From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Blood and Sand
Original film poster
Directed by	Rouben Mamoulian
Produced by	Associate producer: Robert Kane Producer: Darryl F. Zanuck
Written by	Novel: Vicente Blasco Ibáñez "Sangre y arena" Screenplay: Jo Swerling
Starring	Tyrone Power Linda Darnell Rita Hayworth Alla Nazimova Anthony Quinn J. Carrol Naish John Carradine
Music by	Alfred Newman Uncredited: Vicente Gómez
Cinematography	Ernest Palmer Ray Rennahan
Editing by	Robert Bischoff
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	May 22, 1941
Running time	125 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

For the 1922 film, see Blood and Sand; For the 1989 film, see Blood and Sand (1989 film)

Blood and Sand (1941) is a Technicolor film produced by 20th Century Fox, directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Rita Hayworth, and Alla Nazimova. It is based on the Spanish 1909 novel Blood and Sand (Sangre y arena) by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez.

There are two earlier versions of Blood and Sand; a 1922 version produced by Paramount Pictures, and starring Rudolph Valentino; and a 1916 version filmed by Blasco Ibáñez himself, with the help of Max André.

As a child Juan Gallardo (Rex Downing) wants only to become a bullfighter like his dead father. One night he has an argument with the pompous critic Natalio Curro (Laird Cregar) about his father's lack of talent in the bullring. The argument spurs Juan to travel to Madrid and achieve his dreams of success in the bullring. Before leaving he promises his aristocratic sweetheart Carmen Espinosa (Ann Todd) he will return when he is a success and marry her.

Ten years later Juan Gallardo (Tyrone Power) returns to Seville. He has become a matador and uses his winnings from Madrid to help his impoverished family. He sets his mother (Alla Nazimova) up in a fine house and ends her existence as a scrubwoman. He lavishes money on his sister Encarnacion (Lynn Bari) and her fiancé Antonio (William Montague) so they can open a business and wed. He hires ex-bullfighter Garabato (J. Carrol Naish), who has become a beggar, as his servant. Best of all he is now able to marry his childhood sweetheart Carmen (Linda Darnell) as he had promised.

Juan's wealth and fame continue to grow along with his talents as a bullfighter . Eventually he becomes Spain's most famous and acclaimed matador. Even the once scornful critic Curro now lavishes praises upon Juan and brags that it was he who discovered Juan's talent. Although Juan remains illiterate doors open to society and he catches the eye of sultry socialite Doña Sol des Muire (Rita Hayworth) at one of his bullfights. His mother attempts to warn Juan that if not careful he will, like his father, end up on a path to destruction but Juan refuses to believe her.

Tyrone Power and Rita Hayworth

Juan is blinded by the attention his fame has brought and Doña Sol finds it easy to lead him astray. He soon begins to neglect wife, family and training in favor of her privileged and decadent lifestyle. His performance in the bullring suffers from his excesses and he soon falls from his great heights as the premiere matador of Spain. With the loss of fame comes rejection by everyone who was once important to him. Even Carmen casts him off after she learns of his affair. With his fame now gone Doña Sol moves on to new up and coming matador Manolo de Palma (Anthony Quinn), Juan's childhood friend.

After losing everything a repentant Juan begs for forgiveness and is taken back by Carmen. He vows to change but first he must have one final bull fight to prove he is still a great matador. His prayers for one last success, however, are not answered and like his father before him he is gored by the bull. Juan dies in the arms of Carmen as the crowd cheers for Manalo's victory over the bull. Manalo bows to the fickle crowd near the stain of blood left in the sand by Juan.

Publicity photo for "Blood and Sand"

In the same 1941 year, the Mexican comedian Cantinflas launched Ni sangre ni arena ("Neither blood nor sand") also about bullfighting.

• New York Times review.
• Time magazine review.
• Variety review.
• Time Out London review.
• Answers.com review.

• The VHS version from 20th Century Fox was released in 1994 and is currently out of print.
• The DVD version from Warner Home Video is scheduled for release on April 10, 2007.
• The film occasionally plays on the Fox Movie Channel.