, that, at least, was the intent!

There are certain rhythms in my poems which can be both felt and heard. Thusly encoded, they are talismans, dedicated to life itself. All have been inscribed with a personal wish of love to those who wish to read them. 

Poems may also be thought of as paintings on a page. The words are shadings and colorings whose purpose it is to give shape to thought. Each starts out as a blank slate, a tabula rasa to be used by the poet to display his or her creativity with language. The forms are many, from Alexandrine to free verse, more often than not involving the juxtaposition of sound and some sort of play on words. These, however, are merely devices. The single most important aspect of any piece of poetry is that it has the potential of touching us emotionally, on the most basic of levels. 

Poems strike chords in our psyches as do the chimes of a clock or the sounds of an operatic aria.  In other words, they promote visceral reactions. There are harmonic chords afoot in all of life’s circumstances. The gift that poetry offers is to make them more audible. 

What is every poet’s dream? To shed light on thoughts so that they may truly be seen.” ~ Rudolph Valentino

 

Celebrity

Celebrities are individuals who are celebrated by others, fêted, as the French might say, for one reason or another. As such, they are examples of ways to be, in many instances exemplars or reflections of contemporary morality. They come to us from all walks of life, running the gamut from world leaders, entertainers and sports figures to so-called average people. Whether or not someone actually becomes a celebrity, however, is determined for the most part by those who have a say in the matter rather than by the individual himself. 

 Celebrity status is usually achieved through a combination of deeds done and images projected. And, there is also often another element present: role. Each can play out in any number of ways. My celebrity, for example, came as the result of a series of starring roles in films. However, it was the media’s interpretation of them that really put me in the spotlight. Some say that I was one of the first media darlings. Not so. There were many before me, going back to the time of the Pharaohs. I certainly had no leg up on the matter!

 Though celebrity as we now know it is essentially personality-driven, it is also often reflective of who we are internally. Viggo Mortensen, a contemporary actor, is an excellent example of this, a man whose inner self is very much present in all he does. He is, however, an exception. Unfortunately, many celebrities tend to be weighed down by their personalities. Indeed, in some instances it’s almost as though they are walking around carrying suitcases full of bricks!

In the world of celebrity, personality is often seen as being more substantive than soul.  Of course, just the opposite is true. There will be a demystification of the cult of personality in years hence when people realize the true beauty of soul and thereby become more conscious of the fact that everyone deserves to be celebrated, no matter how they have chosen to lead their lives. In the meantime, it is imperative that celebrities err on the side of inspiration and promote only that which is life-enhancing. They, like all of us, have a duty to perform: to act responsibly.” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Tom Hardy

A brute of a man, or so it seems, to the audiences he plies. But, by Jove, he is a sweetheart, really his primary attribute. Someone of few words when engaging with the public yet he will not be quiet in the company of friends, true friends. There, a torrent of words spills forth, like drops in a swift-moving stream. Mr. Hardy will continue to develop his skills, become an even more renowned actor than he is currently perceived. In so doing, he personifies some of the mystique that was more rampant in my day which, along with his ability to enthrall, will only continue to increase his appeal to moviegoers. Here’s to a long and illustrious career!” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Labyrinths

Let us confine our discussion to those of the circular persuasion. Such labyrinths are very helpful indeed. Over time more shall be built, their popularity increasing. Circular labyrinths are easy to navigate whereas angular ones tend to confuse. 

Walking a circular labyrinth is a form of mental and emotional gymnastics, like flexing a muscle and then allowing it to relax. We twist in and twist out, using curved or elliptical movement to construct a hypothetical sphere. In so doing, we ought not to step over the lines. There are prescribed ways of doing things, especially when it’s a question of getting to the heart of a matter, just as there are a certain number of steps that must be taken in order to reach the center of a labyrinth. 

If you will, think of labyrinths as entities, their hearts at their cores. Upon arriving, ye shall know them, including their purpose and inspiration. Ye shall also better know yourself for having walked even one! To plot a circle on a theoretical flat plane is to overlay God on what we view as reality, one sphere of influence slipping over another like a ring being able to fit neatly on top of an elliptical.  

When we enter a labyrinth we are making a pilgrimage, compressing life into a very short period of time so that our issues may be more readily seen and examined. How so, you ask? Walking a labyrinth folds time and space which has the effect of ratcheting up our vibratory rates. And, at the same time, it also quiets the mind, freeing us from mental chatter. It is a healthy thing indeed to wind and unwind, to walk to the center and then retrace our steps, eventually coming back to the starting point. The net result is that afterwards we’re likely to feel all the more balanced, aligned, and alive.” ~ Rudolph Valentino