Rudolph Valentino (Ahmed, the son/Ahmed Ben Hassan), Vilma Banky (Yasmin Romez), Agnes Ayres (Diana Ben Hassan), George Fawcett (Andre Romez), Montagu Love (Ghabah, whose crimes outnumber the desert sands), Karl Dane (Ramadan, young Ahmed's henchman), Bull Montana (Ali), Bynunsky Hyman (Pincher, a malevolent dwarf), Charles Requa (Pierre, a city friend of young Ahmed), William Donovan (S'rir), Erwin Connelly (the zouve), George Fiske (stunt double). (Miss Ayres appears as a favor to the picture & Mr. Valentino through the courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn).
Director: GEORGE FITZMAURICE. Screenplay: Frances Marion, Fred de Gresac. Titles: George Marion, Jr. Based on the 1925 novel by Edith M. Hull. Photography: George Barnes. Art director: William Cameron Menzies. Property master: Irving W. Sindler. Stills: Nealson Smith. Producers: George Fitzmaurice, John W. Considine, Jr.
Copyright 24 August 1926 by Feature Productions. Released through United Artists: 5 September 1926. New York opening at the Mark Strand: 25 July 1926. 68 minutes.
COMMENT: Although not as richly tapestried as "The Sheik", this sequel has a stronger story and is equally well-produced. Rudolph Valentino's acting is also far more impressive. In fact he handles the character portion of his dual role most persuasively. What a shame it turned out to be his final performance!
Nor is the support cast lacking in appeal. Miss Ayres seems more at home with her role here than she was in the original, while Vilma Banky makes a most attractive heroine. Montagu Love tries hard to steal the acting honors from the principals—and almost succeeds despite enjoyable efforts by Bynunsky Hyman to upstage him. Karl Dane also makes a big pitch to collar the limelight, but fails dismally despite many indulgent close-ups.
In other respects, director George Fitzmaurice takes full advantage of sets and locations to move the story forward with both style and panache.
Unfortunately, the original shimmering photography by George Barnes is not so well served in the Image DVD, printed up from the 1937 black-and-white re-issue instead of the original sepia.
Director: GEORGE FITZMAURICE. Screenplay: Frances Marion, Fred de Gresac. Titles: George Marion, Jr. Based on the 1925 novel by Edith M. Hull. Photography: George Barnes. Art director: William Cameron Menzies. Property master: Irving W. Sindler. Stills: Nealson Smith. Producers: George Fitzmaurice, John W. Considine, Jr.
Copyright 24 August 1926 by Feature Productions. Released through United Artists: 5 September 1926. New York opening at the Mark Strand: 25 July 1926. 68 minutes.
COMMENT: Although not as richly tapestried as "The Sheik", this sequel has a stronger story and is equally well-produced. Rudolph Valentino's acting is also far more impressive. In fact he handles the character portion of his dual role most persuasively. What a shame it turned out to be his final performance!
Nor is the support cast lacking in appeal. Miss Ayres seems more at home with her role here than she was in the original, while Vilma Banky makes a most attractive heroine. Montagu Love tries hard to steal the acting honors from the principals—and almost succeeds despite enjoyable efforts by Bynunsky Hyman to upstage him. Karl Dane also makes a big pitch to collar the limelight, but fails dismally despite many indulgent close-ups.
In other respects, director George Fitzmaurice takes full advantage of sets and locations to move the story forward with both style and panache.
Unfortunately, the original shimmering photography by George Barnes is not so well served in the Image DVD, printed up from the 1937 black-and-white re-issue instead of the original sepia.