"The Son of the Sheik" tragically, turned out to be Rudolph Valentino's final film due to his untimely death just before the film premiered. It is a sequel to the earlier "The Sheik" (1921).
Ahmed (Valentino) is the son of a wealthy and powerful sheik (also played by Valentino). He meets a young dancer Yasmin (Vilma Banky) who is the daughter of Frenchman Andre (George Fawcett) the leader of a band of entertainers (and bandits). One of the men is the brutal Ghalbah (Montegue Love) to whom Andre has promised the hand of his daughter.
Ahmed and Yasmin are meeting secretly when Ghalbah and his men capture Ahmed, torture him and hold him for ransom. Ghalbah tells Ahmed that Yasmin has betrayed him and that she is part of the plot. Ahmed's trusted servant Ramadan (Karl Dane) rescues him and takes him to a friend's home to recover. Ahmed vows revenge on Yasmin.
Later during a skirmish Ahmed abducts Yasmin and takes her to his camp. There, he begins his plans to exact revenge upon the puzzled young woman. There is left little doubt over his method of revenge. The two now apparently despise each other until Ramadan who has just escaped from Ghalbah and his gang, informs Ahmed that Yasmin is innocent of any deceit.
Meanwhile back at the castle, the Sheik and his wife Diana (Agnes Ayres) are worried as to why they haven't heard from his son in over a week. The Sheik goes to Ahmed to find out why and learns of his involvement with a lady.
Ahmed later goes to the café where Yasmin is dancing with the aim of winning her back. A fight breaks out and.........................
This film is arguably Valentino's best work and achieved greater popularity due to the star's death. Valentino's acting had improved noticeably from the earlier film. His portrayal of the elder Sheik is carried off convincingly. The shots of father and son together are masterfully done to the point that you think that there were two different actors in the shot.
The dancing of the beautiful Vilma Banky is spectacular and her scenes with Valentino are memorable. Montegue Love was one of the busiest villains of the twenties and doesn't disappoint here. Agnes Ayes, reprising her role from the earlier film, makes the transition to worried mother effortlessly. The swashbuckling scenes are exciting and are well choreographed.
One only has to look at this film to see the appeal that Valentino had over the ladies, That burning stare and fetching smile must have made many a girl swoon. It's a pity that he had to die so young. You can only wonder what further heights he would have achieved had he lived.
Rudolph Valentino...one of a kind.
Ahmed (Valentino) is the son of a wealthy and powerful sheik (also played by Valentino). He meets a young dancer Yasmin (Vilma Banky) who is the daughter of Frenchman Andre (George Fawcett) the leader of a band of entertainers (and bandits). One of the men is the brutal Ghalbah (Montegue Love) to whom Andre has promised the hand of his daughter.
Ahmed and Yasmin are meeting secretly when Ghalbah and his men capture Ahmed, torture him and hold him for ransom. Ghalbah tells Ahmed that Yasmin has betrayed him and that she is part of the plot. Ahmed's trusted servant Ramadan (Karl Dane) rescues him and takes him to a friend's home to recover. Ahmed vows revenge on Yasmin.
Later during a skirmish Ahmed abducts Yasmin and takes her to his camp. There, he begins his plans to exact revenge upon the puzzled young woman. There is left little doubt over his method of revenge. The two now apparently despise each other until Ramadan who has just escaped from Ghalbah and his gang, informs Ahmed that Yasmin is innocent of any deceit.
Meanwhile back at the castle, the Sheik and his wife Diana (Agnes Ayres) are worried as to why they haven't heard from his son in over a week. The Sheik goes to Ahmed to find out why and learns of his involvement with a lady.
Ahmed later goes to the café where Yasmin is dancing with the aim of winning her back. A fight breaks out and.........................
This film is arguably Valentino's best work and achieved greater popularity due to the star's death. Valentino's acting had improved noticeably from the earlier film. His portrayal of the elder Sheik is carried off convincingly. The shots of father and son together are masterfully done to the point that you think that there were two different actors in the shot.
The dancing of the beautiful Vilma Banky is spectacular and her scenes with Valentino are memorable. Montegue Love was one of the busiest villains of the twenties and doesn't disappoint here. Agnes Ayes, reprising her role from the earlier film, makes the transition to worried mother effortlessly. The swashbuckling scenes are exciting and are well choreographed.
One only has to look at this film to see the appeal that Valentino had over the ladies, That burning stare and fetching smile must have made many a girl swoon. It's a pity that he had to die so young. You can only wonder what further heights he would have achieved had he lived.
Rudolph Valentino...one of a kind.