Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentino?

Tastypotpie · Post by **Tastypotpie** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 8:05 pm

I was thinking about buying one of these two as these are the two Valentino films I haven't seen.
But which one is the better film?
Comments? Opinions?

CoffeeDan · Post by **CoffeeDan** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:15 pm

Oh shoot, since you haven't seen either one, why don't you buy them both and decide for yourself? Don't let others do it for you. In the end, there's no substitute for actually watching the movies. Besides, I'm betting that when you're done, no matter what you decide, you'll want to keep both of them, as I did.

Tastypotpie · Post by **Tastypotpie** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 10:52 am

Well, got one of those $25 gift card deals from Amazon for the hollidays.
I checked the prices for both and I can afford only one.
The DVD of Cobra is too much at $36.25, so I was gunna get the VHS (I don't mind vhs) at $11.87 (3.88 used)
Blood and Sand (on dvd) is $18.17 (or $15 new from some Amazon seller) {There's also a vhs of this for 8.98, but I want the dvd. The DVD looks superior in quality (is it?)} Did I mention Amazon's $3.99 shipping charge?

Sure, I could afford them both if I go the Alpha Video route...but...mehhh, Alpha Video.

I got a couple of their dvds and they had a Tom Mix double feature that was so washed out that I could not watch it. So...wondering which film was the better feature from the trusted (??!!) folks from Nitrateville.

Frederica · Post by **Frederica** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 11:57 am

Tastypotpie wrote:Well, got one of those $25 gift card deals from Amazon for the hollidays.
I checked the prices for both and I can afford only one.
The DVD of Cobra is too much at $36.25, so I was gunna get the VHS (I don't mind vhs) at $11.87 (3.88 used)
Blood and Sand (on dvd) is $18.17 (or $15 new from some Amazon seller) {There's also a vhs of this for 8.98, but I want the dvd. The DVD looks superior in quality (is it?)} Did I mention Amazon's $3.99 shipping charge?

Sure, I could afford them both if I go the Alpha Video route...but...mehhh, Alpha Video. I got a couple of their dvds and they had a Tom Mix double feature that was so washed out that I could not watch it. So...wondering which film was the better feature from the trusted (??!!) folks from Nitrateville.

Naldi HQ prefers Blood and Sand, but Cobra has its moments. If you must stick with one, go with Blood.

entredeuxguerres · Post by **entredeuxguerres** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 2:52 pm

Tastypotpie wrote: Sure, I could afford them both if I go the Alpha Video route...but...mehhh, Alpha Video....

Forget Alpha for silents...unless it's something otherwise unobtainable, like an early Fay Wray picture I ordered (gee, but she's heavenly!). But many of their talkies, those, say, from the mid '30s on, are little different from the "name brand" products.

You've got Four Horsemen? If not, dismiss those other two until you do.

FrankFay · Post by **FrankFay** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 6:53 pm

Blood and Sand is the better film by far. COBRA has it's moments- Valentino is very light and funny in the first reel, but most of the film is (IMHO) a boring story that takes place on beautiful sets - it's like cutting into a beautifully iced cake & finding cardboard. Even the presence of Nita Naldi doesn't help much.

Tastypotpie · Post by **Tastypotpie** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:58 am

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! Looks like Blood and Sand is the winner!

Frederica · Post by **Frederica** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:49 am

Tastypotpie wrote:Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! Looks like Blood and Sand is the winner!

Good choice. At some point, give Cobra a whirl. The play was a big hit for Judith Anderson but the film suffers from having the storyline mangled to add in Valentino's character. I read the play when researching the Nita website, it's interesting, but I think it would now be considered very dated. Outside of a few moments in The Eagle, Cobra is the only film Valentino made where he gets to display some surprising comedy chops.

Harlett O'Dowd · Post by **Harlett O'Dowd** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:52 am

Frederica wrote:
Tastypotpie wrote:Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! Looks like Blood and Sand is the winner!
Good choice. At some point, give Cobra a whirl. The play was a big hit for Judith Anderson but the film suffers from having the storyline mangled to add in Valentino's character. I read the play when researching the Nita website, it's interesting, but I think it would now be considered very dated. Outside of a few moments in The Eagle, Cobra is the only film Valentino made where he gets to display some surprising comedy chops.

What Fred said - but I might put it more strongly: B&S and COBRA are both essential viewing (the latter if only for the costumes.) I will add that the "lighter" Valentino of COBRA and THE EAGLE continued, in its way, in SON OF THE SHEIK as well.

Post by **silentfilm** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:03 pm

I'm pretty sure that the version of Blood and Sand that circulates on video has been abridged from the original. At least the old David Shepard laserdisc version was a shortened version. I don't have it on DVD.

Frederica · Post by **Frederica** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:30 pm

silentfilm wrote:I'm pretty sure that the version of Blood and Sand that circulates on video has been abridged from the original. At least the old David Shepard laserdisc version was a shortened version. I don't have it on DVD.

Donna thinks the Kino collectors issue is the best dvd available (and it has some interesting extras). Not sure if that's the same as the laserdisc release, or what. It's available on amazon.

Rick Lanham · Post by **Rick Lanham** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:57 pm

Frederica wrote:
silentfilm wrote:I'm pretty sure that the version of Blood and Sand that circulates on video has been abridged from the original. At least the old David Shepard laserdisc version was a shortened version. I don't have it on DVD.
Donna thinks the Kino collectors issue is the best dvd available (and it has some interesting extras). Not sure if that's the same as the laserdisc release, or what. It's available on amazon.

And the Kino version is currently on sale at their site for under $10 plus shipping:

http://www.kinolorber.com/video.php?id=28" target="_blank

Rick

Rodney · Post by **Rodney** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:36 pm

The Kino version has a Mont Alto score that was specially recorded for it, if that makes a difference. We brought in a flamenco guitarist and dancer for one scene, which was fun.

entredeuxguerres · Post by **entredeuxguerres** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:58 pm

Rodney wrote:The Kino version has a Mont Alto score that was specially recorded for it, if that makes a difference.

Would damn sure make a difference to me.

FrankFay · Post by **FrankFay** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 4:22 pm

The Image edition of COBRA has a fine Mont Alto score as well- and it helps the film greatly

Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentino?

Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentino?

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Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin

Re: Blood & Sand vs. Cobra: which one is the better Valentin