Blood Sports
Rudolph Valentino was born in 1895 in Castellaneta, Italy. After a poor upbringing, he emigrated to New York in 1913. There, Valentino made a living as a dishwasher in various cheap restaurants before moving to California. And now things started to happen. Because of his exceptional good looks, Valentino got a job in the fledgling film industry. The parts were small at first, but after famous screenwriter June Mathis chose him for the lead in "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" Rudolph Valentino's career took off with a vengeance.
A year later, it was time for Valentino and Mathis to collaborate again. The film was "Blood and Sand" and Valentino was to portray a young, foolhardy bullfighter. The actor thought the movie would be made in Spain, which meant he could visit his family back home. Unfortunately, the studio intended to shoot the entire film on their back lot in Hollywood. Had it not been for Mathis, a disappointed Valentino would probably have terminated his contract then and there.
It was not only as a good friend that June Mathis proved herself valuable. She also participated actively during the production of "Blood and Sand". It was June Mathis who suggested that stock footage of real bullfights (filmed in Madrid) could be used for the crucial scenes in the arena. The material was then mixed with newly shot close-ups of Rudolph Valentino, creating the illusion that the actor himself was inside the bullring with the large, terrifying beasts.
It would have been interesting to know how Rudolph Valentino had handled the transition from silent movies to "talkies". But, tragically, that wasn't to happen. Instead, the great "Latin Lover" passed away unexpectedly in August 1926, only 31 years old. The following year, June Mathis collapsed during a visit to Broadway. She died before the ambulance arrived. The two cinematic legends now rest, side by side, in a shared crypt at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
A year later, it was time for Valentino and Mathis to collaborate again. The film was "Blood and Sand" and Valentino was to portray a young, foolhardy bullfighter. The actor thought the movie would be made in Spain, which meant he could visit his family back home. Unfortunately, the studio intended to shoot the entire film on their back lot in Hollywood. Had it not been for Mathis, a disappointed Valentino would probably have terminated his contract then and there.
It was not only as a good friend that June Mathis proved herself valuable. She also participated actively during the production of "Blood and Sand". It was June Mathis who suggested that stock footage of real bullfights (filmed in Madrid) could be used for the crucial scenes in the arena. The material was then mixed with newly shot close-ups of Rudolph Valentino, creating the illusion that the actor himself was inside the bullring with the large, terrifying beasts.
It would have been interesting to know how Rudolph Valentino had handled the transition from silent movies to "talkies". But, tragically, that wasn't to happen. Instead, the great "Latin Lover" passed away unexpectedly in August 1926, only 31 years old. The following year, June Mathis collapsed during a visit to Broadway. She died before the ambulance arrived. The two cinematic legends now rest, side by side, in a shared crypt at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
- Prince-P
- Sep 19, 2024