Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

The Sheik Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 27, 2021

Paramount has released the 100-year old silent film era classic 'The Sheik,' starring then-heartthrob Rudolph Valentino, to Blu-ray as part of the studio's prestigious 'Paramount Presents' line. The film has been resorted to the best of the studio's ability (see the "Video" section of the review below for more on Paramount's arduous restoration efforts). A new score, composed and performed by Roger Bellon, is also included in the Dolby TrueHD 2.0 lossless encode. One new retrospective supplement is included. The film was previously released to Blu-ray in 2017 by Kino Lorber and included a different score track as well as a couple of supplements not available with this release.

Official synopsis: Rudolph Valentino is Ahmed Ben Hassan, a charming Arabian sheik who becomes infatuated with the adventurous, modern-thinking Englishwoman Lady Diana Mayo, played by Agnes Ayres. When the sheik abducts Lady Diana, the two clash, but ultimately profess their love for one another in this quintessential 'desert romance' that effectively capitalized on the popularity of the genre.

For a few thoughts on the film, please see Brian Orndorf's writing accompanying the 2017 Kino Blu-ray by clicking here.

The Sheik Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Paramount includes this text with its press release: 'The Sheik' restoration employed modern technology so viewers can experience the original beauty of this monumental silent film. Since original negatives for silent films rarely exist, Paramount searched the world for the best elements and used a print and an intermediate element called a fine grain. One source of the film yielded better results for image quality, another for intertitles. One of the elements was "stretch-printed" and had to be adjusted digitally during the restoration process. In the silent era there was no standard frame rate, so stretch printing was done to show silent films at 24 frames per second. In addition, tints and tones were digitally applied, guided by an original continuity script from the Paramount archive. The result is the best picture quality 'The Sheik' has had since it was originally shown in theaters 100 years ago.

In other words, it was quite the challenge to bring The Sheik to Blu-ray with some semblance of accuracy and authenticity to the original structure, never mind simply "improving" upon 100 year old visuals. The image irrefutably and consistently shows some severe flickering and grievous signs of wear and tear, the former particularly evident on the text cards and the latter pretty much everywhere. Scratches abound, worse in some places than in others, again with the text cards usually serving as the worst offending parties. Yet even as the image is blatantly covered in scratches and pops and speckles, never once betraying its age in any way, it's quite watchable considering the age of the elements. While it lacks refinement, the treasure here is the overall clarity with which the core elements play on the screen through the parade of scratches. Viewers will appreciate the rather steadfast definition and clarity in place, the pleasing filmic veneer, wear-and-tear and all, that gives the movie a satisfyingly watchable front. Viewers will never be left wanting drastically improved textural clarity, revealing costumes and various interiors with plenty of fine detail and interior stability. The image looks good enough to allow audiences to soak in Valentino's handsome facial features and expressive eyes, for example, with tack-sharp clarity both in close-up and medium distance. Softness or murkiness are never seriously problems. Color tinting is respectable for consistency, with most of the movie taking on a golden-bronze-ish tint (some pink- and blue-dominant tints are intermittently dispersed throughout as well). It's certainly far removed from more modernized coloring but the visual tone it affords to any given scene allows the audience to appreciate the throwback, vintage charm. While this is not a traditionally "A-grade" image it certainly plays well within its natural confines and century-old constraints. All things considered, Paramount has just about nailed it.

The Sheik Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This particular version of The Sheik includes original music composed and performed by Roger Bellon (Ben Model supplied the music on the Kino release; one reason to double-dip would be to experience the film with two different takes on musical accompaniment). The supplied score is presented in Dolby TrueHD 2.0 lossless audio. The presentation is somewhat center-imaged. Front stretch is not limited but neither does the track seem to push the left and right front edges, either. Still, regardless of position, clarity is quite good. The composition is not overly robust or complicated, favoring a more gentle, less dynamic and involved approach. Clarity is fine, revealing the fine orchestral details and individual instrumental elements with impressive definition. Fans should be pleased with this composition and its Blu-ray presentation.

The Sheik Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Paramount brings The Sheik to Blu-ray with a single extra. Desert Heat: 100 Years with 'The Sheik' (1080p, 12:21) explores the film's popularity upon release, its influence on the culture of the time, cinema's growing popularity in the timeframe in which the film was released, the source novel on which the film was based and its familiar plot devices, Rudolph Valentino's life and legacy, and more. Unfortunately, none of the extras from the Kino release -- a commentary and a brief look at his funeral a few years after release, primarily -- are included. This release is the 25th in the "Paramount Presents" line and includes the slipcover with fold-open poster artwork as well as an inner print inside the Blu-ray case proper. A digital copy code is included with purchase.

The Sheik Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Sheik may not hold the attention of audiences accustomed to the hyper-aware pace and the bells-and-whistles-first landscape of today's cinema, but it is an important piece of Hollywood history not only for the production but for its star, who was born by this role and who would tragically die only a few years later. Paramount's Blu-ray looks about as good as can be reasonably expected of a 100-year-old film in 2021. The new score is fine (whether it fits is another debate altogether). Extras are limited to a simple 12-minute retrospective, a shame considering the picture's place in cinema annals. Film fans will want to check it out for its vintage look and place in cinema history alike. Recommended.