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Valentino Through the Ages

Valentino: The Last Emperor has been shortlisted for a Best Documentary Oscar. But director Matt Tyrnauer writes that the star’s diva act and the film’s financial crises nearly sank it.

Published Dec. 7 2009 2:07PM EST

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--jacqueline-kennedy-onassis_eryco3 — Newscom (2); Getty Images

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--jacqueline-kennedy-onassis_y6f4sp — Valentino with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in London.
Newscom (2); Getty Images

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--marisa-benson_uc7igh — With Marisa Berenson at Steve Rubell's Birthday Party Hosted by Halston.
Ron Galella, WireImage / Getty Images

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--diana-vreeland_tixesf — With fashion editor Diana Vreeland at a party benefiting the Ballet Russe exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on November 20, 1978.
Larry C. Morris, New York Times Co. / Getty Images

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--raquel-welch_qvhwjx — With Raquel Welch at a dinner and fashion show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art sponsored by Valentino.
Bettmann / Corbis

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--nan-kempner_zneffk — With Nan Kempner at the National Conference of Christians and Jews Humanitarian Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.
Ron Galella, WireImage / Getty Images

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--sophia-loren_xnbda0 — With Sophia Loren.
Ron Galella, WireImage / Getty Images

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--elle-macpherson_nacqxo — With Elle MacPherson.
Newscom

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--moet-and-chandon-phillip-treacy-tribute_tkynhi — At the 'Moet and Chandon Fashion Tribute 2002' to celebrate Philip Treacy at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Theodore Wood / Retna Ltd.

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--oprah_e91ukp — With Oprah at his Spring/Summer 2005 Fashion Show collections at Paris Fashion Week on July 6, 2004.
Eric Ryan / Getty Images

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--karl-lagerfeld_zvfnfa — With Karl Lagerfeld at the Valentino 45th Anniversary Fall/Winter 2007-2008 Haute Couture Fashion Show held at Santo Spirito in Sassia, Rome, Italy.
Joe Schildhorn, PatrickMcMullan.com / Sipa

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--valentino_rvhphv — On Psarou Beach, Mykonos Island, Greece on August 18, 2008.
Tarsos / People Picture / Capital Pi / Retna Ltd.

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--claudia-schiffer_axsobl — With Claudia Schiffer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala on May 5, 2008.
Chance Yeh, PatrickMcMullan.com / Sipa

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--gynewth-paltrow_xmf5io — With Gwyneth Paltrow and Giancarlo Giammetti at the New York premiere of Valentino The Last Emperor in March 2009.
Billy Farrell, PatrickMcMullan.com / Sipa

galleries/2009/12/07/valentino-through-the-ages/tymauer--valentino--runway_t1e7la — Backstage with models after the 45th Anniversary Fall/Winter 2007-2008 Haute Couture Fashion Show at Santo Spirito in Rome.
Joe Schildhorn, PatrickMcMullan.com / Sipa

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