Luscious Rita Hayworth as the seductress Don Sol in the 1941 Technicolor classic BLOOD AND SAND. The film is based on the 1908 Spanish novel, which was critical of bullfighting, “Blood and Sand” (Sangre y Arena), by Vicente Blasco Ibanez. There are two earlier versions of “Blood and Sand”, a 1916 version filmed by Blasco Ibanez, a 1922 version produced by Paramount Pictures (and starring Rudolph Valentino), and a later 1989 version starring Christopher Rydell and Sharon Stone. This 1941 version was the fourth and last in which Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell worked together. Over 30 actresses were considered for the coveted role of seductress Dona Sol, including Gene Tierney and Dorothy Lamour. Hayworth won the part. Unlike most films at the time, “Blood and Sand” was not previewed, but premiered uncut at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on May 29, 1941. The film was a big hit and earned a profit of $662,500. Variety praised the picture, adding: “Especially effective are the bullfight arena sequences...Power delivers a persuasive performance as Ibanez's hero while Darnell is pretty and naive as the young wife. Hayworth is excellent as the vamp and catches major attention ...”. The film ultimately won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and was also nominated for Best Art Direction.
Color enhanced image by Hollywood Pinups from the b&w original.
