23 Sahara Knights

Pop Culture References to Rudolph Valentino

 

Valentino is lucky to be one of the few silent stars NOT forgotten in the era of talkies, color, and twitter.  He has been mentioned by name several times in various media.  His image and legend has also inspired several homages and parodies.  Below is a list of these.

 

TV

The Simpson S1E10 "Homer's Night Out" Mr. Burns calls Homer a 'self styled Valentino'

 

The Simpson S13E04 "A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love".  Mr. Burns tells his young lover Gloria he'll 'make her forget all about Rudolph Valentino'

 

In a February 2010 episode of E!'s "The Soup" Joel McHale mocked Regis Philbin, pretending he had known Rudolph Valentino.

 

Film

Muñecas de medianoche (1979, Mexico)

Harum Scarum (1965 starring Elvis Presly)

 

Remade Films

Blood and Sand (1941, 1988)

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1962)

 

Music

"Right Before My Eyes" by Ian Thomas "Manic Monday" by The Bangles

"Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" by Queen

"Life Sized Marilyn Monroe" by Wild Strawberries

"Celluloid Heroes" by The Kinks

"Better Off Without a Wife" by Tom Waits

"Long Black Veil" a country staple

 

Other

Rudolph's Bar-B-Que in Minneapolis, MN is named for him.

In the novel "The Big Money" by John Dos Passos, one chapter mentions the craziness around Valentino's funeral.