Sangre y arena

Exciting and colorful rendition dealing with rise and fall of a bullfighter with the seductive Rita Hayworth who was catapulted to stardom and her unfortunate conquest , Tyrone Power . This one concerns the tragic rise and fall of Juan Gallardo (Tyrone Power) and the women he loved , inside and outside of the bullfighters ring . This yarn talks about a sender labourer who wishes to achieve a big hit as a matador . Along the way he finds distresses , penury , great successes and a Femme Fatale . In spite of opposition his mother (Alla Nazimova) Juan wants to be Torero and escapes with his friends El Nacional (John Carradine) and Manolo de Palma (Anthony Quinn) to the Big City . He meets the attractive bombshell Doña Sol (Rita Hayworth ) , half Spanish, half American , but he marries his loyal bride Carmen Espinosa (Linda Darnell) . Juan on the verge of super-stardom risks it all when he falls under the spell of a seductive woman , forsaking his first love . Later on , bullfighter Gallardo celebrates triumphs but leaves his wife and falls for his lover , Doña Sol , turning from the faithful Carmen who nevertheless stands by her man , as he continues to face real danger in the bullring. He , then , risks and destroys his one opportunity for fame when Doña Sol lets him down . Things go wrong when a friend dies by a ¨Cornada¨ or goring . You Haven't Seen Tyrone Power Till You've Seen "Blood and Sand" . All the fiery romance ! ..the colorful spectacle ! .. the dramatic adventure of Blasco Ibanez' Immortal Novel of the Men Who Face Death in the Arena and the Women They Love!

This classy 1942 picture is considered to be the best version , stunningly directed by by Robert Mamoulian with big name cast , such as : Tyrone Power in the film that made him a great star , Linda Darnell , Anthony Quinn and standing out Rita Hayworth , primarily for her dancing and charming acting ; including the new brilliant Technicolor technique . Spectacular film with plenty of drama , passion , bullfighting , a triangular love story and tension at the plaza . Written by prestigious Jo Swerling and well based on the novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez . The film gives a real description about ¨Bullfighting art¨ with a veritable explosion of color and spectacle , as the bull is released into the ring , where he is tested for ferocity by the matador and Banderilleros with the magenta and gold Capote . Interpretations from the main and support cast are stunning . As Tyrone Power gives a nice performance as the matador becomes famous and then falls for a socialite and he is torn between two women . Alongside Rita Hayworth who delivers enough sexiness and seductiveness , while Linda Darnel is fine as the faithful and understanding wife . Support cast is pretty good , such as : Anthony Quinn, J. Carrol Naish , Lynn Bari , John Carradine , Laird Cregar , Monty Banks Monty Banks , George Reeves , Pedro de Cordoba , Fortunio Bonanova , Victor Kilian , among others . Cameramen Ernest Palmer and Ray Rennahan painted this movie in the new technicolor technique which makes it a veritable explosion of spectacle and color . Adding a sensitive and evocative musical score from Alfred Newman and uncredited David Buttolph . The motion picture lavishly financed by Darryl F Zanuck was competently directed by Robert Mamoulian . It obtained big success at the international box office and being praised by reviewers and audience .

The homonymous novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez , about illiterate Juan Gallardo who rises meteorically to fame and fortune in the bullfight arena only to sow the seeds of his own fall , has been adapted several times : 1916 silent first rendition by the same author Vicente Blasco assisted by cinema pioneer Ricardo Baños . 1922 recounting by Fred Niblo with Rudolph Valentino , Nina Naldi , this film made Rodolfo a star who catapulted him to stardom . A silent comical parody title ¨Bull and sand¨ (1924) by Mack Sennett . .This hit led to a Mexican Parody ¨Ni Sangre Ni Arena¨ by Alejandro Casona with Cantinflas . ¨Sangre y Arena¨ by Javier Elorrieta with Christopher Rydell , Sharon Stone , Ana Torrent . And this this film Blood and Sand (1941) is considered to be the best one . These films are interesting for people who actually enjoy the 'art of bullfighting' .

One of Tyrone Powers best efforts as an actor. Linda Darnell is, as usual absoulutly beautiful. Rita, just doesn't make it in the looks department. One wonders why Juan ever left his gorgeous wife (Linda) for this little vixan, Rita. Anthony Quinn is superb as the heavy.

The bull fighting scenes are the best ever filmed. I,personally, do not care for this sport (?). The scene where Power looks eye to eye with the bull, turns his back to the bull and slowly walks away while draging his cape along the sand is a mind blower. This is one of 20th Century Fox's finest moments in motion pictures. How the Academy picked "Sgt. York" over this as best picture of 1941 is a real mystery to me.

"Blood and Sand" gave Rudolph Valentino one of the best roles of his career. It also established Tyrone Power as a star in Hollywood. Under Rouben Mamoulian's direction this film translates the novel by Blasco Ibanez into a Hollywood spectacle, so popular in the 40s. It is to Mr Mamoulian's credit, a film that paid attention to a lot of detail about the Spain of the beginning of the XX century.

The story presents us Juan Gallardo, a poor lad from the provinces, who became the greatest matador of his time. He goes from poverty to a life of luxury; a life for which he was ill prepared for. In fact, Juan never learned to read! It's a story of how someone overcomes difficult obstacles to attain fame and notoriety, only to be defeated by those same ambitions when the matador throws everything away in order to pursue a society woman, forsaking the decent wife that adores him.

Tyrone Power in the film was still a bit rough in the acting department, as well as in the cosmetic adjustments that all stars go through. Compare his smile here with later films: major dental work had not been performed yet!. Tyrone Power embodied the best of what a screen idol possessed. He had enormous charisma and no matter who he plays against, his presence is larger than that of the leading lady.

Linda Darnell was very effective as Carmen, a woman in love with the matador. Rita Hayworth's beauty doesn't come across as well here as in other films. Ms Hayworth was more of a siren in the movie. The first rate cast that was assembled is excellent. Anthony Quinn, Lynn Bari, J Carrol Nash, George Reeves, Alla Nazimova, John Carradine, just to name a few, shine in the background of this film.

Uneducated peasant Juan Gallardo rises to fame and fortune in the bullfight arena. From here he falls for the socially active Dona Sol; thus breaking the heart of his childhood sweetheart Carmen. Nevertheless she stands by her man as he continues to face danger in the bullring, but ego and love will give Juan his biggest fight of all.

This remake of the 1922 silent Rudolph Valentino picture is certainly a lavish production, the colour cinematography by Ernest Palmer & Ray Rennahan rightly won the Academy Award, and it's directed with adroit skill by Roublen Mamoulian. The story is a great one as well, following the rise of Gallardo (a solid if too staid Tyrone Power) is always intriguing, and it's watching his constant battle with his emotions that is the film's drawing card. However, there can be a case made for the film resting too much on its dialogue driven laurels, for far too many times I personally found myself hankering for an up turn in pace to help emphasise the emotional nature of the characters.

The cast do OK without really excelling, Rita Hayworth looks gorgeous and a fine career blossomed from here on in, while Linda Darnell as the other love interest glides nicely from scene to scene. Anthony Quinn takes the best supporting honours, where his Manolo is vigorous with a cheeky glint in the eye, whilst sadly John Carradine is underused and his Nacional is not fully fleshed out until its far too late.

It's at times sexy (damn flamenco always a winner to me), it's got guts, and it looks absolutely gorgeous, but it's not quite the whole classy package it could have been. 7/10

20th Century Fox gave Tyrone Power one of his most famous roles as the bullfighter torn between the love of a noble woman, his wife (Linda Darnell), and the tempestuous "other woman" (Rita Hayworth). A technicolor remake of the 1922 classic with Valentino, the studio spared no expense in making this a lavish, well-paced version of the tale depicting the rise and fall of a great bullfighter.

While establishing Power as a romantic hero of swashbuckling roles, it made a star of Rita Hayworth who, up until this time, was seen mostly in low-budget films. If anything, 'Blood and Sand' assured of the stardom she sought.

Especially interesting in one of his more flamboyant character roles is Laird Cregar as the critic of the art of bullfighting, alternately praising and damning the hero and eventually getting his comeuppance from Power.

Directed with great style by Rouben Mamoulian, it is still the best version of the story to date, photographed in the lush technicolor of the 1940s.

You may be interested in looking at my article on Laird Cregar that appeared in the March 2001 issue of CLASSIC IMAGES.