Valentino: The Last Emperor

Interview footage of the man himself and Mr. Giammetti in action--at editorial meetings, directing seamstresses, backstage before runway shows--gives a good glimpse into what these two men have spent the past 50 years doing. As Valentino says when repeatedly badgered about his retirement date, he's only taken three- to four-day holidays, and rarely, since his business exploded in 1968. He and Giammetti stroll down Via Veneto, where they reminisce about meeting and about La Dolce Vita. And one does learn about Valentino's early inspirations, such as Ziegfield Girl. There are a few short vintage footage clips of Valentino and his ladies, but the film would be so much stronger if there were more. In fact, one barely gets to view Valentino's haute couture, in scenes during retrospective events. The documentary's drama relies solely on Valentino, the charismatic tornado, rather than dwelling on his styles, probably as it should be. --Trinie Dalton