“SON OF THE SHEIK ” TO BE CONTINUED ALL THIS WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18010, 22 November 1926, Page 7

“SON OF THE SHEIK ” TO BE CONTINUED ALL THIS WEEK.

RUDOLPH VALENTINO NOW AT GRAND THEATE.

Owing to the enormous popularity of “The Son of the Sheik,” the United Artists’ production that has had such a phenomenal success at the Grand Theatre all last week, it has been decided to extend the season until next Saturday. This is the last picture made by the late Rudolph Valentino. Great interest is always attached to the pictures of this star, no matter what rolo or what types of character he is portraying, but the fact that this film is a sequel to “The Sheik,” the drama that brought him no ephemeral fame, should be an added incentive to its popularity. Every attribute of modern drama, with the modern twist to boot, is blended together in this pictqre by the vibrant personality of the star. Whether, tense drama is holding the stage or lilting comedy or the thundering thrills of desert life, everything is glamorous and insistent with his insistent influence. But primarily, even considering the occasionally rugged and sensational nature of the story, “The Son of the Sheik ” is emotional drama. That must necessarily be, for Valentino is now numbered among the great lovers of history. He and Vilma Banky constitute as decorative and effective a pair of emotional artists as has ever appeared before a camera. There Is a restraint about theii’ romance that never interferes with its picturesqueness, and at all times is Valentino the masterly male so beloved of the feminine heart, for some will have it that it is only man tbe master than women will heed. At all events, he has left all his other characterisations far behind, and with an abandon, a courage, a zest, he enacts tho varied emotions and shades of a role that is full of profound possibilities. His talent, after all, is so boundless, that he can afford to be profligate. But, although the star in the title role, commands one’s first interest, Vilma Banky, as leading lady, is just as interesting and effective in her part. It is not by her beauty alone that Miss Banky scores so heavily. She possesses a cultured talent and an old-world personality that are, somehow, in delightful harmony with the character she plays. She lends an artistic stability to the picture that would be entirely lacking without her. “The Son of the Sheik,” however, does not content itself with a wealth of histrionic talent arid fictional interest alone. It is an Oriental story, not the stereotyped Arabian Nights kind, but the bounding, adventurous drama of the desert, and as such is made on a lavish scale. Sets of extreme beauty and magnificence lend poise and dignity to the picture, and, taken as a whole, tire production is one of the few really noteworthy films of the year. The Grand Quality Orchestra will play a special orchestral programme of music during the ‘ sessions. Box plans are at the Bristol Piano Company, where . seats . may be reserved.