"The Sheik" *** (out of ****)I've discussed a lot of the great female stars of the silents era; Greta Garbo, Louise Brooks, Clara Bow, Lillian Gish and Marlene Dietrich but I haven't discussed any of the male figures of the silent era. Now I'm going to write about one of the most popular sex symbols of the era; Rudolph Valentino.
Rudolph Valentino was born in 1895 in Italy. He came to America in 1913. By 1914 he appeared in his first film as an extra in D.W. Griffith's "Battle of the Sexes". His first big break came in 1921 when he appeared in "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse". But it was his appearance in "The Sheik" (1921) that cemented him as a national sex symbol. By the time he made the film he had already appeared in 21 films. In total he acted in 37 movies but "The Sheik" is his most famous movie and the role he is most often associated with.
This is not his best performance however. But because it is his most popular movie I had to review this first as an introduction into his work. About half of the films he appeared in are now considered lost, of the remaining films I would say he gave better performances in "Beyond the Rocks" (1922) with Gloria Swanson, a film which was thought to be lost for many years until 2002. It was put on DVD in 2006. Also watch him in "The Eagle" (1926). He even gives a better performance in "The Son of the Sheik" (1926), his final film.
I have always meant to discuss Valentino on this blog. In my opinion, you cannot have a serious film blog and not discuss Valentino. He was one of the great icons of early cinema. His impact can not be overstated.
It is said when he died in 1926, that 100,000 people filled the streets of New York to pay their respects, a majority of them were women. It was even said some women committed suicide. Others fainted at the sight of his casket. Many have claimed these reports were exaggerated, while others have said it was all a publicity stunt.
Valentino was actually a divisive figure. While he was a big hit with the ladies, male audiences were not impressed. Some actually walked out on his movies, several found his love scenes laughable, jokes were made about all the vaseline used in his hair. There were even claims he was a homosexual. It is said men felt threatened by him. As a result they tried to knock him down.
I'm not jealous of Valentino but I must admit, I don't quite understand the appeal he had. As far as pure acting ability goes I think there were others much more talented. I'm a big Chaplin fan, but, of course, they were in different leagues. Chaplin wasn't a sex symbol. Of the leading men of the silent era I would say the greatest actor was John Barrymore. Incidentally, KINO has recently released a collection of Barrymore's silent films. I also like Douglas Fairbanks. And, though his name hasn't lived on the same way as Valentino and Fairbanks I'm also a fan of Conrad Nagel. Watch him in "The Mysterious Lady" (1928) with Greta Garbo, one of her great performances.
In "The Sheik" Valentino plays Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan who falls in love with Diana Mayo (Agnes Ayres) at first site. She is an English orphan. She is a modern woman who feels she does not need a man in her life to make her happy. She doesn't play by society's rules. She is planning a trip out in the desert on her own, with no male companion to escort her. She doesn't need one.
When these two characters meet, Diana isn't interested in him because he will be at a casino where only Arabs are allowed. Since Diana is use to getting her way, she doesn't like to be told she can't do something. So she decides to sneak into the casino and pretend to be an Arab woman. When the Sheik discovers her, he throws her out.
The next day when Diana is on a tour of the desert, the Sheik follows her and kidnaps her. He will force her to love him. And that is what the rest of the film is about. These two people trapped together. In some ways this reminds me of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew". Will Diana learn she can't always get her way? That in other cultures women must do what they are told. Will the Sheik be able to tame her and make her love him?
A Western friend of the Sheik, Raoul de St. Hubert (Adolphe Menjou) is coming to visit. Not knowing he has taken Diana prisoner. She is embarrassed to have one of her own see her treated this way.
Meanwhile a bandit, Omair (Walter Long) has seen Diana and now he too wants to kidnap her.
There is a lot of ugliness underneath the story of "The Sheik". Arabs usually find the performance by Valentino as racist. But there is much more than that. First of all, the whole treatment of women. Diana must learn her place in society, to submit herself to a man. The film was based on a book, and in the book the Sheik actually rapes Diana.
Because society could not deal with an interracial romance on-screen, it is revealed that the Sheik is not actually Arab. His parents were English and Spanish. They died in the desert when they were discovered by an Arab tribe which took the boy and made him one of their own. That is the only way the romance between the two characters would be seen as acceptable.
The other problems are with Valentino's performance. He is very animated. He engages in the usual wild hand gestures and overly expressive facial emotions most actors did in the silent era. Today's audiences find it laughable. Normally I defend these kind of performances, because it was accepted at the time. And I'll defend Valentino too. But with all those other great actors around it just strikes me as odd that it was Valentino that became the icon.
The supporting actors were also very famous as well. Adolphe Menjou was a ladies man as well. Often voted as one of the best dressed men in Hollywood. Watch him in "The Front Page" (1931) the original screen adaptation of Ben Hecht's play, which was later turned into "His Girl Friday" (1940), he played the Cary Grant part. Also watch him in "Morocco" (1930) with Marlene Dietrich, there was a movie way ahead of its time. And he even tried comedy, he appeared along side Harold Lloyd in "The Milky Way" (1936).
Walter Long as the bandit was also somewhat famous. He appeared in Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" (1915) but Laurel & Hardy fans know him as playing a bully opposite them. His most popular role might have been in "Going Bye-Bye" (1934) where he threatens if he ever sees "the boys" again, he'll rip off their legs and wrap them around their necks.
"The Sheik" for the most part is not really a bad film and if you are going to start watching the work of Valentino there is no way you cannot sit down and watch this film. It doesn't show him at his best but any one that considers themself a film lover has to see the film if only for its historical purposes.
"The Son of the Sheik" *** (out of ****)
If you don't like "The Sheik" try watching "The Son of the Sheik" (1926), it will make you appreciate the original more. "The Son of the Sheik" is at times an outlandish film. The beginning is all over the place with bits of comic relief which are extremely out of place. But once the film settles into its story, it becomes a somewhat interesting melodrama.
Valentino now plays both the father and son of his original character. This time around he has fallen under the influence of a dancer, Yasmin (Hungarian actress Vilma Banky). Her father, Andre (George Fawcett) does not want her to associate with Ahmed (Valentino), while Ahmed's father has already planned a bride for him.
If 'The Sheik" seemed to suggest "Taming of the Shrew" I guess "The Son of the Sheik" is a low rent version of "Romeo & Juliet".
Valentino personally picked Banky for the role. The two had appeared together in his previous film "The Eagle". Banky is much more attractive than Ayres, who also appears in the wife as the wife. And has a more natural presence.
As I said Valentino gives a better performance this time around. He tones it down a lot. Perhaps because of more experience or a change in acting styles. In this movie we can accept him more as a leading man.
Between the two films though I'd say "The Sheik" is the better of the two.
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