The Sheik (1921)

A charming Arabian sheik becomes infatuated with an adventurous, modern-thinking Englishwoman and abducts her to his home in the Saharan desert.

Director:

George Melford

Writers:

Edith Maude Hull (from the novel by), Monte M. Katterjohn (adaptation)

Stars:

Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres, Ruth Miller

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rudolph Valentino	...	The Sheik - Ahmed Ben Hassan
Agnes Ayres	...	Lady Diana Mayo
Ruth Miller	...	Zilah - A Marriage Market Prospect
George Waggner	...	Yousaef - Tribal Chieftain (as George Waggener)
Frank Butler	...	Sir Aubrey Mayo
Charles Brinley	...	Mustapha Ali - Diana's Guide (as Charles Brindley)
Lucien Littlefield	...	Gaston - French Valet
Adolphe Menjou	...	Dr. Raoul de St. Hubert
Walter Long	...	Omair - the Bandit

Storyline

Sheik Ahmed (Valentino) desperately desires fiesty British socialite Diana (Ayres), so he abducts her and carries her off to his luxurious desert tent-palace. The free-spirited Diana recoils from his passionate embraces and yearns to be released. Only after being kidnapped by desert bandits does Diana realize how much she has grown to love Ahmed, who comes to her rescue in the nick of time.

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Plot Keywords:

sheik | desert | love | arab | bandit | 

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Taglines:

A photoplay of tempestuous love between a madcap English beauty and a bronzed Arab chief!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 1921 (USA)

Also Known As:

A sejk

Filming Locations:

Guadalupe Sand Dunes, Santa Barbara County, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min 80 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was partial inspiration for the naming of Hollywood High School's sports teams as "The Sheiks", a name which persists to this day (2008).

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Quotes

Ahmed: Diana, my beloved. The darkness has passed and now the sunshine.

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Connections

Featured in Flicker Flashbacks No. 2, Series 5 (1947)

User Reviews

It's a treasure.

I can't believe all the apologist critiques. The Sheik is so enjoyable, fun and Valentino is so warm and loving with his co-star, it is a must see! (Plus I love the music that comes with it)

Remember also Valentino at this time in his life, was newly and madly in love with the love of his life, Natasha and he is just radiant throughout this whole film. It's been said that he along with the rest of the cast and crew had the time of their lives romping through the desert making this film. It truly shows.

Valentino is gorgeous in this. I watch it periodically and it leaves the sweetest feeling with me. Go on about the subject matter, about the over emphasis on gestures (it's a silent film, that was the norm) but there is nothing better than to see this gifted and talented man act while he is probably at his most happiest in life.