Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Blood and Sand Blu-ray Movie Review

An early silent epic, the compelling romantic-drama of Blood and Sand is still fascinating to this day. The story is filled with surprises in store for film audiences. Based on the novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, the production features a star performance from the great Rudolph Valentino. Featuring adventure and drama in good measure, Blood and Sand is a perfect rainy-day matinee.

The hero of the story is a matador: the brave and bold Juan Gallardo (Rudolph Valentio). Having grown up in Spain with little to his name, the young man turned hero overnight when he enchanted audiences with his stirring matador bull fights. Putting his life and limb on the line for the spectacle, Gallardo finds unexpected success.

Attempting to live a normal life, the matador married his childhood sweetheart, Carmen (Lila Lee). However, temptation arises after Juan's rise to superstar fame. Seductress Doña Sol (Nita Naldi) soon enters the equation. Can Juan continue to be a hero to the people or will his career become extinguished from the lust of the dame Doña Sol?

An enjoyable silent-era classic with surprising vital production merits, Blood and Sand is significant for its creative use of cinematography by Alvin Wyckoff (Rose of the Rancho, The Bold Caballero). Unlike some features of the era, the production had color-tinting noted in the production script. In creating memorable cinematographic images, Wyckoff stirred the creative pot with bold colors to enhance the setting and tone of the storytelling. There is a sense of real vitality to the images and throughout the experience the style of the color-tinted photography is downright unique.

June Mathis (Camille, The Young Rajah) penned the screenplay. The storyline is simple in many respects: love and lust set against the back-drop of a rise-to-fame. Nonetheless, the storytelling manages to be compelling and engaging throughout. The film has some interesting sequences (including a sequence with a bull fight that audiences will be thrilled by). The simplicity of the fundamentals ultimately works in favor of the screenplay and the film has enough charm to get audiences to the finish line.

Directed by Fred Niblo (The Enemy, The Red Lily), Blood and Sand is well-paced. Straightforward and entertaining, the film is rarely experimental or pushing-the-envelope from a directing standpoint. Even so, the sublime sense of craftsmanship over the production is astonishing. The performances brought forth are impressive. Valentino is particularly commendable and is a strong leading actor to carry the filmmaking. Niblo proves to be a capable director and brings the film a sense of sincere entertainment that is undeniable. Sometimes it's a joy to simply experience a fun silent-era motion-picture. Blood and Sand is such an experience.

Blood and Sand Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Blood and Sand has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. The mastered in 4K presentation offers a number of substantial improvements to the source material. There is a superb level of clarity and detail on the image that brings out subtle details that are surprising for a classic of this age. The color tinting is also equally noteworthy and was reconstructed using the instructions on record from the original 1922 continuity script.

Creating a brand new scan to the best of their ability, the restoration team forged ahead using 35mm source film elements obtained by the Cinematheque Francaise (along with additional contributions provided by Paul Killiam and Eye Filmmuseum). In observing the overall level of clarity the new presentation provides, there was a surprising amount of real clarity and detail apparent for an older classic. The image is more robust than one might expect to find. Even so, some inconsistencies in the print remain and thin scratches are in abundance during the film (but are nonetheless less distracting than on some silent gems). The intertitles often showcase the most thin scratches but are still acceptable and are perfectly readable.

Blood and Sand Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release has received a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack. The audio quality on this release is superb and hits every note with startling clarity. The track surprises by being exceptional throughout. Featuring score music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture orchestra, Blood and Sand has ample vitality throughout the soundstage. The track has much more energy than one would expect for a film of its age. A worthy presentation.

Blood and Sand Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes a printed booklet featuring an essay by author Donna Hill (Rudolph Valentino: The Silent Idol). On disc supplements include the following:

Audio Commentary by film historian Anthony Slide

Introduction by Orson Welles (SD, 17:07) is a particularly fascinating inclusion. As part of a film retrospective series on the silent years of cinema, Orson Welles introduced classic films which are important in the history of silent cinema. In this extended introduction, Welles offers some unique insights which are a must-see for silent film enthusiasts.

Funeral Procession (SD, 3:03) for the iconic legend, Rudolph Valentino. The footage showcases the adoring crowd of fans attending his funeral and it is abundantly clear that Valentino had a profound impact on the lives of so many individuals the world over.

Blood and Sand Parody Film (SD, 6:43) is a charming parody film (starring Will Rogers) which has some fun with the concepts of the feature-film while paying homage to the material.

Love Theme (SD, 4:13) is an audio recording of the selection "You Gave Me Your Heart" by Susan Rogers. The song selection is accompanied by music sheet slides as a background. The music is so lovely that one feels transported by the experience.

Blood and Sand Original Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:02)

Blood and Sand Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Blood and Sand is an entertaining silent classic with Valentino delivering a fantastic lead performance which elevates the material and adds to the charm of the motion-picture. The film holds up extremely well to this day and has enough charisma to enchant audiences of all ages. The actors are terrific and the creative color-tinting on the cinematography is impressive. The Blu-ray release features a strong presentation (scanned at 4K) and with lossless high-resolution audio. The included extras are worth one's time and add to the overall experience. Highly recommended.