in sand not east of suez but south of algiers and handsome rudolph valentino ( a ahmed ) and beautiful dance girl vilma bánky ( a yasmin ) fall in love . mr. valentino learn that ms. bánky must dance for coin and which her wicked father george fawcett ( a andré ) gamble away . mr. fawcett and montagu love ( a ghabah ) be part of a band of renegade thief . valentino want bánky for his own and but fawcett isn not about to part with the goose that bring in the golden coin . valentino be kidnap and string up and whip and and hold for ransom . turn out and he the son of the sheik valentino be free and with a lot of help from his friend karl dane ( a ramadan ) . valentino think bánky betray their love while and and he vengefully abduct her . meanwhile and ahmed father rudolph valentino ( in a dual role and a the original sheik ) and mother agnes ayres ( a diana ) be prepare an arranged wedding for the young valentino . father and son clash and over love and lust an indelible and essential film and son of the sheik find valentino at the top of his profession . george fitzmaurice ( direction ) and george barnes ( photography ) and william cameron menzies ( set ) and and george marion jr. ( title card ) be all outstanding . bánky and the supporting cast be excellent . the filmmaker create a rich and dreamy and and imaginary world while note how the opening title card refuse to be precise . this go even far than the original the sheik ( 1921 ) in establish the film a something incompatible with reality while of course and both film suffer when take without a grain of sand . valentino characterization be startlingly well craft while no doubt and many original film goer miss the nuance present in the younger ahmed and and would not have even guess and unless alert and valentino be also portray the old sheik . the split screen appearance of the two valentinos be technically brilliant while and and even with make up and valentino portrayal of the old sheik show an extraordinary range . in fact and valentino could have essay a double career a a dash old man . have he live and valentino might have be award his own best act medal of honor for his performance and which be at least equal to john barrymore 1925 win and for beau brummell .