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

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

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

Michael Fassbender

“A charming man who is the prototype for a new kind of movie star. He is not magnetic in the traditional sense yet he fascinates all those who cannot take their eyes off of him. Hypnotic in some respect and he fully inhabits his roles. You can feel him inside of them, as you observe him on the screen. Mr. Fassbender has a dual nationality, and in that sense being bi-cultural, as I was, offers him a unique world view, especially because his countries of origin are not always the ones on everyone’s tongue. Michael is a kind soul, generous to those around him, gregarious too, eager to learn, hungry for experience which he translates into the id and ego of each of his characters. Bravo, I say! An auspicious beginning to what promises to be a lengthy career. And, there is the sexual quotient ~ opaque, mysterious, yet available, lurking, full-bore ~ all simultaneously. A stand-up kind of guy, especially for his female fans, and he is mostly unaware of the effects he engenders, which are always cathartic!” ~ Rudolph Valentino