Son of the Shiek

Dir. George Fitzmaurice.
U.S. 1926.
68 min. Color-tinted B&W.
Music: theater organ score by
Jack Ward. B&W

In this visually intoxicating sequel to Valentino's career-defining film The Sheik, the silent screen's greatest lover portrays a cultured yet untamed young man who is lured into a thieves' trap by a beautiful dancer, Yasmin (Vilma Banky). After escaping, he kidnaps the damsel and holds her captive in his desert lair, dressing her in Arabian finery and threatening to unleash his violent passion upon her.

Plot is almost inconsequential in Son Of The Sheik. The film's sultry beauty and torrid power are derived from the exotic romance which saturates every frame; its sadomasochistic fantasies acted out against the lavish set design of William Cameron Menzies (The Thief Of Bagdad) and lushly photographed by George Barnes (Sadie Thompson). Son Of The Sheik proved to be Valentino's final film. He died suddenly on August 23, 1926 at the age of 31, shortly following the picture's release.

Available in 35mm & 16mm