Valentino Review: Son of the Sheik

Son of the Sheik
Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky, and Karl Dane

Directed by: George Fitzmaurice
Scenario: Frances Marion

Released: September 5th, 1926
DVD Status: Released via Image Entertainment. Click here to purchase!
My rating (out of 5 stars): 5

Valentino Gets Rapey...again!

Alright...the final Sheik Week article! Yay! Its been wonderful! Please do check out the sister review for The Sheik as well since this was a double screening. We've already given the history of this film so let's not repeat ourselves. Valentino hated being the Sheik. And in one of God's ironic cruel twists; his last film was Son of the Sheik before his untimely death.

A lot of people have suspected that Valentino knew he was at the end. He had been in pain, possibly for years (he had signs of ulcers back around his 22 strike) but he hated and feared doctors as it wasn't something common in Italy during his childhood. However I think if he knew he was at the end he would have left it at "The Eagle". Of course...maybe he wanted to right the one not so greatly acted movie he ever made. He went out with a bang, and it is hard to watch this film and think that by the time it received a nationwide release, he was dead. He looks extremely fit and fine...making it all the harder. But if this is how we have to remember him...then I'll take it!

Plot

The film opens on the thieves gypsy tent. The gypsies (or Montebacks as they are called) are gambling, and hell is raised when they think Pincher (Bynunsky Hyman) is cheating. Being a dwarf, they throw him around and start throwing knives at him.

As this comedic (yes it is, despite how mean it sounds) scene continues on we seen inside the tent a lovely Yasmin (Vilma Banky) dressing and looking dreamy. We find out she has just experienced her first love, and via flashback we see her meeting Sheik Ahmed Jr. (Rudolph Valentino) as she danced one day (she has to dance, her father gambles all their money away). He gives her a ring, in friendship, and they agree to meet in the old ruins. Pincher and Ghabah (Montagu Love) try to steal Ahmed's horse, but Ahmed catches them and another comedic scene ensues.

Back to the present, Yasmin finishes dressing and is off to the old ruins. We then see Sheik Ahmed, Ramadan (Karl Dane), and another body guard riding through the sands to get to the old ruins. Ramadan bitches, "Every night we must ride 20 leagues so he can meet up with a dancing girl!" Ahmed commands them to wait behind, as he goes off to meet his love.

He meets up with Yasmin, and they get all lovey dovey. A literal make out scene ensues. Meanwhile Ghabah caught word of what Yasmin was up to, and since she was promised to him for marriage, he is majorly jealous. He convinces the other gypsies and Yasmin's father Andre (George Fawcett) to come and help him kidnap and torture this other guy. "Capture don't kill" is the order. As they continue to make out, Ahmed's gun belt accidentally hurts Yasmin, and he takes it off so he can keep gettin busy. Shortly after this the rest of the gypsies attack and Yasmin tries to help Ahmed but is unable to. Using some bad ass sand moves Ahmed is mainly able to fight about 5 of them off while Yasmin is carried away, but eventually Ghabah waps him upside the head and he is knocked unconscious.

Once unconscious they tie him up in the old ruins, and taunt him saying their holding him for ransom. They demand to know who his father is but he does not tell, instead asking where Yasmin is. Ghabah taunts him, saying she was in on this and she was bait and did not really love him. Ahmed is deeply hurt, but does not say anything. They begin to whip and taunt him, torturing him on and on. One must wonder what his bodyguards thought was going during this time...I mean he musta been away awhile. But if my suspicion that Ramadan is one of those people who go about his job in toleration only well...that may explain it.

Eventually they leave him there for the night, vowing to be back to beat his ass the next day if he doesn't give a name. Pincher is left to watch guard. Eventually Ramadan and the other guard come to rescue him, hanging Pincher in a tree (which is hilarious). They ride off to a friend's place (more like palace). Yasmin comes to try and retrieve Ahmed, but is too late. She leaves and apparently Ghabah comes later, and is pissed when he finds out Pincher failed miserably.

At the friend's palace Ahmed's scars are healing but he is emotionally scarred deeply. Ramadan finds it hilarious, and nothing can be said to cheer Ahmed up. In a twist of fate Yasmin and the gypsies come dancing in the street below, which Ramadan spots and points out to Ahmed. Ahmed cant believe it, and goes to watch. Yasmin spots him, and waves excitedly. She is unaware he thinks she was in on the torture. He continues to give her the 'you bitch' stare and does not respond. She keeps trying and trying to get him to respond, and grows more concerned by the minute. She throws a flower up at him, and he crushes it giving her the same 'you bitch' look. Ramadan offers to shoot her, and Ahmed smacks him saying he will take his own revenge. Pincher noticed Ramadan getting served, and proceeds to laugh at him. Ramadan drops at vase on him, which is hilarious.

Later, in the thieves den, Ramadan and Ahmed go to kidnap Yasmin. Ahmed tells Ramadan to wait there again. He goes in, totally man handles Yasmin, and kidnaps her causing a major riot. He flees and escapes, with Ramadan covering him (in the most hilarious manner ever God bless you Karl Dane!) Yasmin is excited at first, thinking he came to rescue her from her evil father and evil to be husband. She puts her arms around him excitedly, yet he pushes her arms away and does not respond making her concerned.

Enter hottest rape scene ever. Back at Ahmed's tent he takes Yasmin to his room and proceeds to taunt her in the most cold and heartless way ever. She pleads with him, telling him he has made a mistake. Yet he is convinced she was responsible for his torture and humiliation (ah the male ego...) and "For once her kisses will be for free". She tries to run, but Ramadan is guarding the door. Ahmed corners her, and apparently rapes her.

Cut to another palace. We see ol Diana (Agnes Ayres) reading a letter from her cousin in England who is apparently coming to be Ahmed Jr's wife (back then cousin marriage wasn't creepy...I know its way disturbing now though). Diana is anxiously awaiting her husband's return, and sure enough ol Sheik Ahmed Sr. (also played by Rudolph Valentino) enters home from his latest trip. He's tender and sweet with Diana, and this is seriously some of the greatest acting by Valentino ever. He asks about his son, whom he ordered home a week ago. Diana tells him he is not here, and Ahmed Sr. has a fit. He threatens to beat the shit out of Ahmed Jr., but Diana pleads with him to be gentle. Still pissed, he leaves to go to his son's tent and see whats up.

We see Yasmin crying on the bed, her hair a mess. Ahmed Jr. is outside the door, looking remorseful and still hurt. Ramadan enters, and gestures hilariously (think long beard) that his father is on the way. Ahmed Jr. freaks, and tells Ramadan to see to it Yasmin is quiet. Ahmed Sr. enters and proceeds to question his son. In the other room Yasmin and Ramadan are fighting hilariously, and Ahmed Sr. hears her scream. "A girl?" he asks. Ahmed Jr. looking 8 shades of guilty lies and says no, and points to a bird saying it was the bird. Ahmed Sr. pretends to believe him. Until Yasmin bites Ramadan's hand so he hears him scream, and then a vase comes rolling out of the room (Yasmin threw it). Ahmed Sr. opens the curtain and sees the girl, Ahmed Jr. quickly grabs it and closes it...looking guilty and claiming it was his own matter and 'it wasn't for love it was for revenge'. Ahmed Sr. looks all father like, and tells him no matter what the girl did he has to let her go. Ahmed Jr. looks extremely pained and eventually agrees. Ahmed Sr. is pleased and leaves, saying he awaits Ahmed Jr's return to the castle.

Ahmed Jr. tells Ramadan to let Yasmin go, and to give her some gold for her troubles. He then leaves as he cant handle it. Ramadan goes back into the room, where Yasmin is still upset. He tells her she is free and hands her the gold. Yasmin gets EXTREMELY pissed and throws it back at him. He (hilariously) takes the gold for himself, and says she is to be fitted 'properly on a donkey'. Ha! As Ramadan prepares the donkey Yasmin begins to regret her hate, and tries frantically to find the ring again (which she threw earlier after the rape). Ramadan doesn't feel like dealing with any of this, and drags her out of there to escort her back.

As he tries to escort her back the gypsies kidnap him and 'free' Yasmin. As they do this Ghabah confesses to Yasmin he was behind the lie and what Ahmed thinks happened. Ramadan, being tied up right there, hears it and is shocked. When Ghabah leaves with Andre to get things ready to go, Yasmin tells Ramadan to tell Ahmed what really happened and she buries a knife nearby so he can cut himself free.

Meanwhile we see Ahmed trying to ride off all cold hearted like, but in some great acting, he looks back at the tent and gets the most pained look ever on his face. He rides back quickly but finds Ramadan and Yasmin already gone. He then finds the ring and feels even worse. Ramadan returns right as a sand storm hits, and tells him the truth. The pair and the other body guard ride off, to rescue Yasmin.

Meanwhile Ahmed Sr. is again being calmed and gently lectured by Diana. She reminds him he was stubborn when he was young and we see a The Sheik flashback. He looks pretty damn smug about the matter. Another servant arrives, to tell Ahmed Sr. that Ahmed Jr. is returning the the thieves den and his life may be in danger. Ahmed Sr. rides off quickly, to go help his son.

At the thieves den Ramadan is again left outside as Ahmed Jr. sneaks in a cloak. He sits at a table and looks all mysterious. Pincher sees him, and tells Ghabah and Yasmin a 'rich man' is there and to send Yasmin to dance for him. Yasmin does and when money throwing time occurs Ahmed throws the ring wrapped in (assumedly) a franc to her. She is grateful for the money, and realizing there is something in there she unwraps it, and realizes who the stranger is. She coyly dances over there, and after a restrained kiss or two the pair get full on. They apologize and make up, and Yasmin encourages him to leave so ya know he doesn't die. Ahmed refuses to go without her. Meanwhile Ghabah is jealous (not knowing who the guy is but that hes macking on his girl) and is about to get stabby. Ramadan notices and goes to protect him, causing another massive riot to break out.

Then one of the coolest action scenes ever happens. Ahmed Jr. takes his sword and a TABLE and proceeds to fight off at least 20 people. Yasmin is running around, and is eventually captured by Ghabah. As Ahmed Jr. and Ramadan are fighting the whole bar (Ramadan takes Pincher to the crotch...HILARIOUS and took me several viewings to notice that) Ahmed Sr. arrives and begins to sword fight beside his son. The three eventually make their way out, right as Ghabah is riding off with Yasmin (each on their own horse).

Ahmed Jr. hops on a horse, chases the horses and cuts Yasmin's free. He then proceeds to sword fight with Ghabah on the horse, until he jumps and tackles his ass, eventually killing him apparently. Ramadan watches on his own horse, where he has Pincher and Ali tied up (hilariously). Once this is accomplished he goes back to Yasmin, picks her up on the horse, and they ride off happily ever after.

Thoughts and Best Scenes

Man do I adore this movie! It always receives a lot of praise, and it deserves it. First off the cast is just stellar. With a lot of silents I swear it went something like this, "Okay the star is paying your bill, so stand there and be wall paper while they act circles around you" (seriously how many fellow Mary Pickford co-stars were of note? Think about it.) The first Sheik would definitely fall along those lines. But everyone in this movie was amazing, and on top of a great script it just...it was perfection.

Valentino was golden. The saddest part about this being his last movie is its one of his best, and it makes you wonder what he could have done had he lived another decade at the least. His acting is extremely fine tuned, and its just stellar. He's running the gamut emotionally, and with each emotion you feel it hardcore (including rapey). Also what makes this move extremely cool while proving he had mad talent is the dual role. Valentino was always put in young man sexy roles. Not by choice (I cite Monsieur Beaucaire for proof) either. Son of the Sheik was the first time he got to gray it up, and play way older or way out of type.

The scene where he is arguing with himself (Ahmed Jr. and Ahmed Sr. in the tent) is probably one of my all time favorites. It also is the one scene I would like to show anyone who says he couldn't act or was not talented. Yeah he was two Sheiks, but he was also a young naive thing, and an older wiser and stubborner man too. As I watched it tonight I wondered how much of Ahmed Sr. he based off his own father. Valentino had this thing about fighting male authority, and that comes across in Ahmed Jr here. Ahmed Sr. might just be what he was always on the receiving end of. He learned well I must say...

For ONCE I am not just going to sing Valentino's praises. Vilma Banky was a spectacular leading lady. They were hot in "The Eagle" and even hotter here. She and Valentino had real chemistry and its great to see. She was also a talented actress, not pulling that Agnes Ayres crap. She looked like her emotions were natural, and I appreciated that. Also her costumes were 80 times more realistic, though her dancing still left much to be desired for 'gypsy' or 'belly' dancing. But she looked less ridiculous than the other belly dancers.

The supporting cast was also stellar. Bull Montana, Bynunsky Hyman, and Montagu Love all shined in their roles. Bynunsky was just the right amount of comic relief, and I loved him opposite Karl Dane. Also when he's flirting with the fat woman in the den...OMG! Hilarious!

Oh wait...did I forget someone? Yeah that kid KARL DANE! AHHH!!! I had moments where I wasn't sure where to look: Karl or Valentino. Karl was just spectacular in this movie. I mean given how great everyone else is its really hard to declare this but its true: he stole the show. He was comedic relief, but not slapstick like Bynunsky. He was more just...'you're all ridiculous' relief. He got the biggest laughs tonight, and he totally deserved them. Added point: who the hell played the other body guard? That guy was fine enough for the 5 seconds time he had on screen, but Karl totally eclipsed him.

As for best scenes the overall best was of course Valentino vs Valentino. Karl's scenes were all amazing. I also enjoyed the bar fight sequence. Hardcore action! Oh...and that rape scene was hot.

Behind the scenes tidbits

*This was arguably during the high points of both Vilma Banky and Karl Dane's careers (both due to talkie trouble)

*Valentino was ill during production, but despite pushes from pretty much everyone including June Mathis...he just wouldn't go to the doctor

*Contrary to popular belief Valentino and June did not make up at the LA premiere of this film. That was on July 9th, 1926. However according to Leider's biography June had reconciled with him sometime after he and Natacha split, and sometime either before or during the PRODUCTION of Son of the Sheik. However I'm betting gossip columns were not aware of this thus that 'fact'

*Valentino brought most of the costumes himself, from his antique collecting addiction

*Frances Marion personally titled the film "Son of a Bitch" and wrote a hilarious parody for the first draft. But it had no role for Vilma so George asked her to rewrite it even though he loved it

*Valentino said he did not like seeing himself old, this was also during the time he told several people he hoped to die before 40. However he loved playing something a little more challenging.

Reception: Then and Now

Then: It was a major hit. Now I think whats unfair is people like to say thats due to Valentino's death (being released literally about 2 weeks after). However it had good reception at the LA premiere in July and no one knew he'd be gone then. Also it was a solid movie, and people took notice of that. However given his death, we can never prove what would have been one way or another.

Now: People LOVED it. There was a small intermission, and most people returned for the second film (literally maybe 5 people left). Bob Mitchell again did the accompniment and started with piano then wanted to switch to organ for full effect. Now...if Bob was a younger nimbler man this wouldnt have been any issue at all as other accompniasts have done it before. But for him to do it the film needed to be stopped at a certain point to resettle him. What point did they pick? RIGHT before the rape scene. AHHHHHHH!!! That was maddening! To make it even more maddening: this print was okay enough but when it started up it was shaky. It did that in the beginning, and after being restarted it took until about 2-3 title cards in before it settled. Making that EXTREMLY MADDENING. However I love Bob, and he did great. Just please...dont interupt a Valentino junkie's fix. The shock to our systems...cant handle it!

There was no snickering during this film. No innapropriate laughter. People got the jokes, and enjoyed the action. Everyone especially went wild over Karl Dane. After the flower pot scene the guy behind me said, "That guy is great". Karl had some mad love, and he totally deserved it. I think Valentino had everyone spell bound, as people were literally holding their breath during certain parts.

After the showing people clapped maybe 4 minutes long, and gave Bob a standing ovation. Truely amazing. And what a great night (and week)! Hopefully seeing the major smashing success of it all, the Silent Movie Theatre will do more Valentino. We got The Eagle in August. For now...that is good. Now if you dont mind...I need to go enter Valentino Rehab.