The Sheik (1921) Rudolph Valentino

[TheHuntersBounty]

He had a young John Wayne look about him.

[ND2525]

I love Rudy hugging the dog. He loved animals.

[LindsayMonroe88]

lol he looks like a desperate 15 old at a first date when he tells her she's beautiful

[kls22280]

I LOOOOOOOOOVE Valentino!!!!!!!!!<3 Pola would have had to watch out were I a young lady in his time!!!!! Valentino Forever!!!!!!! XOXOXO

[msrudyfan]

Also, in the "Arab Images on Film" series, they cite both "The Sheik" and SOS as examples of racism. Both female heroines fell in love with Valentino's character before finding out he was not Middle Eastern--Lady Diana wrote she loved Ahmed in the sand, but didn't find out until the end that he was European. In SOS, Yasmin was a French girl, and loved Ahmed even though he refused to ID his father. Both characters were Muslim and dressed and lived as Arabs. TCM underestimates RV's fan base.

[Roses0fPicardy]

The book can be found free online as part of project gutenberg. Book paints a violent picture of life in the desert, though the imagery of the timeless "undulating sands" was very interesting. Edith Hull lived for a time in Algeria with her British husband and was appalled by the treatment of women there (so I've read). She once wrote that wives there were traded for like pretty rugs.

[msrudyfan]

TCM will be showing "The Sheik" on July 5, 2011 at 1:00 a.m., as part of a series examining racial stereotypes in film. Why do they always show RV films in the middle of the night?

[Roses0fPicardy]

@msrudyfan

Thanks for TCM info. They will air "Son of the Sheik" on July 21, also in middle of the night (2 a.m.) Can't they show him in early evening sometime so more people would see his work? I guess they will air more films on August 23rd but can't view TCM schedule that far in advance.

[msrudyfan]

@msrudyfan I think that Valentino is not popular with the powers that be over there at TCM. I watch TCM regularly, and never saw a promotion for RV's May 6th birthday celebration--they showed 8 hours of his films on his birthday, but never promoted it, like they do other stars. Also, in the "Moguls and Movie Stars" series, they had a woman author who said that Valentino wasn't very talented--not someone like Emily Leider or Donna Hill who are experts on Valentino.

[ccipollini1984]

@msrudyfan

Not talented? Thems fightin words.

[msrudyfan]

@ccipollini1984 Jeanine something or other, a film professor at some Ivy League college, who loves, loves, loves Pola Negri, said he wasn't loaded with talent. Then why is he rememberd as one of he legends from the silent era, along with Chaplin, Lloyd, Keaton, Pickford and Fairbanks? Most people only know of Pola Negri because of her association with Valentino and especially her description of her relationship with him in her memoirs--a must-read! Raise a glass tonight starting at 1:00 am.

[ccipollini1984]

@msrudyfan

Yeah that sounds rather biased to me. That's like people saying they don't like Bette Davis because they like Joan Crawford, or something along that same vein. In any event, I think what Pola did was vile. I also find that Rudy is still being exploited to this day. i've heard of what goes down at that tawdry memorial they do for him and it drives me up the wall. Frankly, Rudy's standup acting and brilliant persona speak for itself. He needs little if any defense.

[msrudyfan]

@ccipollini1984 Pola cooked her own career. She put on widow's weeds and engaged in histrionics every time the media were around, but married one of the Mdivani brothers a few months later. The press thought she was faking at the time--this proved it. I do feel sorry for how she found out he died--early one morning, the maid was walking the dog and a reporter called, so Pola answered. He asked if she was the maid and she said yes, and then he asked how Pola took the news of Rudy's death.

[Kathylouu]

I wish people would stop describing Rudy as gay or bi when there is no evidence of this. Not that I care if he was, but he cared. He was willing to fight and risk his health and appearance to defend himself against such allegations. It is a great injustice to Rudy. I don't have a problem with gay or bi people (some are the nicest people I know, I live near a gay community) His 2nd wife had 3 abortions. Poor Rudy, he wanted children.

[whysoserious89]

One of the best compliments I've ever had, was how I can do the huge eyes/glare like him.....This right here ladies and gents, is one of the greatest men to have ever lived, and one of the worlds first true, badasses.

[4MaryAnna]

116 year birthday of Valentino's He will never be forgotten!

[WojekSiren]

Watching a movie that almost a hundred years old. The question reminds, where can I find this movie?

[msrudyfan]

@WojekSiren Try TCM or Amazon. This film is part of a multi-disc set on Valentino, but the best print I've seen is the one with "The Sheik" and "Son of the Sheik" on one disc.

[SoothingChime15]

I never get tired of watching Rudy. He's fascinating and sensual and so unique. He brings out feelings that no celebrity of today could ever do. It's been decades since his death and his fans of today still feel as passionate about him as they did over 80 years ago. We love you Rudy!

[kangadillo]

I read that at the end, the sheik turned out not to be an Arab, but the son of British and Spanish parents, and that this detail was included to make it "permissible" for a white woman to fall in love with him.

[msrudyfan]

@kangadillo This was put into the film because of miscegenation laws in the US and elsewhere--which forbid "interracial" marriage. so depicting "interracial" lovemaking was a bad idea. I think Middle Easterners are members of the caucasian race, so the two characters were of the same race technically, even though one was darker skinned. The studio was afraid people would object so technically the Sheik was European--half English, half Spanish, and not Arabic other than by adoption.

[Kathylouu]

@msrudyfan Most middle easterns are either persian (which consider themselves white) or arab (which is thought of as more black) This is not really good comparison but that is the only way I can explain it. A persian will get really upset if you call him/her an arab.

[msrudyfan]

@Kathylouu I love "The Sheik" because of Valentino's performance and I think its influence was very important at the time and up to the present. However, it remains a product of its time, and there are multiple issues--like saying that civilization has "passed by" the children of Araby whose teacher instructs them by drawing in the sand with a stick--the preference for a "white woman", the rape of Diana resulting in her falling in love, as examples. Who is really ignorant here--the fans?

[Kathylouu]

@msrudyfan This film would not be accepted today. Many men in prison and I mean many went to prison thinking 'she wanted it' and what media like this does is send mixed messages about women wanting to be raped. Women like a display of power but as far as I know don't really want to be raped, but maybe some do. These films have done an injustice to men. However, it has nothing to do with Rudy. In fact think Rudy didn't like the 'Shiek' films.

[msrudyfan]

@Kathylouu That idea came from Edith Maude Hull, an Englishwoman who wrote "The Sheik"--I think it was her own sexual fantasy, kind of like David Bret's book on Valentino--"The Dream of Desire", which reflects his own sexual fantasies about Rudy. Rudy hated being typecast, but costume type films were the most successful. "Cobra", a contemporary drama, was one of his best, but the public didn't like it. Some of this was, I think, prejudice against foreigners, esp. one who turned on women.

[msrudyfan]

@kangadillo Have you read about Dick Dorgan's (Photoplay Magazine) review of "The Sheik", in which he reveals that the Sheik character wasn't really Arabic, but states that Valentino's character's mother was a '"dago or something". "Dago" is an insult to an Italian (RV's mother was actually French). This was but one example of Dorgan's abuse of RV. The studio promised that Dorgan would be banned from Valentino's sets, but they let him come back anyway--another reason he went on strike.

[kangadillo]

I had read -- and this is the truth -- that many young women, after seeing this film, ran away to the Middle East in the hope of being kidnapped by a handsome sheik. I thought "Oh, man, give me a break -- you gotta be kidding!" Then tonight, for the first time, I sat down and watched the movie on DVD.

Now if you'll pardon me, I have to go dial 1-800-RENT-A-CAMEL.

[TokyoSpike]

@kangadillo 1-800-RENT-A-CAMEL -- you just made my day :-) Hah!!!

[kangadillo]

@TokyoSpike Glad you liked it! You know, sometimes I hit the "pause" button just so I could gaze at Rudy's incredibly and classically beautiful face.

[TokyoSpike]

@kangadillo I hear you -- as a male friend of mine said when I first showed him Rudy's picture, "He doesn't look real!"

We must all be careful, Rudy can be a dangerous addiction :-)

[kangadillo]

@TokyoSpike Too late. I'm already addicted and I LOVE danger!

[kangadillo]

@TokyoSpike Interesting that your friend put it that way. The first time I saw a close up picture of Rudy, I couldn't believe he was real either. It seemed an archangel had come down from heaven and put on a suit and tie.

[msrudyfan]

@kangadillo I read there were literally hundreds of run away girls who left home thinking there were men that looked like Valentino riding their horses around the Middle East looking for women to abduct and take back to their oasis. The important thing about this part of the Valentino saga is the power of film--these girls didn't understand this was fiction--not a documentary. Anyway, I can understand why they'd head over there if they thought they'd get to make out (or more) with Rudy.

[kangadillo]

@msrudyfan I'd go to the moon if it meant I could make out (or more) with Rudy!

[msrudyfan]

@kangadillo Well, you'd probably have a lot of company, then and now.

[kangadillo]

@msrudyfan Yes, and it'd be one small step for woman, one giant leap for womankind!!!

[Kathylouu]

@msrudyfan Are you serious!

[msrudyfan]

@Kathylouu About what?--there were multiple reports of hundreds of run away girls who were headed to Algiers because of "The Sheik", thinking they'd meet someone who looked like Valentino. The names of the places in both "The Sheik" and "Son of the Sheik" are real--Biskra and Toggourt are real cities in Algiers.

[Kathylouu]

@msrudyfan Yes, I know about the cities and some about the Middle East. I guess they did not. Wonder what happened to them.

[msrudyfan]

@Kathylouu In the DVD "Valentino The Great Lover", they say that these runaway girls and women kept the police busy, but as far as I know they all got returned home. This sort of reaction was unprecedented and shows the importance of Valentino as a cultural phenomenon and the power of film as a medium.

[bettyjoon3]

was this a silent film? and was valentino a silent actor?

[GhettoBlaster100]

@bettyjoon3 yes, i believe they only had silent films in 1929

[johenasia]

This is the scene over which me and my friend always fight. She says Diana was raped, I say she wasn't.

[TokyoSpike]

@johenasia I agree with you. I think something is about to happen, but the sheik gets interrupted by his servant (the "What?!? I'm busy in here!" sort of response from Valentino is hilarious). The sheik clearly intends to pick up where he left off when he comes back in, but then feels bad about how frightened and unhappy Diana is and leaves her alone.

[kangadillo]

@TokyoSpike I hate it when that happens. If there's one thing I hate, it's "Rudy interruptus."

[msrudyfan]

@johenasia according to the novel, not only was Diana raped, but she liked it so much, she fell in love with the Sheik. There is no doubt about a rape in "Son of the Sheik", but it's hard to figure out where there was a rape in "The Sheik". He says that it will be "too late" when her family finds her, implying that he's going to rape her. We need to remember that the existing prints of these movies might have had scenes cut out that were in the theater version shown when they were released.

[Kathylouu]

Rudy looks like he is kinda laughing, having fun with this movie.

[Roses0fPicardy]

I recently read the novel by E.Hull, it's in public domain and available free on books(dot)google(dot)com. Now I understand why it was a scandalous read all those years ago, Hollywood made it a more romantic tale and left out the brutality. Won't say any more, don't want to spoil the plot for anyone.

[53JoDi]

It's interesting to note what was seen as 'attractive' in those days. The boyish form was seen as attractive until the 40's when the more shapely WWII pin up girls came into fashion (Rita hayworth, Betty Grable,etc). Through the 30s, the flat chested women like Jean Harlow were the most admired women of the day. The 50s brought the Marilyn Monroe types, 60s gave us the Yardley scene and Twiggy, and now here we are. The pendulum swings.

[Kathylouu]

@53JoDi Sometimes the pendulum sags.

[Chub4ChubsRule]

The music on this sucks! Synthesizers and silent films don't mix!

[Alesha279]

I would love to be kissed by Valentino!

[islandsylph]

I actually have the original book and to read the book; well it's splendid to say the least. Movie makers did what they could in the Valentino era, but the movie makers should reread the book and see what a great work it is.

[dogloverNV]

The soundtrack to this archive is FANTASTIC! Spellbinding!

[kangadillo]

@dogloverNV I agree. They did a GREAT job with the music.

[53JoDi]

The book entitled The Sheik was scandalous in it's day, not only due to the content, but because the author was a single woman who dared to even THINK of such things. That man was extraordinary. The first real superstar sex god.

[Lovingsundays]

@53JoDi It was indeed very daring - I bet it was an amazing book for the women of the day - I guess it was seen as trashy but probably even very educated women were reading it under the bedclothes at night in secret. I haven't seen the book I wonder if it is all very cheesy now. Love Rudy - he is my new obsession. Funny how he can still get to women in the 2lst C Thank you youtube for giving him back to us. He is young and wiry in the sheik whilst son of the sheik he bulked up - v sexy both

[islandsylph]

@Lovingsundays I actually have a 1920 edition of the book and to read the book; well it's splendid to say the least. The heroin in the book is a strong gutsy woman, hard as nails in the beginning. Movie makers did what they could in the Valentino era, but the movie makers should reread the book and see what a great work it is. T

[msrudyfan]

@53JoDi Wasn't one of the most scandalous things about the book the plot theme that Lady Diana fell in love because she enjoyed being raped? If so, then it was crap then and now. It is cool, however, to be desired, especially by a hot, powerful man especially when he's played by RV. In this film version, I don't see any suggestion of rape, although some reviews I have read say it was suggested. He hints at rape when he tells her that it will be "too late" when her family finds her.

[MissGoldenDreams13]

Has anyone ever noticed in this movie that Rudy (as the Sheik) had a very distinctive, swaggering kind of walk?

[kangadillo]

@MissGoldenDreams13 I noticed it in other films. He walked with a very purposeful stride.

[superdavid002]

A real legend! I mention Valentino in The Celebrity Song.

[dollyduke]

Note how Rudolpho strokes his dog before he entered the tent. He loved animals and this clearly shows this. Moreover, correct me if I am wrong, I think that the dog was his own.

[msrudyfan]

@dollyduke Notice the pecking order, which is intentional, after he arrives back at the oasis and they dismount: first, he speaks with Gaston, his valet, then he pets the dog, and last he gestures for her to enter his tent. This would be in keeping with the way women were treated in the Middle East.

[elishebabb]

@msrudyfan Those things he did first were in preparation for the woman - not to be disturbed while he is with her - she being the goal, the priority.

[msrudyfan]

@elishebabb Well, that's one way of looking at it. However, I do believe that Gaston and the dog would have waited if the Sheik wanted to hurry up with gettin' busy with Lady Diana. Neither of them would have disturbed him, since he was the Sheik. According to the plot, he just abducted an English noblewoman, but when he gets home, he first greets Gaston, then the dog, then she's invited inside the tent.

[msrudyfan]

@dollyduke I think the dog is Centaur Pendragon. The horse is named Jadaan, and he is an Arabian stallion. Jadaan was borrowed to make this movie. I read somewhere that Rudy bred him with a mare before returning him, which was a violation of his agreement with the owner.

[antitum]

"Im not accustomed to obeying orders" - Good reply!

[JACKxTHOMPSON]

is this really from 1921? wow, that´s before the second world war

[BJORT]

wow! Did you know some films date back from 1898? That's before WWI...

[fisah17]

lolz

[jewelcat9]

His profile is magnificent!! Sexy Italian. No plastic surgery. Hard to find these days

[clearcut76]

LOL

[creolerose09]

i like how his eyes get all big when he's about to say something hee hee:)

[coffeeintheface]

Agnes Ayres is absolutely adorable and beautiful in this film.

[helmuthoorn]

My grandmother told me that the reverend thundered from the pullpit that any girls who would go to the movie theatre and watch this would surely inherit eternal damnation. LOL

[babeofelvis]

LOL My mother said the reverend thundered from the pulpit about Elvis 30 years later. Some things never change. LOL

[msrudyfan]

@babeofelvis The comparison between Valentino and Elvis is interesting. I read or heard that Elvis was a huge Valentino fan, that the inspiration for his sideburns came from RV's in "The Eagle", and that 'Harem Scarem" was a loose tribute by Elvis to RV. If you have seen comments by critics of Elvis, you know that what they were really upset about was that Elvis appealed to girls's sensuality--esp his pelvic motions. RV also turned on women. Men can't handle that--they want to be in control.

[kangadillo]

@helmuthoorn If eternal damnation means being with Rudy, then bring it on!!!

[rhapsody710]

I'd have been one of the countless women fainting in the aisles at this one. For sure. ;-)

[DamarisPR1]

Netflix has the movies.

[canani02]

I hope they make a really good remake of this movie. I picked up the book at random, never hearing about it before and it has definitely become the best book I have ever read.

[lifesaver72]

Hi canani02. Honestly, I hope they don't touch this movie. Sometimes the original should just stay the way it is. This movie even after 88 years, still holds thrills, suspense and romance. Rudy Valentino is still making women swoon over him even after all of these years. Movies like this are at their best when they're treasured by movie lovers like us. This movie is timeless.

[babeofelvis]

Amen, to all you have said here,

lifesaver72. Some things should be left alone.

[helmuthoorn]

The real irony is that l'm a reverend.

[babeofelvis]

ROFL!!! I hope I didn't offend!!

[LaydeeMarmalardy]

Brilliant Video! I have just read that both The Sheik and The Son of the Sheik were adapted from novels written by E. M. Hull - who was actually a pig farmer's wife from Derbyshire, real name Edith Maud Winstanley. She wrote racy romantic novels to make ends meet! I wonder if she was paid well for her stories as The Sheik alone grossed $2,000,000 in two years breaking all previous box-office records.

[Ladycherrylips]

hola, no tendrias la pelicula completa? hace tiempo que la busco !! -- Hi, do u have The movie ? ? ?

[JacksonPerdue]

ladies got their bloomers moist when they saw this in the 20's...

[OurWondrousWorld]

I think quite a few ladies are getting their draws wet in 2009!

[IrishEyez01]

LOL great comment OurWonderousWorld!!....its true ;)

[babeofelvis]

WOO HOO, that's the truth!!!

[Cybele1986]

I can see why women went completely berserk over this movie

[NewMilleniumFilm]

Has anyone uploaded the full movie?

[daydreamer1991white]

I tried to upload the full movie a couple of days ago but it didn't work... But I am going to try it again in a different way as soon as possibe, so if you want to watch you can look for it on youtube again in hopefully just a few days! :)

[NewMilleniumFilm]

Thanks! That would be awesome

I'll check for it :)

[OrontesRM]

thank you for uploading htis clip! :X

[OrontesRM]

for beedazzled everybody is romani...

[kangadillo]

Holy, God, he looks like a sex maniac. And I love it.

[sangdicaprio]

Luscious Rudy!

[vickytaspartan]

Hey, download the full film, please!!!

[dollyduke]

I will be seeing this movie in its entirety soon and I can't wait until I see it all. I will then give my comments about it. I know that it wasn't his best but I can't wait to see it.

[mairin14]

Funny :)

[tefisher1984]

You died 82 years ago yesterday. Rest in peace Rudolph Valentino.

[BEEEDAZZLED]

As for Elvis Presley his father was German Sinti, spelling being Pressler, his mother was Rominichal, both tribes of the Romani race.

[BEEEDAZZLED]

The actual official version is that Rudolph's father travelled extensively with the circus. A lifestyle associated more with the Romani race rather than the Jewish community. It was very strongly rumoured that Rudolph's father was really a Romani Gypsy, but because of the intense racial prejudice, Rudolph claimed to be Italian. After leaving the circus and settling in a permanent location, his father worked as a Vet, mainly with horses. Valentino was an excellent horseman and dancer.

[berriesncream]

he reminds me of Johnny Depp

[dollyduke]

I don't know about that because I read that he was Roman Catholic which would make sense being from Italy. But what I really wanted to say is that I have seen the Son of the Sheik and loved it but have not seen this one. I know that the sequel is much better but I am still looking forward to getting a copy of this DVD. Rudolph Valentino was unique and a great talent.

[kopec82]

i found bouth of the movies in a mega store virgin store in new york but i think in internet you can find it i must admit the book its 3 times better than the movies.

[knowitx]

Rudolph Valentino was JEWISH. In case anyone wants to know.

[Catalina1956]

Just add him now to the list of already GREAT SCREEN LEGENDS of LEADING MEN: Edward G. Robinson, Paul Newman, Tony Cuttis, Kirk Douglas, Elvis Presely, THE JEWS GOT "IT"!!!AHHHHHHH! (SWOON!)

[kangadillo]

What difference does that make????

[higgeroo]

In all my life I've only seen one actor in one play that came even close to Valentino. It was Frank Langella as Dracula in the 1970's. Aside from that, nobody can touch him.

[undergroundmr]

I love to watch Valentino's picture for his great sense of character. The camera truly loved him and he has an enduring legacy. Thanks for the clip...

[anifori02]

its funny how they don't talk. i wish they did. rudolph is cute

[80stimeagain]

This movie is so erotic. Wow. He is dam good looking in this film. This was the first movie i saw of Rudy. He is sexy and he is also sweet in the film. But, definite animal magnetism.

[jewelcat9]

It's erie., like seeing ghosts. especially the way they move so slow. Real interesting though. I would like to see the entire movie

[horstrnr]

He had a whole generation of women melting....this movie caused quite a stir, it was considered very risque for the time

[StellianAriolus]

And for good reason *chuckle*

[vickytaspartan]

why put out the full film??

[hallospacegirl1013]

This is like a scene from a Harlequin Romance. I LOVEZ IT! Several things: First, her clothes make her look like the sugarplum fairy. Not the most flattering cut. Second, Valentino does this awesome thing with his eyes, where he's at first just looking at her like this -.- and then he's like @.@

And the girl's like *.*

[davidputrino]

hahaha omg

[heavyweightchampion7]

what happened to the whole version that once was watchable here on youtube?

[Liebling05]

Rudolph Valentino was sooo fiiiiiine! The original sexy beast baby!

[Ivyandstone]

Excellent movie. He died too young. (It's kind of funny that he says, "Do you know how beautiful you are?" and steps aside, and then the next full length shot of Agnes Ayres shows her in a rather unflattering pose.)

[pendlemania]

Great but I wonder how he would have fared had he lived into the sounde era. A lot would have depended on what kind of voice he had I suppose

[lizclegg]

That was hilarious. Thank you very much.

[2trikki]

He was a sensual, beautiful, charming man. Bless you Valentino!

[GoneWiththeWindLove]

This movie is the best =]]

[LucanWolf1]

Great video clip.

[SyndromeOfChoice]

please put the original up,it's so much more beautiful :)

[SyndromeOfChoice]

wha did u change the music??the original music is amazing!

[80stimeagain]

Valentino is hott just like Morten Harket of a-ha.

SEXY !

[crupprecht1]

This is what started it all for me. Thanks for posting!

[shelayne4]

Gorgeous Hunk of Man! I have loved him ever since I saw the Sheik! Haven't seen a sample of "Man" that comes close!!

[creamofcardstv]

Your video clip is great and I've rated it as awesome. Please check out mine of some old tobacco cards of silent movie stars. They include Rudolph Valentino and many others.

[hippolyte90]

Liked this clip! Upload more?