The story of the world's first silent movie mega-star needs to make a big bang in the land of show business for a Hillingdon man who has put his life savings into bringing the musical tale to life.

Alan Miller has poured money into the production of Valentino, Only a Man which will be hitting theatres early next year.

Alan, 53, was so impressed when his friends Keith Powell and David Kane approached him with the idea that he put his money where his mouth is and backed the new show.

The musical is about the early life of 1920s silver screen star Rudolpho Guglielmi, or as he's more commonly known Rudolph Valentino.

The play centres around his being banished to New York from Italy for squandering the family fortune and how he goes from being a penniless dancer to hitting the heights of super stardom.

Alan, a civil servant says: "I read the script, heard the music and just thought this is really something special which needs to be seen by a national - no, global - audience.

"I have experience promoting music events in the past and believe I have the drive and determination to turn the show into something really big. Of course it's going to be tough because it's a new show and it costs a hell of a lot of money to bring it to fruition and to get it into theatres.

"We are lined up to play theatres in central London, Camberley and Worthing in January and February next year and are hoping to bring the show to the Beck."

When asked what made him take such a huge financial risk, Alan is bullish: "I have enormous confidence in the show, the actors we have had audition have also loved it and I simply don't do failure."