The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)

7.1Passed133 minDirector: Rex Ingram

1921 film by Rex Ingram

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is a 1921 American silent epic war film produced by Metro Pictures Corporation and directed by Rex Ingram. Based on the 1916 Spanish novel The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, it was adapted for the screen by June Mathis. The film stars Pomeroy Cannon, Josef Swickard, Bridgetta Clark, Rudolph Valentino, Wallace Beery, and Alice Terry.

Often regarded as one of the first anti-war films, it had a huge cultural impact and became the top-grossing film of 1921 by beating out Charlie Chaplin's The Kid. The film turned the little-known actor Rudolph Valentino into a superstar and associated him with the image of the Latin lover. The film also inspired a tango craze and such fashion fads as gaucho pants. The film was written by June Mathis, who, by its success, became one of the most powerful women in Hollywood of the time.

In 1995, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." The film is now in the public domain. A DVD version was released in 2000. In March 2025, Warner Archive released a Blu-ray version of the film.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse about?
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) — Julio Madariaga is the Argentine patriarch of a wealthy family. He has two daughters, the elder wed to a Frenchman and the other to a German. He prefers the Frenchman and his family, especially his grandson Julio, causing jealousy from the German and his three sons. When Madariag
Is The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse scary?
Content rating: Passed. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.