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The Sheik backdrop

The Sheik

1921·Adventure·1h 26m
7.0
★
Sheik Ahmed desperately desires feisty British socialite Diana, so he abducts her and carries her off to his luxurious tent-palace in the desert. The free-spirited Diana recoils from his passionate embraces and yearns to be released. Later, allowed to go into the desert, she escapes and makes her way across the sands...
Directed by George Melford
silent film
YouTube
Trailer
IMDB
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Amazon VideoApple TV StoreAmazon Video

Cast

Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan
Agnes Ayres
Agnes Ayres
Lady Diana Mayo
George Waggner
George Waggner
Yousaef - Tribal Chieftain (as George Waggener)
Frank Butler
Frank Butler
Sir Aubrey Mayo
Charles Brinley
Charles Brinley
Mustapha Ali - Diana's Guide (as Charles Brindley)
Lucien Littlefield
Lucien Littlefield
Gaston - French Valet
Adolphe Menjou
Adolphe Menjou
Dr. Raoul de St. Hubert
Walter Long
Walter Long
Omair - the Bandit
Sally Blane
Sally Blane
Arab Child (uncredited)
Natacha Rambova
Natacha Rambova
Arab Dancer (uncredited)
Loretta Young
Loretta Young
Arab Child (uncredited)
Polly Ann Young
Polly Ann Young
Arab Child (uncredited)

Crew

George Melford
George Melford
Director

Popular Reviews

21 reviews
adalbert
adalbert
3.0★ · 06/08/26
The Sheik
trying to explode Rudolph Valentino and Lady Mayonnaise with my mind
trying to explode Rudolph Valentino and Lady Mayonnaise with my mind
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christy
christy
4.0★ · 02/13/26
The Sheik
*5 out of 35 for the 2026 Classic Film Challenge*

This is my first Rudolph Valentino film. Yes he was charismatic and hot but this was bland and quite problematic. Hollywood sexism and racism is very apparent. But everything was actually okay because the entire time he was secretly British and Spanish. The logic behind the story also made little sense at times. And hello Adolphe Menjou!
*5 out of 35 for the 2026 Classic Film Challenge*

This is my first Rudolph Valentino film. Yes he was charismatic and hot but this was bland and quite problematic. Hollywood sexism and racism is very apparent. But everything was actually okay because the entire time he was secretly British and Spanish. The logic behind the story also made little sense at times. And hello Adolphe Menjou!
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Eclectic Sorcerer
Eclectic Sorcerer
2.0★ · 07/02/25
The Sheik
ugggggggghhhhh
ugggggggghhhhh
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Eclectic Sorcerer
Eclectic Sorcerer
2.0★ · 07/02/25
The Sheik
ugggggggghhhhh
ugggggggghhhhh
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ChaiclassicsPRO
4.0★ · 04/05/25
The Sheik
Umm? Yayy for the racism, islamophobia and the misogyny, how we love that 🥹🫶 really though it was so boring I sped it up and gave up after a while. Valentino has his appeal but I do not know why the 1921 girlies were going crazy over this film?!?!
Umm? Yayy for the racism, islamophobia and the misogyny, how we love that 🥹🫶 really though it was so boring I sped it up and gave up after a while. Valentino has his appeal but I do not know why the 1921 girlies were going crazy over this film?!?!
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