Rudolph Valentino: A Wife's Memories of an Icon

** My review1. Rudy was sensitive and sincere that tendered Natacha’s heart, as well stubborn and short-tempered that irritated her, once in a while, furious that drove Natacha sent him away and cried all alone by herself. While the estranging faded away, their happiness re-flamed, with a welcome return in Rudy.2. Rudy had no sense of saving money and purchased his luxury car by dumping all his funds. He was penniless when no filming and unable to pay his car loan and ended up his car being taken back and lost money he had paid. It was Natacha who offered her car to help him to overcome his hardship of no car, who sold her jewels for cash to support his financial disadvantage of no money, who drove him for hunting animals to beat famine of no food. Never did before Natacha tell that her family was wealthy. Instead, she chose to share Rudy’s hardship and fight the destitution along with him. Natacha had melt her love into Rudy's heart.3. Rudy could not wait to marry Natacha and ignored the advice of their lawyer to wait for one year. He fled to Mexico to consummate his inseparability with Natacha and sadly threw himself behind bar as a result. He was enforced to separate with Natacha that ripped his heart to being bled. Natacha wept in tears in inconsolable grief and kept her tears to herself. Rudy implored Natacha to share her tears with him or he would have thought that Natacha had stopped loving him. Rudy told Natacha that any suffering of his for her sake, he would gladly bear it with a smile.4. Rudy during his passing through the psychic George’s trance immediately sent 11 messages to Natacha. Rudy sadly told her about his experience after his passing of no one noticing and recognizing him when he stood on the Broadway street in New York City; told her about his furious experience after his passing of his being turned into a very chilly wind to strike, by accident, an earth woman; he felt very wretched and lonely and bitter for God let him success in his earth-life and then unjustly let him fail; Rudy told Natacha that he could see her and her mother sitting in her mother’s room while the psychic George was sleeping in an easy chair in the trance; Rudy told Natacha that he had a remarkable feeling that he might soon see her. Rudy called Natacha “dearest,” kept calling her by her name “Natacha” in his 11 messages. Rudy recounted to Natacha about astral lights, astral houses and astral theatres he had seen, about astral substance, astral force and astral thoughts he had learned, about astral beings he acquainted with in his earth-life, about astral himself he had not known in his own earth-life. Rudy told Natacha that he always loved her, and asked her not forget him.*---------------------------------*** My ExperienceI was deeply and extremely sorrow in my emotion for about a week for Rudy’s sad life and tragedy. One night during my sleep appeared Rudy in grey-blue clothes. I hugged him with my arms around his neck, with my sympathy and admiration to him. Rudy was gentle in his manner in return to my affection, with his hands on my back, his face was blurred, but the stature of the physique was exact Rudy’s, the impression of which I have been trying to remember.** My thought:I believe some people, such as the psychic George (female), have as the brilliant 6th sensation beyond nature to communicate with the dead spirits as some high resolution cameras can catch the dead ghosts’ images. Some day as the more and more sophisticated technologies are developed, we can directly communicate with the dead spirits by using those technologies without psychics’ assistance. *---------------------------------*

A very interesting book. Part of this book was written by Valentino's wife, Natacha Rambova, in 1927. This is combined with sections written by Hala Pickford, of The Rudolph Valentino Society. The sections by Rambova, were excellent. She described events so vividly that you felt you were there with her. It really transports you back to that time. The sections by Hala Pickford added greatly to Rambova's text to provide background and biographical information on the people who were participants in Valentino's life. However, these sections would have been improved with a good proof reader since there were grammatical errors throughout; although not too many to distract the reader. There were 11 chapters by Rambova that purportedly provided information Valentino communicated from beyond the grave. These were very interesting and Pickford's explanation of the couple's interest in spiritualism and automatic writing and these movements at that time in history assisted in understanding this section. However, I would have liked to have known why only 11 chapters? Were there no other communications from Valentino, did Rambova stop communicating or simply chose not to discuss this anymore? I would have liked these questions answered. I particularly liked the chapters on Nita Naldi and June Mathis because it is so difficult to find information on these ladies. Overall, it is a great look at the life of Valentino and I would recommend it - you really learn about Valentino the man, not the myth.

The book Natacha Rambova (Winnifred Hudnutt) wrote about her divorced second husband Rudolph Valentino following his death. Some interesting tidbits about their life but she was too classy to go into great detail. Seemed to me to be written as a catharsis about the man she later (in another book) claimed was the love of her life. I think she wanted the world to remember Rudy Valentino as a great guy so wrote a book saying so. Those seeking details of their love life will be disappointed. She was a classy woman.

I absolutely enjoyed this edition! I have the original, but it was so nice to have Hala Pickford's commentary. It added a context for the time that made it even more special to read. Hala's knowledge of the silent era and its participants helped to add details which enriched the story. Too often in Valentino groups, Rambova is vilified, which is an unfortunate mistake. This book is great for anyone wanting to know more about her and to get information about Valentino from someone that knew him. Highly recommend!

Wonderful book . I loved reading about Natacha & Rudy . She writes about the happy times not when the marriage went bad . That was fine with me ... I loved the passages written by Natacha’s mother “ Muzzie” as she was called by both Natacha & Rudy ... like being on an adventure with the Valentino’s ... enjoyed reading about the time when Rudy was happy . He did not have enough of that in his life ....

There has always been something about Rudolph Valentino that has fascinated me. I have read other books but find this first hand account of his life with Natasha a really different look back. Good for those who want to know more about him.

I was very disappointed in the way the book was written. It is divided into three parts. Very little of it give any real information about Valentino. It is mostly about their trip to Europe and details about "automatic writing" which is the occult. I am going to return the book because it is useless information. - Georgana Davis

Glad to find this reprint. Rare copies of the original, when found, are usually in poor condition and priced through thestratosphere. Interesting read for anyone wanting to know more about Rudy and his time.

Excellent book. Recommend it for those whose interest not only in Valentino and Natasha but also 1920's Hollywood film era

Good reading book.Good seller,arrived before expected time.I am very satisfied.Thank you.