The White Sheik – 1927 | 95mins | Adventure | B&W

Plot Synopsis

The White Sheik was adapted from King’s Mate, a novel by author-explorer Rosita Forbes. Wandering into the Arabian foothills, English girl Rosemary Tregarthen (Lillian Hall-Davis) is kidnapped by the Riffs. She is brought before the tribal leader, the mysterious White Sheik (Jameson Thomas). Though he means her no harm, the Sheik cannot permit Rosemary to leave, lest she reveal the Riffs’ hiding place. The villain of the piece, the Sheik’s rival Menhebbe (Clifford McLaglen), offers to help her escape – but at the price of her virtue. Rescued from Menhebbe’s clutches by the White Sheik, Rosemary instantly falls in love with her saviour, and later proves her devotion by saving his life. This bit of Valentinoesque exotica was the first-ever production from British International Pictures. © Hal Erickson