The Isle of Love
Encyclopedia
The Isle of Love is a 1922 recut of a 1918 silent
drama film
starring female impersonator Julian Eltinge
. The film also contained two actors unknown during filming: Virginia Rappe
and Rudolph Valentino
. The film went through various recuts and releases during the 1920s and is generally known for its cast.
ended before it could go into distribution.
Two years later the film was recut and titled An Adventuress. How it was recut is unknown, however the film was not well received. In 1922, after Valentino rose to fame with The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
, and Virginia Rappe had died in what became a scandal, the film was released once again under the title The Isle of Love.
The Isle of Love featured a poorly spliced together story, which mostly intended to cash in on Valentino's new found fame despite his original role being quite small and Rappe's death. This led to shots of him being repeated several times nonsensically; and including his character for no apparent reason. The Isle of Love cut is the only version of the film still in existence, and bears little resemblance to the original Over the Rhine storyline. The final cut was a commercial failure much like An Adventuress.
The Isle of Love has yet to be released on DVD or home video, but a complete print of that version survives at the UCLA Film Archive.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
starring female impersonator Julian Eltinge
Julian Eltinge
Julian Eltinge , born William Julian Dalton, was an American stage and screen actor and female impersonator. After appearing in the Boston Cadets Revue at the age of ten in feminine garb, Eltinge garnered notice from other producers and made his first appearance on Broadway in 1904...
. The film also contained two actors unknown during filming: Virginia Rappe
Virginia Rappe
Virginia Rappe was an American model and silent film actress.-Early life and career:Rappe was born to unwed mother Mabel Rapp in New York City. Mabel died when Virginia was 11, and Virginia was then raised by her grandmother in Chicago. At age 14 she began working as a commercial and art model in...
and Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
. The film went through various recuts and releases during the 1920s and is generally known for its cast.
Plot
An Island (The Isle of Love) run by a crazed with power Duke is in turmoil. The peasants plan a revolt, with two buddies including Cliff (Julian Eltinge) planning to overthrow the corrupt Duke. Cliff invites his friend Jacques (Rudolph Valentino) to help, though Jacques spends most of his time with his love Vanette (Virginia Rappe). Meanwhile Cliff dresses up as a female as part of the plan and after much chaos all is well and he returns to America safe and sound.Cast
- Julian EltingeJulian EltingeJulian Eltinge , born William Julian Dalton, was an American stage and screen actor and female impersonator. After appearing in the Boston Cadets Revue at the age of ten in feminine garb, Eltinge garnered notice from other producers and made his first appearance on Broadway in 1904...
as Clifford Townsend/Julie - Virginia RappeVirginia RappeVirginia Rappe was an American model and silent film actress.-Early life and career:Rappe was born to unwed mother Mabel Rapp in New York City. Mabel died when Virginia was 11, and Virginia was then raised by her grandmother in Chicago. At age 14 she began working as a commercial and art model in...
as Vanette - Rudolph ValentinoRudolph ValentinoRudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
as Jacques Rudanyi - Frederick Ko Vert as Lyn Brook
- William CliffordWilliam CliffordWilliam Clifford was an English cricketer of the mid-19th century who played for Kent...
as Dick Sayre - Leo WhiteLeo WhiteLeo White was a stage performer and appeared as a character actor in many Charlie Chaplin films. He started his film career in 1911 and in 1913 moved to the Essanay Studios. In 1915, he began appearing in Chaplin's comedies and continued through Chaplin's Mutual Film comedies...
as Prince Halbere
Release and different versions
The original film was titled Over the Rhine and was an anti German propaganda piece starring Julian Eltinge, a transvestite actor, who was extremely popular at the time. Filmed in 1918 Over the Rhine was shelved without release as World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
ended before it could go into distribution.
Two years later the film was recut and titled An Adventuress. How it was recut is unknown, however the film was not well received. In 1922, after Valentino rose to fame with The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (film)
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is a 1921 silent movie produced by Metro Pictures Corporation, adapted by June Mathis, directed by Rex Ingram and starring Rudolph Valentino, Pomeroy Cannon, Josef Swickard, Wallace Beery, and Alice Terry...
, and Virginia Rappe had died in what became a scandal, the film was released once again under the title The Isle of Love.
The Isle of Love featured a poorly spliced together story, which mostly intended to cash in on Valentino's new found fame despite his original role being quite small and Rappe's death. This led to shots of him being repeated several times nonsensically; and including his character for no apparent reason. The Isle of Love cut is the only version of the film still in existence, and bears little resemblance to the original Over the Rhine storyline. The final cut was a commercial failure much like An Adventuress.
The Isle of Love has yet to be released on DVD or home video, but a complete print of that version survives at the UCLA Film Archive.