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Old 03-17-2008, 07:30 PM   #134
sabotai
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: The Satellite of Love
Son of the Sheik (1926)





Directed by: George Fitzmaurice
Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky, George Fawcett
Length: 68 min
Genre: Romance / Drama
Based on: The novel "The Sons of the Sheik" by Edith Maude Hill
Sequel to The Sheik (1922)


The Sheik's son, Ahmed (Valentino played both sons, the Sheik and his son) is just as rebelous as he was, and goes off and falls in love with a gypsie girl named Yasmine (Vilma Banky). The gypies that the girl is with ambush Ahmed, but Ahmed's servant saves him. Ahmed was led to beleive that Yasmine played a role in his kidnapping, so he takes her captive. It's implied that Ahmed rapes the woman (as shown above), but is obviously not shown. If you remember back to 1921, it was a controversy for the film to not include the rape scene from the novel, since the filmmakers were not sure how it would be received by the public. They included a form of that scene in this movie, and of the reviews from the day that I read, it wasn't mentioned.

When the Sheik learns of his son's deeds, he travels to his camp and insist he let the girl go. He does, but later learns that she actually had no involvement in his kidnapping. He returns to the gypsies, this time he frees her from her father who had been trying to force her to marry one of his henchmen. A large fight scenes occurs with both The Sheik and his son fighting the band of gypies. It reminded me a lot of the Son of Zorro climax.

This would be Valentino's last film. Shortly before the film's release, Valentino collapsed at the Hotel Ambassador in NYC. He went into surgery for a perforated ulcer, which was successful. However, infection set in while he was recovering and died on August 23rd, 1926. 100,000 people showed up for his funeral.

The movie would become a huge hit, in part because of Valentino's death. Many of his movies were rereleased throughout the 20s and 30s. Many critics thought of this film as Valentino's best.

Entertainment Rating: 6/10
Historical Rating: 9/10

Last edited by sabotai : 07-26-2008 at 05:51 PM.
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