The Sheik: Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres; The son the the Sheik: Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Bánky, Agnes Ayres, George Fawcett, Montague Love. Both films are based on novels by Edith M. Hull, The Sheik and The Sons of the Sheik. Originally released as motion pictures in 1921 (The Sheik) and 1926 (The Son of the Sheik). Features: 3 Valentino bonus shorts: Rudolph Valentino and his 88 American beauties ; the Sheik's physique ; and the original Pathé coverage of Valentino's funeral in August 1926 ; scene selections ; audio selection for The son of the Sheik: vintage score compiled and arranged by James G. Bradford, or new score compiled and arranged by Eric Beheim, performed by the Café Maure Orchestra. Booklet with notes on the music by Eric Beheim, notes on the films and the short subjects inserted in container.
Contents:
The Sheik / Jesse L. Lasky ; a Paramount picture ; directed by George Medford ; adaptation by Monte M. Katterjohn -- The son of the Sheik / Emil C. Jensen ; directed by George Fitzmaurice ; screen adaptation by Frances Marion and Fred de Gresac.
Summary:
The Sheik: Lady Diana resists the advances of her abductor, Sheik Ahmed but is then kidnapped by desert bandits; The son of the Sheik: Valentino plays a dual role of father and son in this story of the young Ahmed, who falls in love with Yasmin, a dancing girl, but is then captured and tortured by renegades. Women fainted in the aisles when "The Sheik" was released in 1921. The titled Lady Diana Mayo is carried into the desert by an Arab chieftan, Ahmed Ben Hassan, who takes one look at her and wants her, right then and there. Filmed on the heels of women's suffrage, Lady Diana was presented as a strong-willed and intelligent character, but as for Ahmed -- nobody had seen anything like Valentino's natural sex appeal on the screen before. His charismatic presence electrified audiences; his Sheik symbolized the forbidden allure of the exotic and forever secured Valentino's place in screen legend. From the lavish dressing of this production, Arabian wall tapestries, tunics, cassocks and garish jewelry became a fad in decoration and attire. "The Son of the Sheik," a sequel to The Sheik, was designed to revive Valentino's career. As both parent and son, Rudy has two virile leading parts, showing how a son of the desert inherited the passions of the father. Young Ahmed falls in love with Yasmin, a dancing girl, but he is captured and tortured by bandits. Believing Yasmin to be responsible, he escapes and plans his own form of revenge, although true love, of course, finally prevails.
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