Assortment of contractual material related to two Valentino films, including: a DS, eight pages, 8.5 x 11.75, April 4, 1925. Contract between Ritz-Carlton Pictures, Inc., Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Ritz International Corporation, and Rudolph Valentino, in which all parties agree to certain finance and distribution adjustments for “the production entitled ‘The Scarlet Power,’ known also as ‘The Hooded Falcon,’” and a “production entitled ‘Cobra,’ the negative of which has now been completed.” Signed at the conclusion in black ink by Valentino, as well as by the three studio presidents: Adolph Zukor, J. D. Williams, and William M. Vogel. Includes two additional sheets related to international rental percentages, and a glossy 8.5 x 6.5 photo of Zukor and Valentino signing the aforementioned contract, with the reverse bearing a Pacific & Atlantic Photo credit stamp and stamp-dated January 22, 1924. Also includes an additional document from the offices of Famous Players–Lasky Corporation, dated April 4, 1925, relaying the successful transmittal of the “annexed proposed agreement” and the May 1st execution deadline for Valentino to comply, signed by several studio heads; and an unsigned typed draft of a letter from Valentino to Louella O. Parsons, one page, 8.5 x 11, February 13, 1925, in part: “I have been wondering for a long time whether or not I am making a serious mistake in playing the character of my next pictures, ‘The Hooded Falcon,’ with a beard…Will you be my ‘Good Samaritan’ and lend me your valued help in arriving at a dependable conclusion by publishing the pictures with and without the beard and asking your readers if they will be kind enough to send you their opinion on the subject, so that I may abide by those who are in the majority.” In overall very good to fine condition. Accompanied by an unsigned contract between Valentino and Joseph M. Schenck, an agreement between Ritz Carlton Pictures Incorporated and Valentino, signed at the conclusion by his wife Natalie Valentino, and a partial settlement statement from Pathe Exchange, Inc., in account with George Ullman, dated November 29, 1930, concerning the balance for the release of “What Price Beauty.” Valentino's two productions—Cobra and The Hooded Falcon—debuted in 1925 and 1924, respectively, with Valentino opting for a thin goatee in the latter film. Pre-certified Beckett Authentication Services.
