The Sheik is a 1921 American silent romantic drama adventure colorized classic film produced by Famous Players–Lasky, directed by George Melford, starring Rudolph Valentino and Agnes Ayres, and featuring Adolphe Menjou. It was based on the bestselling 1919 romance novel of the same name by Edith Maude Hull and was adapted for the screen by Monte M. Katterjohn. The film was a box-office hit and helped propel Valentino to stardom.

In the 1926 sequel The Son of the Sheik, Valentino played both the Sheik and his son, while Ayres reprised her role. A third film in the series, She's a Sheik, was produced in 1927 by Paramount and starred Bebe Daniels in a comedic role reversal of the original film.

Plot:

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

In the North Africa town of Biskra, headstrong Lady Diana Mayo (Agnes Ayres) refuses a marriage proposal because she believes it would be the end of her independence. Against her brother's wishes, she is planning a month-long trip into the desert, escorted only by natives.

When Diana goes to the local casino, she is informed it has been appropriated for the evening by an important sheik, and that none but Arabs may enter. Annoyed at being told what she cannot do, and her curiosity piqued, Diana borrows an Arab dancer's costume and sneaks in. Inside, she finds men gambling for new wives. When she is selected to be the next prize, she resists. Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan (Rudolph Valentino) intervenes, then realizes she is white. Amused, he sends her away. Afterward, Mustapha Ali (Charles Brinley) informs the Sheik she is the woman he has been hired to guide tomorrow. The Sheik hatches a plan. Early the next morning, he sneaks into her room and tampers with the bullets in her revolver as she is sleeping.

As her brother leaves her to her desert excursion, she assures him he will see her in London next month. The Sheik and his men come upon Diana riding alone. She tries to flee while shooting at the Sheik, but he easily captures her. Back at his encampment, he orders her about. She is unused to such treatment, but the Sheik tells her she will learn and demands she dress like a woman (she is wearing pants) for dinner.

Raoul tends to him and tells Diana he has a chance. She sits and holds the Sheik's hand. When she remarks that his hand is big for an Arab, Raoul reveals that the Sheik is not one. His father was British and his mother Spanish. They died in the desert, and their child was rescued and raised by the old Sheik; when the old man died, Ahmed returned to rule the tribe. When Ahmed wakes up, Diana confesses her love.

Cast:

Rudolph Valentino as Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan
Agnes Ayres as Lady Diana Mayo
Ruth Miller as Zilah, the serving girl
George Waggner as Yousaef, a tribal chieftain
Frank Butler as Sir Aubrey Mayo, Diana's brother
Charles Brinley as Mustapha Ali
Lucien Littlefield as Gaston
Adolphe Menjou as Raoul de Saint Hubert
Walter Long as Omair
Loretta Young as Arab child
Polly Ann Young

Taglines:

Greatest Lover of 'EM ALL! Rudolph Valentino was three Gables and Four or Five Taylor's rolled into one (1940).

A flaming romance of desert love! Flinging away the trappings of civilization! Leaving the "lady" only a woman, the "gentleman" only a man.

THE STORY OF STOLEN LOVE, THAT HAS SENT A NEW THRILL THROUGH THE ENGLISH SPEAKING WORLD, FILMED IN A BLAZE OF BARBARIC SPLENDOR.

The Book Sensation of a Decade Flaming on the Screen.

The tale of a lawless Arab Chief who loved an English beauty- and took her! Stormed her caravan- carried her off to his tent- lost her- fought for her- mastered her- won her, heart and soul!

SHRIEK for the SHEIK SEEKS! "When an Arab sees a woman he wants, he takes her."

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

Film colorization by Colorized Public Domain YouTube channel. Film & Animation YouTube video category.

Copyright Status:

This media file is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1928, and if not then due to lack of notice or renewal.

Public Domain Movie meaning:

Public Domain Movie means that no government, organization, or individual owns any copyright over the work, and as such it is common property.

Public Domain Movie is an intellectual property designation referring to the body of creative works and knowledge in which no person, government or organization has any proprietary interest such as a copyright. These works are considered part of the public cultural and intellectual heritage of content that is not owned or controlled by anyone and which may be freely used by all.

#FilmClassics #CultMovies #VintageCinema #ColorizedClassics #ColorizedMovies

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