The Sheik (1921) Paramount Presents - October 19, 2021

[SanCarolina59]

Paramount Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of One of the Most Iconic
Films of the Silent Era




Newly Restored Classic Debuts on Limited-Edition Blu-ray™ as Part of the Paramount Presents Line October 19, 2021 with New Special Features, Including a Fascinating Look at the Film
and its Enduring Power

​

Originally released in 1921 at the height of the nation’s appetite for motion pictures, the epic romantic drama THE SHEIK became a massive sensation, breaking box office records and earning over $1 million during its first year of release. 100 years later, Paramount Pictures celebrates this towering classic of the silent film era with a brand-new Blu-ray release, arriving as part of the Paramount Presents line on
October 19, 2021.



Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, THE SHEIK was directed by George Melford and stars the legendary Rudolph Valentino as the title character. The role helped propel Valentino into stardom and sealed his status as a Hollywood heartthrob—and the original “Latin Lover”—at the age of 26.



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.

While THE SHEIK was wildly successful, it did provoke controversy, much as the source material had upon its original publication in 1919. Many of the themes and controversial elements of the film are still being grappled with today, a subject that is explored in a new featurette on the Blu-ray with film historian and professor Leslie Midkiff DeBauche entitled “Desert Heat: 100 Years with The Sheik.” The disc also includes a music score by Roger Bellon and access to a Digital copy of the film.



As with all films released in the Paramount Presents line, THE SHEIK is presented with collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments.



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.




Paramount Presents: THE SHEIK

Street Date: October 19, 2021

U.S. Rating: Not Rated

[Maximux]

nice! will get this, thx for the news

[Gunsnroses092789]

Wow! Never expected Paramount to do silent titles... And Kino's edition is OOP.

[critterdvd]

This will be an oddball release for my collection, but I'm down to check it out.

[whiteberry]

Great news! I never expected them to release a silent movie in the Paramount Presents line.

[Ned Brainard]

I wonder how this will compare to Kino's release which was licensed from Paramount. The Roger Bellon score is from Paramount's 1990s VHS release so that's one major difference from the Kino. I'll probably pick this one up primarily to give Paramount some encouragement to release some other silent titles. I would particularly love to see the 4k remaster of The Wedding March released by Paramount assuming that Criterion's license doesn't include a total death grip.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by Ned Brainard

I wonder how this will compare to Kino's release which was licensed from Paramount. The Roger Bellon score is from Paramount's 1990s VHS release so that's one major difference from the Kino. I'll probably pick this one up primarily to give Paramount some encouragement to release some other silent titles. I would particularly love to see the 4k remaster of The Wedding March released by Paramount assuming that Criterion's license doesn't include a total death grip.

I will be picking this up also mostly to encourage Paramount to give us more of such ilk. I haven't seen the film or the Kino disc, but from the screen caps I've seen, looks solid. I'm assuming it's going to be a new master.

[MifuneFan]

I believe it says 25

[tylergfoster]

Originally Posted by Bolty

I can't read the number on it. Breakdown which is due in September is number 26. Does that say number 25? Coming out in October? Or does it possibly say 28 and they've also skipped number 27. LOL

Just saw the image on facebook and it very clearly says 25.

Perhaps it's just a case of the disc taking longer, and they don't think it's important enough to change the numbers just because one ended up coming out sooner than the other.

[Shanghai Express]

To say this is a pleasant surprise would be an understatement. I’d never have expected Paramount to release a silent on their own in 2021. I hope more are on the way. Maybe The Wedding March is coming?

[McCrutchy]

Wonderful news!

[yellowcakeuf6]

Does anyone know the history of this film? I've seen 3 different runtimes: 73, 80 and 86 minutes.

[kishiro]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

Does anyone know the history of this film? I've seen 3 different runtimes: 73, 80 and 86 minutes.

There might be some different edits out there, but most likely the main reason behind the difference in running-time between all these public domain releases is because of the different framerates used. They run at different speeds. Some of them are transferred as 24 fps in a 29.97 fps container. Some are 22, 20, 18 fps stretch-printed etc. I know of at least 5 different running-times (73min, 75 min, 80 min, 86 min). The Kino Lorber BD was 73 min, I suspect the new Paramount release will have the same running-time (but then again, maybe not).

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by SanCarolina59

While THE SHEIK was wildly successful, it did provoke controversy, much as the source material had upon its original publication in 1919. Many of the themes and controversial elements of the film are still being grappled with today, a subject that is explored in a new featurette on the Blu-ray with film historian and professor Leslie Midkiff DeBauche entitled “Desert Heat: 100 Years with The Sheik.”

I'm good with my KINO copy, but the packaging on this is great.

As for the documentary mentioned above, I will be interested to read some reviews for it. Seeing trigger words like "controversy" and "controversial" makes me hope it's not just one long apology for being an old movie from times when apparently no one on the planet was "enlightened." Incorporating such concerns into a well rounded discussion is warranted, but not at the expense of everything else.

Anyway, just a passing thought that occurred to me with absolutely no evidence that it will be anything of the sort and certainly no reason yet for any soapbox climbing. Thinking out loud, for better or worse.

[danny24]

Good news here is that some of the titles that Paramount licensed out to Kino Lorber could get released by Paramount themselves eventually. 1492: Conquest Of Paradise could use a better release with a new 4K remaster. Do I expect them to lay a finger on that one no. It's nice though to know it's at least a possibility now if they so please.

[Ned Brainard]

Originally Posted by kishiro

There might be some different edits out there, but most likely the main reason behind the difference in running-time between all these public domain releases is because of the different framerates used. They run at different speeds. Some of them are transferred as 24 fps in a 29.97 fps container. Some are 22, 20, 18 fps stretch-printed etc. I know of at least 5 different running-times (73min, 75 min, 80 min, 86 min). The Kino Lorber BD was 73 min, I suspect the new Paramount release will have the same running-time (but then again, maybe not).

The Roger Bellon score was recorded for the VHS release in the early 1990s, and it runs 86 minutes. That's probably what this new edition will run. I think that the independently produced David Shepard DVD had the same running time.

[traths]

I wonder if this means Wings will also get a 4K restoration.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by traths

I wonder if this means Wings will also get a 4K restoration.

Doubt it.

[Riwriwriw]

Wow! Very exciting, hopefully The Wedding March follows!

[Ned Brainard]

Originally Posted by Riwriwriw

Wow! Very exciting, hopefully The Wedding March follows!

If there is going to be at least one other silent released through Paramount Presents, The Wedding March is as good a candidate as any. It is the last silent from Paramount's VHS silents wave of the 1980s and 1990s not to have been revisited on DVD or blu, and it is arguably the most significant silent lacking any type of disc release (yes, I know that Greed, The Wind, and The Crowd all offer tough competition for that designation). Plus, the film now has a DCP from a fairly recent restoration done by Paramount in conjunction with the Library of Congress. The wrinkle is that the film has been seemingly licensed out. The Kino rep confirmed this a few years back, and there is a strong rumor that the third party licensor is Criterion. Since the restoration work is seemingly done and several scores are already available (the original 1928 synchronized score, Gaylord Carter, etc.), I keep hoping that this title will get announced soon by Criterion. The film is too good for Criterion just to sit on it year after year.