Son of the Sheik (film)
Encyclopedia
Son of the Sheik is a 1926 silent film
produced by United Artists
, directed by George Fitzmaurice
and starring Rudolph Valentino
and Vilma Bánky
. It was based on a romance novel
by Edith Maude Hull
The Sons of the Sheik, a sequel to The Sheik
. It was Valentino's final film.
In 2003, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
by the Library of Congress
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
), the leader of a band who entertain when they must, but prefer robbery when the opportunity presents itself.
Yasmin slips away for a tryst at a moonlit ruins, but is spotted and followed by her father and his cutthroats. When Ahmed shows up, he is captured. He is lashed in an attempt to learn his father's name so they can extract a large ransom from him. Ghabah (Montagu Love
), who has been promised Yasmin by her father, lies and tells Ahmed that Yasmin lured him into the trap, and that he is merely the latest in a string of her victims. Ahmed is rescued by his loyal servant Ramadan (Karl Dane
).
By chance, Ahmed is recovering from his ordeal at a friend's home when the troupe enters the town. Seeking revenge, Ahmed kidnaps Yasmin and takes her back to his encampment. She cannot convince him that she is innocent, and it is strongly implied that she is rape
d, though the film fades out, leaving what occurs next to the viewers' imagination.
Ahmed's father, angered at his son's absence against his explicit orders, discovers Yasmin's presence and insists that his son set her free regardless of any wrong she may have done him. Ahmed obeys, but rebels when his father announces he has arranged a marriage for him, stating, "My future is my own."
Ahmed orders Ramadan to escort Yasmin back to her people, but the pair are ambushed and Ramadan left tied up in the desert. When Ahmed realizes he still loves the dancing girl, he turns back. When he finds Ramadan, his servant informs him that, based on what he overheard, Yasmin had no involvement in his master's kidnapping. Ahmed impetuously sets out to retrieve his love, accompanied only by Ramadan. When he enters the cafe in which she is dancing, the entire gang attacks him. Fortunately, he is able to hold them off until his father and his men arrive. In the confusion, Ghabah rides off with an unwilling Yasmin. Ahmed chases them down and kills his rival. Yasmin forgives Ahmed and admits she still loves him.
, The Son of the Sheik was better received critically and is sometimes thought to be Valentino's best film. Already doing excellent business during its big city premieres, following Valentino's unexpected death its wide release was rushed to coincide with the funeral, and it became a tremendous hit due to the associated popularity.
film The World's Greatest Lover
(1977).
Rudolph Valentino and George Fitzmaurice had never made a film together before Son of the Sheik. The two, however, were social friends in their personal lives. Both Valentino and Fitzmaurice had been born and raised in Europe, and they were part of a small colony of European expatriates in the movie business living in Hollywood at the time. Valentino felt that Fitzmaurice, a Frenchman, would understand Ahmed's appeal and logically extend the story from the 1921 film.
Agnes Ayres had all but retired from movies by 1926. She came back, as the last credit title states, "at the special request of Valentino to reprise her role" as Lady Diana, wife of the original Sheik Ahmed and mother of the younger Ahmed in the sequel, both played by Valentino.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
produced by United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
, directed by George Fitzmaurice
George Fitzmaurice
George Fitzmaurice was a film director and producer. Fitzmaurice's career first started as a set designer on stage...
and starring Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
and Vilma Bánky
Vilma Bánky
Vilma Bánky was a Hungarian-born American silent film actress, although the early part of her acting career began in Budapest, spreading to France, Austria, and Germany...
. It was based on a romance novel
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
by Edith Maude Hull
Edith Maude Hull
Edith Maude Hull was a British novelist best known for being the author of the romantic novel The Sheik which became an international best seller in 1921....
The Sons of the Sheik, a sequel to The Sheik
The Sheik (film)
The Sheik is a 1921 silent film produced by Famous Players-Lasky, directed by George Melford and starring Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres, and Adolphe Menjou...
. It was Valentino's final film.
In 2003, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...
by the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Plot
Ahmed, the adult son of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan (Valentino played both roles) is just as impetuous as his father once was. He is attracted to the dancing girl Yasmin (Banky), who is exploited and overworked by her renegade French father, André Romez (George FawcettGeorge Fawcett
George Fawcett was an American stage and film actor of the silent era. On stage he appeared in such plays as Ghosts with the controversial Mary Shaw, The Squaw Man with William Faversham, The Great John Ganton with an up-and-coming actress Laurette Taylor in the cast and Getting A Polish with...
), the leader of a band who entertain when they must, but prefer robbery when the opportunity presents itself.
Yasmin slips away for a tryst at a moonlit ruins, but is spotted and followed by her father and his cutthroats. When Ahmed shows up, he is captured. He is lashed in an attempt to learn his father's name so they can extract a large ransom from him. Ghabah (Montagu Love
Montagu Love
Montagu Love , also known as Montague Love, was an English screen, stage and vaudeville actor.Born Harry Montague Love in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, and educated in Great Britain, Love began his career as an artist and military correspondent. His first important job was as a London newspaper...
), who has been promised Yasmin by her father, lies and tells Ahmed that Yasmin lured him into the trap, and that he is merely the latest in a string of her victims. Ahmed is rescued by his loyal servant Ramadan (Karl Dane
Karl Dane
Karl Dane was a Danish comedian and actor known for his work in American films, mainly of the silent film era. He worked alongside Rudolph Valentino, John Gilbert, and King Vidor. In 1926, he teamed up with George K. Arthur to form the successful comedy duo Dane & Arthur...
).
By chance, Ahmed is recovering from his ordeal at a friend's home when the troupe enters the town. Seeking revenge, Ahmed kidnaps Yasmin and takes her back to his encampment. She cannot convince him that she is innocent, and it is strongly implied that she is rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d, though the film fades out, leaving what occurs next to the viewers' imagination.
Ahmed's father, angered at his son's absence against his explicit orders, discovers Yasmin's presence and insists that his son set her free regardless of any wrong she may have done him. Ahmed obeys, but rebels when his father announces he has arranged a marriage for him, stating, "My future is my own."
Ahmed orders Ramadan to escort Yasmin back to her people, but the pair are ambushed and Ramadan left tied up in the desert. When Ahmed realizes he still loves the dancing girl, he turns back. When he finds Ramadan, his servant informs him that, based on what he overheard, Yasmin had no involvement in his master's kidnapping. Ahmed impetuously sets out to retrieve his love, accompanied only by Ramadan. When he enters the cafe in which she is dancing, the entire gang attacks him. Fortunately, he is able to hold them off until his father and his men arrive. In the confusion, Ghabah rides off with an unwilling Yasmin. Ahmed chases them down and kills his rival. Yasmin forgives Ahmed and admits she still loves him.
Reception
With more humor and action sequences than The SheikThe Sheik (film)
The Sheik is a 1921 silent film produced by Famous Players-Lasky, directed by George Melford and starring Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres, and Adolphe Menjou...
, The Son of the Sheik was better received critically and is sometimes thought to be Valentino's best film. Already doing excellent business during its big city premieres, following Valentino's unexpected death its wide release was rushed to coincide with the funeral, and it became a tremendous hit due to the associated popularity.
Trivia
The scenes in which Ahmed is flogged and Yasmin is ravished are parodied in the Gene WilderGene Wilder
Gene Wilder is an American stage and screen actor, director, screenwriter, and author.Wilder began his career on stage, making his screen debut in the film Bonnie and Clyde in 1967. His first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1968 film The Producers...
film The World's Greatest Lover
The World's Greatest Lover
The World's Greatest Lover is a 1977 comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Carol Kane.-Plot:Set in the silent film era, Rainbow Studios figure they are losing revenue to a rival studio because they don't have Rudolph Valentino...
(1977).
Rudolph Valentino and George Fitzmaurice had never made a film together before Son of the Sheik. The two, however, were social friends in their personal lives. Both Valentino and Fitzmaurice had been born and raised in Europe, and they were part of a small colony of European expatriates in the movie business living in Hollywood at the time. Valentino felt that Fitzmaurice, a Frenchman, would understand Ahmed's appeal and logically extend the story from the 1921 film.
Agnes Ayres had all but retired from movies by 1926. She came back, as the last credit title states, "at the special request of Valentino to reprise her role" as Lady Diana, wife of the original Sheik Ahmed and mother of the younger Ahmed in the sequel, both played by Valentino.