Beyond the Rocks
Encyclopedia
Beyond the Rocks is a 1906 novel by Elinor Glyn
. The novel was later adapted into a 1922 silent film
in which Gloria Swanson
and Rudolph Valentino
(credited as Rodolph Valentino) starred together for the only time. The film was directed by Sam Wood
and distributed by Paramount Pictures
.
about a woman forced to marry an older, wealthy man. Just before her marriage she meets a young nobleman
. 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.
Publicity at the time described the film as:
Elinor Glyn
Elinor Glyn , born Elinor Sutherland, was a British novelist and scriptwriter who pioneered mass-market women's erotic fiction. She popularized the concept It...
. The novel was later adapted into a 1922 silent film
Beyond the Rocks (film)
Beyond the Rocks is a 1922 silent drama film directed by Sam Wood, starring Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson. It is based on the novel of the same name by Elinor Glyn.-Plot:...
in which Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
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...
(credited as Rodolph Valentino) starred together for the only time. The film was directed by Sam Wood
Sam Wood
Samuel Grosvenor "Sam" Wood was an American film director, and producer, who was best known for directing such Hollywood hits as A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and The Pride of the Yankees...
and distributed by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.
Plot summary
The book is a melodramaMelodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
about a woman forced to marry an older, wealthy man. Just before her marriage she meets a young nobleman
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
. While in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
on her honeymoon, they meet once more and still later, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 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.
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 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!