Movie review – “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” (1921) **1/2

Rudolph Valentino may have been a joke even in his own life time but he was a genuine star, as shown by this film, which launched him – charismatic, good looking, moves like a panther, skilled dancer. The role is made for him too – dashing Franco-Argentine gaucho slash womanising playboy who dances the tango in Buenos Aries dives and is adored by his strict grandfather. His family is half German and half French and they go to their respective countries before the war. Rudy is a painted in Paris - doing portraits of women who are actually topless which is full on as well as dancing. He falls in love with a married woman but is about to leave with her when war stars. The woman decides to stay with her now blond husband, Rudy joins the French army and is killed as he spots his cousin in a trench. Melodramatic, spectacular stuff - too much time devoted to Rudy's uninteresting father. There's a Rasputin type figure who sees the four horses. Why the hell did MGM think Glenn Ford was suitable to play Rudy's role in the remake?