by Everett Jensen

Created on: April 06, 2010

Blood and Sand

directed by Fred Niblo

written by June Mathis

based on the play by Tom Cushing

based on the novel “Sangre y arena” by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez

starring Rudolph Valentino, Nita Naldi, Lila Lee, Gilbert Clayton, Walter Long, Harry Lamont, Jack Winn, Rosita Marstini

In this predictable yet engaging 1922 silent film directed by Fred Niblo, Rudolph Valentino plays a champion bullfighter who finds himself in trouble with his wife when he becomes involved with a wealthy older woman.

Valentino plays Juan Gallardo, an impoverished young man who grows into a champion matador who is adored by women and men alike.  He becomes something of a legend in his own time through his exploits in the bullfighting ring.  He marries a childhood friend named Carmen (Lee) and they seem to enjoy an idyllic marriage.  Unfortunately Juan is distracted by the beautiful and naughty Doña Sol (Naldi) who lures him with her seductive smile and voluptuous maneuverings.

This film is not noteworthy for its bullfighting sequences to be sure.  They do manage a comic appeal however which albeit unintentional does lighten the mood substantially.  The real draw is the dizzying electricity between Valentino and his leading ladies.  These scenes are truly as erotically charged as cinema gets and they hardly touch each other.  Indeed, in one scene Doña Sol is playing harp and Juan approaches her with trepidation and stands behind her.  He puts his hands on the back of her chair and it’s almost unbearable how much tension lies between these two.  It’s a perfect example of what can be created simply by putting two oversexed actors in the same scene together.  In this single scene Valentino’s appeal is actualized and all he does is mainly stand still while Nita Naldi seductively plucks the strings on her harp.  

The film works best when it exploits Valentino’s sexuality through his scenes with Carmen and Doña Sol.  Otherwise it becomes rather tiresome and few of the remaining characters possess any characteristics that are worth pursuing.  There is the outlaw Plumitas (Long) who is wanted by the police and who befriends Juan.  He shares his insights into how he and Juan are very similar.  Juan kills bull while he kills men. His presence adds a bit of spice to the proceedings as we suddenly become rather interested in his plight.  

This is a film

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