The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

A 1921 American silent epic war film directed by Rex Ingram, based on the 1916 Spanish novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, adapted by June Mathis. The film follows the Desnoyers family: wealthy Argentine landowner Madariaga has a German son-in-law and a French one, and when he dies, the family splits — the French branch settling in Paris, the German in Berlin. Julio Desnoyers (Rudolph Valentino), Madariaga's favorite grandson, becomes a playboy in Paris, famous for his tango, and takes up with the married Marguerite Laurier (Alice Terry). When World War I erupts, the family finds itself on opposing sides, and Julio must choose between his hedonistic lifestyle and his duty. The film made Valentino an overnight superstar and was one of the highest-grossing silent films of all time, earning over $4 million worldwide. Its famous tango scene became iconic.