Paramount Pictures; 1922; dir: Fred Niblo; based upon the famous novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez; cast: Rudolph Valentino, Nita Naldi, Lila Lee; Walter Long, Fred Becker, George Field, Rosa Rosanova.

Vintage original 47 x 63 in. (119.4 x 160 cm.) French one-panel poster, stone lithograph, art by Florit, linen-backed, very fine condition. The artwork on this original release poster features a beautiful likeness of star Rudolph Valentino in an oval vignette at the top left which has been perfectly rendered by Florit. The poster is dominated by a vividly-colored bullfighting scene depiciting Juan Gallardo (Valentino), his back to the viewer, as he points his sword at the bull just a few feet from him. The surrounding arena is filled with excited spectators and a cloud-filled sky is shown above the arena. The lower portion of the poster features beautiful Spanish-themed images including a bullfighter's sword, a cigar, an orange, several roses and a delicate ladies fan with a vignette of yet another bullfighting image within it. Florit's signature appears in the lower left portion of the arena. Florit was one of the more important poster artists in France and his work is highly praised. This is one of only two or three known examples of this poster and came from a private collection in France. It is in spectacular condition with only light expert restoration on portions of the top horizontal fold which are almost undetectable.

Blood and Sand is considered one of Valentino's best films and he gives an outstanding performance as the tragic young bullfighter, Juan Gallardo.

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