Blood and Sand (1922)

Director:

Fred Niblo
(more)

Writers:

Vicente Blasco Ibáñez (novel)
Tom Cushing (play)
(more)

Release Date:

5 August 1922 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Plot:

Juan is the son of a poor widow in Seville. Against his mother's wishes he pursues a career as toreador...

Plot Keywords:

Spain | Bullfighting | Based On Play | Based On Novel

Cast

Rosa Rosanova	...	Angustias (as Rose Rosanova)
Leo White	...	Antonio
Rosita Marstini	...	Encarnacion
Rudolph Valentino	...	Juan Gallardo (as Rodolph Valentino)
Lila Lee	...	Carmen
Charles Belcher	...	Don Joselito
Fred Becker	...	Don José
George Field	...	El Nacional
Jack Winn	...	Potaje
Harry Lamont	...	Puntillero
Gilbert Clayton	...	Garabato
Walter Long	...	Plumitas
Nita Naldi	...	Doña Sol
George Periolat	...	Marquis of Guevera
Sidney De Gray	...	Dr. Ruiz
Dorcas Matthews	...	Señora Nacional
W.E. Lawrence	...	Fuentes (as William Lawrence)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Louise Emmons	...	Old woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred Niblo
Dorothy Arzner		(additional footage) (uncredited)

Writing credits
Vicente Blasco Ibáñez		(novel "Sangre y arena") (as Vicente Blasco Ibañez)
Tom Cushing		(play)
June Mathis		(written by)

Produced by
Jesse L. Lasky	....	executive producer
Fred Niblo	....	producer

Cinematography by
Alvin Wyckoff

Film Editing by
Dorothy Arzner		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Monte Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Fouce	....	assistant director

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures
• Famous Players-Lasky Corporation

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1922) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Films (1923) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• InstantVision (IVL) (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Kino Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Kino Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Marathon Music & Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Passport Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Reel Media International (2008) (worldwide) (all media)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

80 min | 108 min (Kino Print)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1930) | Portugal:17 (director's cut)

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

According to author James Kirkwood, Jr., whose mother Lila Lee played Carmen in "Blood and Sand," Rudolph Valentino liked to eat traditional Italian foods, heavily spiced with garlic. Therefore Lee asked that her love scenes with Valentino be shot in the morning so she wouldn't have to deal with his garlic breath after lunch.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Big Moments from Little Pictures (1924)

Interesting Drama, Highlighted By Naldi & By One Of Valentino's Better Roles

Although in many ways "Blood and Sand" looks rather old-fashioned now, it's still an interesting drama. It gives Rudolph Valentino one of his better roles, and it is also highlighted by an effective supporting performance from Nita Naldi. The subject matter has some substance to it, and it still holds up well enough despite being handled occasionally in a somewhat heavy-handed manner.

In playing the bullfighter Gallardo, Valentino gets a character with some depth to it. The story follows him as he first struggles to achieve fame and respect, and then struggles in dealing with the side-effects of fame, fortune, and popularity. Naldi's role is memorable, and from her first appearance she makes her manipulative vamp character physically desirable but an obvious source of danger. Valentino does a good job playing off of her, and even without the benefit of spoken dialogue it is easy to see the struggle and self-reproach taking place inside of him.

The themes have a significance that go beyond the original setting. In itself, the criticisms of bullfighting and of what it reveals about human nature, while generally quite valid, are put forth without any subtlety. The inter-titles and the obvious parallels between Gallardo and the notorious criminal Plumitas repeatedly emphasize the same points that the action itself could have made well enough on its own. But that's one of the few weaknesses of "Blood and Sand". And the more general point, its depiction of how easy it is for crowds to be thrilled with violence, is well-taken.

The one other noticeable shortcoming is that the bullring scenes are now often unconvincing. It is laudable, of course, that the film-makers were willing to sacrifice realism so as to avoid being cruel to the animals, so this particular aspect of the movie should be evaluated generously. Present-day technology would certainly have made it much simpler to achieve both goals.

Although the style might make it mostly of interest to those who are already silent movie fans, there is still more than enough of interest to make this worth seeing. The story is simple, but it has some worthwhile aspects. Naldi provides something striking to look at, and Valentino gets to show what he can do with a role that has some possibilities to it.