The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is based on best-selling Spanish novel about the French and German sons-in-law of an Argentinian landowner who end up in opposing armies. Its continents-spanning sweep helped make it a huge success, sending Rudolph Valentino off to stardom with it. Like Jules and Jim, Four Horsemen presents the war as the tragedy of brother pitted against brother, and like J’accuse, it weaves together romance and combat. The spectacle of Valentino’s transformation from graceful tango dancer to beleaguered doughboy lies at the heart of the film's anti-war message.