The quality of this film (or at least the version I purchased) did not seem to be to the standards of other Valentino films (picture seemed grainy and the speed seemed much faster), but I still rate it among one of the best. Like one review wrote, it does lack the style of the later Tyrone Power remake; however, Power comes nowhere close to Valentino's brooding, sensual portrayal of Juan Gallardo, and Nita Naldi was much more convincing as the witchy Dona Sol than Rita Hayworth, and plays the range of emotions (from begging Gallardo to love her to coldly reacting to his death)extremely well. This 1922 version captures the spirit of the bullfight remarkably well in spite of the limitations of silent film-making, and seemed incredibly authentic.Now - about Valentino. I was puzzled at the over-emphasized eyebrows and wish the make-up artists had not found it necessary to use the effect, as Valentino would have projected a Spanish image easily with his natural dramatic looks alone. But, either way, he is intensely sexy, powerful, brooding, smoldering and hypnotic as usual. I enjoyed his portrayal of the youth Juan, especially his tenderness toward his mother. His transition from youth to adult matador was natural and believable. The scene in which Dona Sol begs him to love her and proclaims that she longs for him to "beat" her with his "strong" hands was highly erotic and was packed with a sexual tension that can't be matched by anyone other than Valentino and his leading ladies. I may be biased, because I am crazy about any vehicle which showcases Rudolph Valentino; however, this film carries its own and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Once again, Valentino has captured my heart, and I recommend this film to all lovers of romance.I write about:"Blood&sand-Kino video-deluxe collector's edition-2001"-dvd.This's a color tinted version.Quality:very good.You can find some supplemantal features that you can read about on the front of its package.I like the soundtrack because its sound seems to me old like the movie or near.On the back side of its package you find a photograph about Rodolfo during the dressing room scene,but on this version this part of this scene has been cut...damn! I'm a silent movies collector and I hoped find here the whole scene...I hope someone can tell me where I could find it !!! Hilarious is the scene when the Moor servant offers to light Valentino's cigarette,here we found the comic side of Rodolfo,it makes me remember the "All night" movie with a comic Rodolfo's acting.In this role I find a lot of Italian soul in Rodolfo's acting,and I can understand the why he loved this movie so much,especially when Rodolfo plays the poor young Juan he seems very much like the young boys of Southern of Italy;here in Italy we call one of them them "Guaglione"with the Southern Italian slang of Naples,it traslates as "a back street boy" or "corner boy" or "urchin",the word guaglione has appeared as "wallyo" in the New York immigrant slang.I adore the scene where the poor young Juan has some troubles with his old mamy and when he sees his mamy cry he suffers and he tries to make amends...how real this scene must have seemed to Rodolfo,recalling his mother ! Kino has done a good job,I'm happy about this purchase,malefica from Italy.Made in 1922, this is the first film that had his name on the marquee as a star, having captivated the hearts of millions of women a year earlier as "The Sheik".The previous reviewer is lacking knowledge in two areas: The art of silent films, and what makes a lot of us women tick...he asks, "What's the big deal ?". Rudolph Valentino on screen was a man with a passionate heart, and a gentle soul, a combination that drives women wild. He was also a superb actor. Watch his hands throughout the film...like when he leads his bride to the bedroom, or the swift wipe before he takes Doña Sol's hand. There are many little subtleties that are wonderful...and silent films aren't "old". They are a special art form unto themselves, and can't be compared to the films of today.This is a truly magnificent film. I find the the way it's photographed (by Alvin Wyckoff) enthralling, the sets terrific, the bullfighting scenes compelling, and of course, there's Valentino...still captivating after all these years.This tape also includes an 11 minute piece of memorabilia from 1923. A film of Valentino judging a beauty contest. It's amusing, and interesting to see footage of him off-screen.i purchased the Blu-ray KINO version because it had restored the waist belt tying session with Rudy dressing and balcony scene that had been missing in other versions including KINO's DVD version about 3 minutes restored to the movie. the overall quality of the KINO Blu-ray DVD wasn't that much, if any, different from the regular KINO DVD version as far as i could tell which is overall pretty good.I so enjoyed "Blood and Sand".I've read this was Valentino's favorite film, although he did not like the use of stock footage of actual bullfights in Spain interwoven in the film (he had wanted the movie done on location) but the studios wanted to save money.I have to say that the use of the stock footage was a distraction (I have to think even back in 1922 it was a distraction).One minute you are looking at a grainy picture of a packed-to-the rafters arena somewhere in Spain, and then you are transported to another "arena" featuring nice comfy seats and having a much crisper image.But, just when you think it looks so phony, there is Rudy (the first method actor?) making it all look so real! He's making all the real bullfighter moves, he's decked out precisely like the real item - he's even gesturing to excite the crowd.Even the final scene was done so realistically.About 20 or 30 years ago the BBC transmitted versions of some silent films, including this one and the Barrymore Jeckyll and Hyde. I remember enjoying them because great care had been taken to present them as well as possible. They had manually tinted pictures (yellowish for daylight scenes, blue for night) and suitable background music. I haven't seen any versions like those available on DVD. This silent film has decent picture quality but it's spoiled by a completely inappropriate soundtrack of repetitive music that doesn't fit the image at all. I advise watching it with the sound turned off.Nite Naldi was very obsessed with with her big breast...I love movies of the silent era, the old nostalgic Hollywood atmosphere, and watching this movie, I can see why all the women were so crazy about Valentino back in the 20's! This DVD version is remastered in a really great quality, considering the original is 87 years old. I love the way the music is conducted, the way it underlines the mood and drama in each scene, it couldn't be better!This 2001 KINO edition of the silent (Valentino) version of Blood and Sand is very good.The run time is 109 minutes. The Amazon.ca site currently says 80 minutes, and the KINO site itself also has an erroneous time, I believe only 72 minutes. I have submitted a correction to Amazon which I hope will be accepted, as I have backed it up by posting the back cover of the edition on the site. From what I have been able to determine, this is the longest version currently available.The image is generally pretty good. I don't know how much restoration, if any, was done, but for a 1922 picture this is in pretty good shape, and easily watchable for the average film fan. The tinting is typical of movies of the period (1922). The new soundtrack provided is suitably Spanish-sounding. I didn't think the modern castanets were well-enough coordinated with the castanets and dance steps in the scene where Valentino dances in the cafe, but that is probably a petty complaint, considering how hard a thing that must be to do with a silent film.The special features are interesting, especially the material presented by Orson Welles. There is no commentary on the film, which is regrettable, but the package of features is generous nonetheless.Some will ask which version is better, the Valentino silent or the Tyrone Power talkie. I saw the Power version first, and it's fixed in my mind, so I tend to see the silent as deviating from what I'm used to, and my first instinct is to fault the silent where it misses out on elements in the talkie. But if I had seen the silent first, I probably would be faulting the talkie on similar grounds. I would say that both versions are quite good. I cannot say which version is closer to the original book, because I have not read the book.I think that overall, individual characterizations are more detailed and convincing in the talkie than in the silent. Regarding the lead character, Valentino plays the character differently from Power. Valentino's adultery is almost innocent; he is almost bullied into it and seems to regret it throughout the affair. Power's adultery seems to involve more active decision and delight on his part. And Power's character seems to swagger more than Valentino's. This makes sense: the matador is supposed to be from lower-class, poverty-stricken origin and he has the pride and stubbornness so often associated with the "self-made man." You can see fame and wealth going to Power's head more clearly than you can see it in Valentino's performance. This surprised me; I've never seen a Valentino film before, but in the bits I've seen from "The Sheik" I had the impression that Valentino played commanding, ultra-confident characters. There is a sensitivity and hesitation in his matador in this film, which is in a way touching, but which makes it harder for us to say "serves him right" when his life starts to fall apart, whereas we feel that justice is done when things start to go against Power.Another thing which struck me about Valentino in this film is how boyish he looks. Handsome, but still boyish. In images I've seen from his Sheik movies, Valentino looks older, more mature. His character could have benefited from an older look in this film. To me, Power's harder-edged, more mature look better suits the character and the plot.The leading ladies (the good wife Lila Lee and the temptress Nita Naldi) are both excellent in the silent version, as they are in the sound version. If I had to pick a winner, I'd say that perhaps Nita Naldi edges out a slightly overacting Rita Hayworth, and perhaps Linda Darnell edges out Lila Lee, not because there is anything wrong with Lee's touching performance, but because Linda Darnell's wife is given more scenes to work with and therefore has a richer characterization. The matador's mother is also good in both versions. The other supporting players are more fully characterized in the sound than the silent version. Also, there is no one corresponding to Anthony Quinn's rival matador character in the silent version.I don't know how this film ranks as a Valentino film, because it is the only Valentino film I've watched all the way through. He does a good job with the part, to be sure. But if this were all I had to go on, I would not say he was one of the greatest actors of all time, not even one of the greatest silent actors. I'd have to see more of him before I would rank him. For this role, maybe an 8 out of 10 would be a just evaluation.I give the DVD package overall about 9 out of 10. If it had a commentary it would be closer to 10. If I could say 4.3 stars, that is what I would put down, but without fractions available, I give it 5.Considerando che si tratta di un film muto (1922) la visione è godibile. Insomma un film di buona qualità e sottotitoli in italiano. Il Valentino "matador" non dovrebbe mancare a nessuno.