JohnHowardReid
Problems! Where to start? Well, I suppose the first thing is the condition of the print. I am reviewing the Alpha print. It is in just watchable condition. The music score? I don't remember, even though it is just on 24 hours ago that I ran the Alpha DVD. After about 20 minutes, I turned the DVD off because the pace was funereal. I decided to turn the movie back on and try watching it at twice the recommended speed. To my surprise, this experiment was extremely successful. I emphasize the words "surprise" and "successful". There was still plenty of time to read all the captions with no straining or effort on my part at all -- and as you might expect, as the movie was based on the famous novel, there were far more captions than scenes! There was plenty of time to read the captions and some of the scenes -- and by no means all the scenes themselves -- did now run just a little too fast. But that was far more comfortable than the Alpha DVD's funereal pacing.I thought that Valentino gave a rather glum performance. The ladies, particularly Nita Naldi, were more pleasingly animated. Fred Niblo's direction was competent but nothing special. And Fred did nothing to disguise obvious inserts of old stock footage, particularly in the bull-ring scenes. It's also true that a better print (and music score!) would definitely give the movie a higher overall rating!
Jaco Wium (jacowium)
My print runs under just under an hour which is obviously inferior to the regular 80-minute version or the longer Kino print, so I'll focus on the presenting of the tale instead of commenting on aspects of characterisation, cinematography, etc.There is nothing extraordinarily unique about the plot or the intrigue itself - it even resembles the classic Greek Tragedies to some extent: poor kid makes good, becomes national hero, earns himself a true family but then the true test of his character comes when temptations are served to him on a platter.I do approve though of the WAY the story is told. There are instances of foreshadowing (I'll give no details to avoid spoilers) and a parallel subplot serving to muddle the clear distinctions between villain and hero we are so used to seeing in regular blockbuster fare. At the same time, enough tension is maintained to keep the viewer interested unto the end.It is no mere plot-driven movie either - director Fred Niblo leaves the viewer with enough food for thought to reflect on the nature of society, and man's penchant for self-destruction through cruelty and lust. I am no connoisseur of silent movies such as this one but I thought the actors and actresses were very capable and the three main actors (Valentino, Naldi and Lee) certainly do not lack the required screen presence to make human dramas like this work.It is perhaps debatable whether Blood And Sand represents the finest of Niblo's and Valentino's careers but it can be taken for granted that they must have been very proud of their efforts here.
Petri Pelkonen
Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926) plays a bullfighter Juan Gallardo 'Zapaterin', who is really good at what he does.He falls in love with Carmen, played by Lila Lee (1901-1973), a girl he's known since childhood.But then an other woman shows interest on him, a true vamp who goes by the name of Doña Sol, played by Nita Naldi (1897-1961).And of course Juan becomes interested of her, too.Soon his loving feelings turn into hate.This woman just won't let go.Eventually Carmen finds out what has been going on between Juan and this woman.In the end, Juan is dying after a bullfight and Carmen is there by his side, Doña wouldn't care less.Fred Niblo's Blood and Sand from 1922 is a brilliant silent movie with some drama, romance and sport.The actors do a perfect job.Rudolph Valentino is marvelous.He was a teen idol of his time, who was idolized by half the world.He died tragically awfully young in 1926 to blood poisoning.He was only 31 and half the world mourned.Nita Naldi and Lila Lee are both very beautiful and they also could act very well.In the silent days the eyes had a big part, and in this one they all handle the eye work perfectly.And the dramatic music makes it all better.Blood and Sand is a thrill for all the Valentino fans and for those who don't require any dialog in the movie.
mmason-6
I've watched "Blood and Sand" several times; I own the DVD. With every viewing I notice some new subtle nuance in the under played gestures of Valentino. In the big seduction scene between Valentino and the voluptuous Nita Naldi, she sits at a harp, delicately playing, with her back to Valentino. He walks up behind her chair, clearly aroused, and he begins to seductively stroke the chair! This is so under played and yet so visually compelling and sensuous.It is so unlike the melodramatic rather hystrionic aesthetic so often found in films from this period. Valentino's restraint throughout the film's more emotional moments is compelling; his subtlety pulls the viewer intimately inward.True, the bull fighting scenes leave a bit to be desired. They are the result of some rather choppy editing and sadly come off looking peculiar,even humorous at times. Somehow Valentino pulls it off, his graceful movements, his quiet emotions, his compelling sensuality more than make up for the lack of authenticity in the bullring.
AD
