Beyond the Rocks
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| Beyond the Rocks | |
| Author | Elinor Glyn |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Duckworth |
| Publication date | 1906 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| ISBN | NA |
Beyond the Rocks is a 1906 novel by Elinor Glyn and a 1922 silent film, based on that novel, in which Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino (credited as "Rodolph" Valentino here) starred together for the only time. The film was directed by Sam Wood and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Beyond the Rocks was a lost film for the better part of the twentieth century until a print was found in the Netherlands in 2000 and restored by the Nederlands Filmmuseum and the Haghefilm Conservation.
[edit] Plot summary
The movie is a melodrama about a woman (Swanson) forced to marry an older, wealthy man. Just before her marriage she meets a young nobleman (Valentino). While in the Alps on her honeymoon, they meet once more and still later, in Paris, meet a third time and fall in love. When the woman's husband finds out about her feelings for the nobleman, he confronts the man, but after further consideration, decides to sacrifice himself by standing in harm's way on an expedition to Arabia. His death during that expedition makes it possible for the young lovers to come together.
[edit] Publicity
The novel was republished in 1922 in an edition by The Macaulay Company which included "illustrations from the Paramount Photo-Play" of Valentino and Swanson.
Publicity at the time described the film as:
- A flaming romance as only the author of Three Weeks[1] could write it; as only Gloria Swanson, with dashing Rodolph Valentino playing the lover, could make it live in all its ardent splendor.
- The story of a passionate young heart bound by society's conventions, struggling and risking all for sadness:
- — of gay nights of revelry in the Parisian world of fashion.
- — of intrigue and coquetry in the gilded resorts of London high society.
- Never before have such dramatic love scenes, such spectacular adventure been placed before the public. The love-drama with all the thrills and luxury of a lifetime! The one book and picture you'll never forget!
