Dark Lover: The Life and Death of Rudolph Valentino
by Emily W. Leider
On This Page
Description
Tango pirate, gigolo, powder puff, Adonis--all have been used to describe the silent-film icon known as Rudolph Valentino. From his early days as a taxi dancer in New York City to his near apotheosis as the ultimate Hollywood heartthrob, Rudolph Valentino (often to his distress) occupied a space squarely at the center of controversy. In this thoughtful retelling of Valentino's short and tragic life, Emily W. Leider looks at the Great Lover's life and legacy, and explores the events and show more issues that made him emblematic of the Jazz Age. Valentino's androgynous sexuality was a lightning rod for fiery and contradictory impulses that ran the gamut from swooning adoration to lashing resentment. He was reviled in the press for being too feminine for a man yet he also brought to the screen the alluring, savage lover who embodied women's darker, forbidden sexual fantasies. In tandem, Leider explores notions of the outsider in American culture as represented by Valentino's experience as an immigrant who became a celebrity. As the silver screen's first dark-skinned romantic hero, Valentino helped to redefine and broaden American masculine ideals, ultimately coming to represent a graceful masculinity that trumped the deeply ingrained status quo of how a man could look and act. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
This is probably the best book about Rudolph Valentino written so far. Not terribly scandalous.
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2003
- People/Characters*
- Rudolph Valentino
- Original language
- English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 791.43 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Movies, TV, Video Motion pictures, radio, television, podcasting Motion pictures
- LCC
- PN2287 .V3 .L45 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Drama Dramatic representation. The theater Special regions or countries
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 132
- Popularity
- 246,932
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.19)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 2
