Evening Star Newspaper, April 28, 1930, Page 20

. The Truth About Rudolph Valentino NATACHA RAMBOVA, HIS WIFE Dancer Dreads to Return to Face Pitfalls of Hollywood. When once again we set forth for Hollywood I felt about as cheerful as though I were bound for my own fu-| neral. 1 had not set foot in California since that fatal evening after our Mexican | marriage when I had fled from it in| such agony of spirit & year and & half | before. The West Coast recalled un- pleasant memories and hinted future | troubles. All the circumstances of this, trip seemed to me pregnant with danger | —strained relations between the pro-| ducers and myself, which were not| growing _easier; Rudy's ever-increasing| fame, which by now had reached such | proportioris as to turn the head of any normal young man who had not yet turned 30—and no one could know Rudy | as I did without being aware of his weaknesses. Hollywood is the last place in the world to develop strength of character. It is the tempter's paradise. The ma- liclous gossip and petty jealousies of the pleture colony, its mockery of things simple and true, its false ideals and| empty sham eat into the fiber like acid. The strongest man cannot prevent the | poison from seeping into his soul, and both Rudy and I were only human. All this destroyed my peace of mind. Forced to Go West. I wished we might do our work in New York. In the East there are at least cultural diversions—as relaxation after the hard grind of the studio—the- aters, operas, concerts, museums to clarify one's vislon and help one to think straight. In Hollywood there are only pictures, morning, noon and night. But by the terms of our contract with J. D. Williams, “The Hooded Falcon” must be made in Hollywood: so I tried to drive unpleasant thoughts from my mind and think only of the success of the picture. With the role so suited to Rudy’s talents, with the beautiful cos- tumes and settings we had arranged for in Spain, it should be the finest he ever | had made. And we had high hopes of Mr. Williams and the Ritz Co. While we were still in New York fin- ishing last odds and ends Qefore leaving for the coast, we were amazed to read in the newspapers one morning that Mr. Williams had bought the screen rights of “Cobra,” the stage success, and what is more, that Rudy was to make this picture! When we got Mr. Williams on the telephone to ask him the meaning of this he explained he had bought it as a speculation, and had merely used Rudy’'s name for the sake of the pub- liclty it carried. While I could not quite understand this, yet it relieved our minds for the time being. Seript Disappointing. A week later we set forth for the coast. Our party included Rudy and myself, Nita Naldi, Mr. Williams, George Ullman, who was now ‘Rudy’s business manager; Joe Jackson, in charge of publicity, and “Uncle Joe” Henabery, director. “Uncle Joe” had directed Rudy in “The Sainted Devil” and we were both very fond of him. On the train going West we read the script of the picture prepared by June Mathis. June had always written beau- tifully for Rudy, and now we were amased to find her script disappointing. “Uncle Joe,” Rudy and I all agreed it would have to be radically changed. June had inclosed a note explaining she had done it very hastily, since she ‘was rushed to death with new work she had undertaken for Pirct National Co. As the time was short we realized we would have to work an the scenario our- selves. “Uncle Joe” suggested another script writer who might help us with it. Immediately Mr, Williams seized on this unsettled state of affairs to say: “Well, then, why not make ‘Cobra’ instead?” But Rudy and I vehemently said “No!” “Cobra” was a woman’s play, Judith Anderson had starred in the upon our val in . Ullman called on June ask her about revising her script for this picture. What passed at this interview I do not know, but the June re- do with us. chance, who had beautifully, so sympathetically, had been our dear friend for years, now a8t him over without explanation, Thus ended a long, true friendship. We were both broken-hearted. ks Blamed Wife Again. B Of course, Mr. Ullman and Mr. Wwilllams blamed me for everything. They had grown so used to using me as 3 capricorn—in other words, as a goat— that by this time they couldn’t do otherwise. It was the same old story my towering ambition and my de- : it. As art di- spending all the money on artistic ef- fects I could attract to myself the lion’s ly that followed. But my fault was not “towering ambitions.” Rather, it was conceit. I was conceited enough to think I could force the iron-fisted in- dustry into giving Rudy the kind of pic- tures he was worthy of. Rudy and I were both dreamers, we were both, perhaps, too ambitious—but The maker of worthy prod. uct is glad to be identified withit.Landers*“WaSH is @ worthy product and its makers provide Shade Men who use‘‘WaSHade" with “The Seal of Quality" Itis a guarentee of qual- ity and servie our assurance for fine ap- pearance end long life. 'WeSHade" launders easily without streaking, sagging or fraying. Make sure that your new shadesareof“WaSHade." Samples and factory prices submitted with- out obligation. HADE SHOPD HOOPER & KLESNER 3 George J. Bensing, Msr. who | we were ambitious artistically rather than along mercenary lines. Rudy worshiped at the shrine of beauty just as devoutly as I did. He was just as ager to break away from the hackneyed role of “great lover of the screen” and make the beautiful, fine, artistic pic- turés he was worthy of, as I was to have him do it. And I could see no reason why he should not. Other screen artists were doing it. There was Douglas Fairbanks, for instance, whose splendid productions were setting new standards for the picture industry— “Robin Hood,” “The Thief of Bagdad,” “The Black Pirate.” ‘Why should not Rudy have pictures like these? Rudy Denied Big Chance. Of course, when we chose Douglas Fairbanks for our model we were hitch- ing our wagon to a star. Doug has everything & man needs for success; not only artistic appreciation but ken busi- ness acumen and commercial sense, coupled with the boldness and fearless- ness that let him succeed as his own producer—a rare combination of talents difficult to equal. Yet on every side we saw artists of far less ability than Rudy given big stories and big productions that offered them their wonderful chance. ‘Why, T asked, should Rudy, with his marked flair for romance, his unusual dramatic ability, his magnetism and proved drawing power, be forced into cheap, trifling pictures and roles in which his real art was prostituted for the sake of bigger box office receipts? Why must he always be a pawn in the hand of the great, iron-fisted, soulless god of commercialism? The injustice of it made me furious. I resolved he should not be so used. But the great Water Pitchers Vagotable Dishes Casseroles Cake Plates BILVERWARE, FIRST FLOOR. ' 129 H st N.W. National 476. ‘Window shades and awnings tallored 1o windows. - Falcon Lair, Beverly Hills, the Valentino home in which Natacha never lived. god only laughed at my puny efforts and clutched his fron fist the tighter. With all hopes for making “The Hooded Falcon” now completely dashed, slowly it began to dawn on us how cleverly the plans of the producers were laid. It was rumored Famous Players had really advanced the funds to him—even while their own litiga- tions with Rudy were pending in the courts. And Famous Players wanted “Cobra”; -it would be much cheaper to produce. A costume picture like “The Hood>d Falcon” would cost half & mil- lion dollars: 'obra” barely one-fourth that much; “Cobra” it must be. Clung to Vain Hope. When Rudy learned this he was furfous. To think that all powers in the industry should unite to humiliate him! But because we were tired of litigations, knew their disastrous re« sults and didn’t want ta be held up again, we sadly agreed to make it. Yet we still clung to one vain hope. Before we nwed to make “Cobra” we obtained Mr. Willlams' written agreement that “The Hooded Falcon” would be the sec- ond picture of the contract, and that “Cobra” should not be released until after “The Hooded Falcon” had been actually shown on the screen. In this way we still hoped to save Rudy’s repu- tation as an artist. Of course, Mr. Wil- liams insisted that later he would have plenty of money. But the industry was not so easily outdone. By the time “Cobra” was fin- ished Mr. Willlams stat:d that he could not finance the rest of the con- tract. Once again we were check- mated. Joseph Schenck now came to the front as arbiter in our difficulties and gettled the deadlock by buying Mr. A Special Low Price $5:25 Pewter of true Colonial design . . . at a price pewter connoisseurs will instantly recognize as far below regular. Make your selections from these charming pieces early tomorrow. Centerpieces Coffee Pots Suger and Creams Trays Well and Tree Platters Willlams' contract. Rudy was signed over to make two productions for United Artists. To save his akin Mr. Williams sgain blamed * terrible interference” for the humiliating position into which he was thrown. He took pains to explain to Mr. Schenck how impossible to work with; Rudy was a sportsman and a gentleman; it was I who was at the root of the trouble. I always want- ed to dominate. “Friends” Sought Rift. At the same time the newspapers were screaming with the stories that Rudy was “henpecked” and that I “wore the pants of the family.” These clippings were being fed to Rudy for breakfast, lunch and dinner by so-called friends, who knew they could get more out of him if I were well out of the way. It is not pleasant to be pitied for having a wife who would sacrifice her husband’s career for her own “selfish ambitions.” Proud and sensitive as Rudy was, this propaganda was not without its results. Between the lot of them the contract with United Artists was drawn up with the proviso that I should have nothing to do with his pictures. I was not even to be allowed on the set. Thus I was deprived of my occupation which I had been engaged in for years —long before I met Rudy—and forced into idleness. ‘This unexpected development left me bewildered and lost. I went to see Mr. Schenck about it and found him more fair-minded than the others. After & few interviews with him he discovered I was not as bad as I was painted, and he asked me to take charge, as of yore, of the costumes and settings of Rudy's pictures. But his judgment had become as warped and false as every one else’s there, ‘Together Rudy and I decided that the only thing to do was to have a few months’ separation. Perhaps that would set straight our twisted outlook on life in general and each other in particular. In my heart I knew it wouldn't. ‘Things had gone beyond the mending place. I wanted to leave permanently, go to Paris and get a divorce. But Rudy begged me not to. “Go stay with your mother at the Makes N | CORNS DRY UP- THEN REMOVES THEM SAFELY | NE drop of amasing new liquid on any corn or callus and pain is deadened instantly—in less than 3 seconds. Corn actually dries up and you can peel it off easily. Safest way known. Beware of imitations. Get the real “Gets-It"—forsale every- where. “GETS-IT,” Inc, Chicago. GETS-IT "WoOoDWARD & [.oTHROP Tomorrow—An Unusual Selling % %// %, “o 2 Yy o Y 5 i’ " e Gay Spring Fabrics Transform Your Home Into 2 Modern Garden Hand-printed and hand-blocked linens. ..gay chintzes —domestic and from abroad...colorful cretonnes... these Springtime fabrics suggest many new sources of charm for your home. uaint 18th Century designs and Jacobean patterns...interesting and colorful... transform your home into a modern garden. Hand-Printed Linens, $3.95 to $13.50 yard Chintz ....c.ceomeoeasa. .85¢ to $1.15 yard Cretonne ...............85c to $2.50 yard See Our Complete Summer Collections in the Drapery Section, Sixth Floor -~ - chateau,” he sald, “untll I can finish ‘Black Eagle. Then I will join you and we can patch things up. We will be glad to see each other again.” But I knew any compromise was hopeless. e day in July, 1925, I packed up a| the few personal belongings — just those things that were essential to the jour- ney—and took the train for New York. ‘We didn't realize how final the good-by was to be. We never saw each other again. In New York I went immediately to the apartment we had taken six months before, at 270 Park avenue, on a two- year lease, in the bellef that after the J. D. Willlams contract was completed we would make all our other pictures in the East. How futile and silly it is to make plans! Here I collected my clothes and few personal belongings, careful to destroy everything I owned that was suggestive of Rudy—our kodak pictures, his letters, little personal gifts he had made me—and arranged for an apartment of my own. Couldn’t Starve Wife. For funds, I had barely traveling ex- penses. Since I had not worked for some time, I had no money of my own. I did not wish to ask my family—and if I had asked Rudy for any (which I didn’t) I doubt if he would have ad- vanced it. He thought that if he could starve me down, as it were I would return to him. , But I was not so easily reduced to submission. That was the wrong pol- icy to use with me. After a few weeks in New York I salled for Paris, where I obtained my divorce. From Paris I went to the chateau, to find mother and Uncle Dickie broken hearted by the news of our separation. They looked upon it merely as the “squabble of two tempermental chil- dren.” With their fondness for Rudy and their knowledge of how happy we had been together, they refused to be- lieve it W’: anything more than a tem- porary misunderstanding, which couls be patched up later. . After a few weeks here I returned to New York to make a picture offered me. While I was still in New York at work on this picture, Rudy salled for Europe. I did not see him in New York, but called on my step-sister there. Mother and Uncle Dickle wrote him to London, where he was passing & few weeks, inviting him to the chateau for Christmas holidays. Later showed me his reply: ‘Wife’s Kin Loyal to Rudy. “Dearest Uncle Dickie and Mussey: My heart is too full of sorrow to spend the holidays in the home where I have passed the happlest days of my life. I will come to you early in January. “RUDY.” I quote mother’s own description of this visit he later paid them in an ex- cerpt from & letter she wrote to auntie: “In January Rudy came back to us, the same sweet, loving boy as of old,” wrote mother. “It was impossible for him to remain many days, as his sad- ness was too great and was made more poignant by familiar scenes of the chateau. He often went to Natacha's room to sit there for hours by him- self, and when he came out he would kneel beside me, bury his head in my lap and cry like a baby. I was broken- hearted. We had always hoped there would be a reconciliation, and I am happy to say it came during his last illness, thou{h only a few days be- fore his death.” All my family remained loyal to Rudy. Uncle Dickie, mother, auntie, all re- fused to believe any ill of him. There was really none to belleve. Looking down the perspective of years one is able to see things more clearly. This life, we are told, is a school room, in which we must learn our lessons, and each one of us is given a test. My test was Hollywood. We learn by bitter experience. (Copyright, 1930, in the United States snd forelgn countries by Natacha Rambova. All rights reserved.) ‘The next installment. of “The Truth About Valentino” will appear in The Star tomorrow. —— All sound films to be shown in Scan- dinavia are to be first tested at a new plant at Valby, Denmas PEACE GROUP STUDIES ECONOMIC WAR PHASE Carnegie Endowment Undertakes Exhaustive Research to Determine Possibilities. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, April 28.—An exhaus- tive research to find whether there is any scientific basis for the widely held theory that economic competition under the conditions of mass production of today is bound to bring with it inter- national conflict, has been undertaken by the Carnegie Endowment for Inter- national Peace. Announcement of the research has been made by Dr. James T. Shotwell, director of the division of economics and history of the foundation in making his annual report to the trustees. “This has an especial bearing upon the foreign relations of the United States,” Dr. Shotwell said. “Recently books have appeared attempting to prove that the economic conquest of the world by the United States is destined to bring disaster to other civilized competitors. In collaboration with the director of the division of economics and history a committee of economists has been engaged in specific studies which bear upon this inter- national problem, and publication of some of these researches will take place within the next few months.” Linen May Replace Straw. PARIS (#)—Linen hats may develop into occasional substitutes for straw for | p! town wear. Colored linen hats and handbags had a smart vogue at Medi- terranean resorts last Winter. Dark colored linen hats as well as pastel and white models with linen brims and crowns were popular. 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