The Unsensational Death of Rudolph Valentino
Above: the four men who have verified Rudolph Valentino’s godfather, Frank Mennillo’s presence at the star’s deathbed and his hearing the star’s final words as whispered in his ear.
Top left: Frank Mennillo, top right: S. George Ullman, bottom left: Alberto Guglielmi Valentino and bottom right: Baltasar Cue.
It has been brought to my attention that those determined to disgrace my research by slathering the internet with lies and innuendo have launched another meritless attack; this about my claim Rudolph Valentino’s godfather Frank Mennillo stood with the star’s manager George Ullman at his death bed. I cited my source as George Ullman’s personal memoir, the account as he passed it on to his family, the personal account of Frank Mennillo’s family as was passed down to them by Frank’s son, Arnold, and other relevant accounts as they appeared in Valentino biographies.
In the new book, The True Rudolph Valentino by Rudolph Valentino’s friend, Baltasar Cue, translated by Renato Floris and with a foreword which I wrote, Frank Mennillo’s presence at Valentino’s death bed is confirmed.
In this book, which was originally published as a ten installment series in the Spanish magazine Cine-Mundial in 1927-1928, the author is told by Valentino’s brother Alberto that Valentino whispered his last words in Frank Mennillo’s ear on his deathbed. Mennillo shared these final words only with Alberto Valentino. (cite p.120 in The True Rudolph Valentino and Mennillo’s presence in the hospital room with Ullman, cite p. 132, Ibid.)
In the weeks before his death, Rudolph Valentino was collaborating with Baltasar Cue on this fascinating book, determined to have his truthful story told. After his death, Cue would publish his work in Spanish. Renato Floris’ translation is the first time this book is available in English @ https://amzn.to/2EjNK8A
I ask how it could be possible for Baltasar Cue and Alberto Valentino to foresee what I would claim some 90 years in the future. Frank Mennillo’s presence at Valentino’s deathbed is now confirmed by four credible accounts; Frank Mennillo, George Ullman, Alberto Valentino and Baltasar Cue.
As I was the first biographer to interview both the Mennillo and Ullman families, I was surprised to hear them relate the memories of Valentino’s death as passed down to them in great detail. Despite these two families having no contact over the years, they told the same story.
The hysterical attempts to sensationalize Valentino’s death by Tracy Terhune, Simon Constable and David Bret with false allegations of poisoning and even murder, stand as a brazen act to disgrace the two gentlemen who stood by Valentino until his dying breath; Frank Mennillo and George Ullman.
Rudolph Valentino died for a lack of antibiotic and sepsis was a common cause of death in the day. According to the medical records released after Valentino’s death, his condition was something which had been growing increasingly worse over time. His death did cause a sensation among his fans and followers but his tragic, physical death was anything but sensational. It is not subject to mockery by ridiculous theorists out to bully legitimate researchers and out to disgrace the memory of these four men who knew Valentino, loved Valentino and had his best interests at heart.
Hear my podcast on this remarkable new book, @ https://soundcloud.com/user-346379988/rudolph-valentino-those-haters-and-more/s-cRFy7