Blood And Sand (1941)

A young boy (Rex Downing) runs off to Madrid with a dream to become a great matador. Ten years later, he (now Tyrone Power) is one of the most promising bullfighters and greatness lies before him ... if he doesn't self destruct. Based on the 1908 novel by Vicente Blasco Ibanez, this is the third film version of the novel. First filmed in 1916 and more famously later in 1922 with Rudolph Valentino. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian, this version is perhaps most famous for its stunning use of color and its two cinematographers (Ray Rennahan, Ernest Palmer) won Oscars for their work here. The first 22 minutes of the film dealing with the boy are execrable but once past that point, things pick up. Power never rises above adequate but there's a sincerity in his performance that can't be overlooked. Rita Hayworth as the film's femme fatale is ravishing here and even Linda Darnell, normally a great beauty in her own right, pales in comparison though to be fair, Travis Banton's frumpy costumes don't do her any service. Thankfully the film doesn't romanticize bullfighting (a barbaric sport). With Anthony Quinn, Laird Cregar, Lynn Bari, Alla Nazimova, John Carradine and J. Carrol Naish.