Beyond the Rocks
Beyond the Rocks is a 1906 novel by Elinor Glyn and a 1922 silent film, based on that novel, in which Gloria Swanson and "Rodolph" Valentino starred together for the only time. The film was directed by Sam Wood and distributed by Paramount Pictures.
The film was lost for years; a print of the film was found in the Netherlands in 2004.
Plot
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
It's a melodrama is about a woman (Swanson) forced to marry an older, wealthy man. While in the Alps during her honeymoon, the woman meets and later in Paris, falls in love with a nobleman (Valentino). When her husband finds out about her feelings for the nobleman, he confronts the man, but after further consideration, decides to sacrifice himself by putting himself in harm's way on an expedition to Arabia. His death during that expedition makes it possible for the young lovers to come together.
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 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 happiness:
- — 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!
