Son of the Sheik (1926)
Rudolph Valentino was the movies' first great male sex symbol. His hooded eyes sent out a sulfurous stare. His roguish Italian face, domesticated with a dimple, promised epiphany and orgasm. He could be brutal or gentle, to women who would take it both ways. A superb athlete who popularized the tango in America, he was a man's man and a ladies' man. In this silent film, a sequel to his 1921 hit, he plays a Moroccan prince, fightin' and ridin' with the Arabs, lovin' and hurtin' pretty Vilma Banky. It was his last picture. His death, at 31, cued hysterical mob scenes. You'll find his legacy in dreamboat actors from Tyrone Power to Johnny Depp, and in Sheik condoms, which for decades bore Valentino's silhouette on the package. Make the acquaintance of this Latin Lover on DVD; 80 years later, he's still to swoon for.