Blood and Sand | 1922 | Drama

Title: Blood and Sand | 1922 | Drama Director: Fred Niblo Studio: Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Lila Lee, Nita Naldi, Rosa Rosanova, Walter Long, Charles Belcher Based on: Novel *Blood and Sand* (Spanish: *Sangre y arena*) by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez and play adaptation by Tom Cushing Release Date: August 22 1922 (Los Angeles premiere); widely released September 10 1922 Runtime: Approximately 80–110 minutes (9 reels) Format: Silent black and white with English intertitles Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Drama Romance --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Juan’s village upbringing and ambition 00:15:00 Rise as a matador 00:30:00 Marriage to childhood sweetheart Carmen 00:45:00 Temptation and affair with Doña Sol 01:00:00 Exposed betrayal and spiral 01:15:00 Final bullfight and reconciliation --- Summary: Blood and Sand is a 1922 American silent drama about Juan Gallardo, a poor village youth who becomes one of Spain’s greatest matadors. After achieving fame and marrying his devoted childhood friend Carmen, Juan is seduced by the wealthy and passionate Doña Sol, leading to personal and professional turmoil. His reckless behavior culminates in a fateful bullfight where he is fatally gored but reconciles with Carmen before his death. --- Background: Directed by Fred Niblo and produced by Paramount Pictures, Blood and Sand was adapted by screenwriter June Mathis from Tom Cushing’s stage play based on Vicente Blasco Ibáñez’s novel *Sangre y arena*. The film was a major box office success in 1922 and helped solidify Rudolph Valentino’s stature as a leading romantic screen presence. --- Trivia: The film’s editor Dorothy Arzner later became one of Hollywood’s first major female directors. It inspired parodies such as the 1922 Stan Laurel short *Mud and Sand*. The story has been remade several times, including a notable 1941 version starring Tyrone Power. The film’s success contributed to Valentino’s rise as one of the silent era’s biggest stars. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: August/September 1922 Original Studio / Distributor: Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #BloodAndSand1922 #RudolphValentino #SilentDrama #ParamountPictures #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain