I read the book many years ago, and also read a biography on Rudolph Valentino. At last I have finally got to watch the film on DVD. To me it was a lesson in how not to do two things at the same time. To truly watch a silent movie you really can't be doing something else. Not a bad thing really. Seeing the facial expressions told the story as much as the lovely old script text, and piano music. I wonder if modern day actors and actresses could convey the story and how they are feeling today. I am sure that a lot of women would still "swoon" at Rudolph Valentino when he gives that magnetic smile, not to mention the men with the contrasting emotions of feisty to demure of Agnes Ayers. A good old fashioned romance with a happy ending, but like all films,never a clone of the book. Definitely worth viewing, if only for nostalgia's sake.
Review of The Sheik
