Saturday, July 29, 2017

The Son of the Sheik (1926): Rudolph Valentino's Final Film


     Directed by George Fitzmaurice, The Son of the Sheik (1926) would prove to be the final film for Silent Film heartthrob Rudolph Valentino. While on tour doing advance promotion for the film, Rudolph Valentino collapsed in his hotel room and was rushed to the hospital, where emergency surgery was done for a perforated ulcer. After surgery, Valentino developed peritonitis and died on August 23, 1926. He was 31 years old. The Son of the Sheik was formally and posthumously released two weeks later. The story concerns a wealthy nobleman that is seduced, and seemingly betrayed, by a beautiful gypsy girl... and his subsequent revenge. The Son of the Sheik was supposed to have been a "comeback role" for Valentino, whose career had suffered slightly since his early "lover role" successes. The cast is great, including Rudolph Valentino in dual roles as father and son, Vilma Banky and Agnes Ayres.

Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky: The Son of the Sheik. 1926

Rudolph Valentino: The Son of the Sheik. 1926

Rudolph Valentino: The Son of the Sheik. 1926

Rudolph Valentino: The Son of the Sheik. 1926

Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky: The Son of the Sheik. 1926

Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky: The Son of the Sheik. 1926

Rudolph Valentino: The Son of the Sheik. 1926

Rudolph Valentino Dead News Headline

The Funeral of Rudolph Valentino

The Funeral of Rudolph Valentino

Rudolph Valentino: The Son of the Sheik. 1926

a scene from "The Son of the Sheik"