The Sheik (1921)

Rudolph Valentino stars in the film that defined his tragically short carrier as America’s silent film icon and sex symbol. Here we find the film that defined his romance for a period and forever immortalized Valentino in the legacy of Hollywood.

Despite the picture being based off the bestselling romantic novel Edith Maude Hall as well as a classic of the silent screen, the film is rather polarizing, mainly between men and women. For you see women fell passionately in love with the handsome young man on the silver screen, while men found the film and its star ridiculously absurd. Despite the mixed reactions the film lives on as one of the most famous silent love stories.

The story follows the main character, Diana Mayo (Agnes Ayres), a strong-willed young women on her adventure into the desert where she will meet the powerful tribe leader Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan (Valentino). Her curiosity and Ahmed’s interest in Diana leads to her kidnapping by Ahmed. Throughout the picture the Sheik tries to temp and manipulate Diana to love him in his many different (and sometimes bizarre ways) ways, including making her dress in Arab garb, singing to her, and even attempting to rape her (which in this early, cleaner film is portrayed by a very forced passionate kiss). In time the Sheik’s games lead him to falling in love with Diana, and in turn Diana realizes that she too has fallen love with him (quite bizarre considering that Ahmed kidnapped and forced her to do his will). This is shown to be true as Ahmed risks his life to save Diana from a rival Sheik's attempt to kidnap her for his own will. Diana shares her love as she cries over the terribly wounded Ahmed after he saved her from his rival. We end with Ahmed miraculously pulling through his injuries to share the loving moment as the film ends.

Women swooned for Valentino and his character. Men, or at least a fraction of the male population, despised the film, the character, and the man. I, being one with a Y chromosome, can sympathize with the male persuasion, but alas, I love film so and must give the film its due. Men found it hard to understand how women fell so hard for the Sheik. Valentino, on many occasions flashes a smile that is quite jarring to see, for it is almost a grin of an evil villain, yet this is one aspect that the ladies couldn’t get enough of. Men found him rather effeminate, which with it being a different time was very hard for men to swallow. Yet women went back to see the picture again and again. Think of it as the Titanic of its time. Women adore the love story, and men went along to keep the women company.

All in all, the film was a huge hit, despite the story changes from the novel. These changes where due to a different period of ethics in America and the world. The changes included the toned down rape scene, to suit what was acceptable for the screen at that time, and the ending where the Sheik reveals that he is in fact not an Arab, but rather part British and part Spanish and after his parents death was raised as an Arab. At that time it was not acceptable for interracial relationships, and by making him European rather than Arab, made it suitable that they kiss and love each other.

Valentino’s career exploded because of this film. His fame, especially with the women made him a household name. He would go on to produce more films including a sequel, The Son of the Sheik, where he would play his own son, but sadly that would be his final film. After being stricken with appendicitis and later pleuritis, an internal infection due to his illnesses, Valentino would pass away at the young age of 31. Women would mourn the loss the Italian star for years to come , and even to this day followers visit his resting place at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in the heart of the town that made his famous. His lasting impression in the Sheik would lead to Hollywood High School taking up the mascot name of the Sheiks.

With this film we see who times have changed (the moral codes in film) and how times remain the same (women dragging men to romantic movies with their favorite male stars), but overall we see how this picture has lasted through the ages and left its imprint in the history of motion pictures.