The fifth annual silent movie event at the Sunrise Theater will be a presentation of the most legendary of all screen lovers: Rudolph Valentino in his most famous movie, "Son of the Sheik" Saturday, March 14, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

This annual film presentation has proven to be one of the Sunrise's most popular events, with sold-out crowds. Dave Drazin, of Chicago, will once again dazzle audiences with his skill on the piano as he provides the accompaniment for the film.

Rudolph Valentino's name still epitomizes the romantic leading man in the cinema 83 years after his premature death at age 31 in 1926.

No star's passing since Valentino has caused a greater national mourning with headlines around the country emblazoning his death and the streets of New York filled with mourners outside the funeral parlor.

"Son of the Sheik" was, unfortunately, his last movie and is considered by many to be his best. As the proud and adventurous Ahmed, he fights his way through the desert sands against a band of rogues, exacts revenge for being betrayed, and captures the love of the beautiful Jasmin in the end.

The story finds Ahmed, the son of a wealthy sheik, meeting a beautiful young girl, Jasmin, secretly among some ruins in the dark of night -- away from the band of traveling performers and rogues that her father leads. However, they are discovered, and Ahmed is captured and beaten by the rogues.

He is led to believe -- incorrectly -- that Jasmin betrayed him. Fighting his way through a den of ruffians, he kidnaps her from a caf where her troupe is performing and exacts his revenge by taking her back to his desert hideaway and having his way with her.

Releasing her back to her troupe, he later learns that Jasmin did not betray him -- and this time determines to rescue her from the band of rogues -- but not without having to face and defeat the evil Gahbah.

"Son of the Sheik" is high adventure and passionate romance from beginning to end. There is non-stop action that -- along with the expert accompaniment of Drazin -- will keep the viewer entranced for the entire film.

Valentino's co-star, Vilma Banky, was one of the cinema's loveliest and most popular stars during the silent era and plays the role of the beautiful Jasmin to perfection.

Valentino and Douglas Fairbanks (who was featured in last year's silent movie event) are the two early stars who set the precedent for later swashbucklers, swordsmen, adventurers and heroic figures in the movies played in subsequent years by such stars as Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Stewart Granger, Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones movies and even Johnny Depp in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films.

As an added treat, the Sunrise will begin the program with Buster Keaton's hilarious comedy short, "One Week," which takes the stone-faced comedian and his new bride through their disaster-filled first week of marriage and the construction of their pre-fab house -- 1920s style.

Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under for the evening performance at 7:30 p.m. and $10 for adults and $8 for students for the matinee at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Sunrise Theater Office next door to the theater at 244 NW Broad Street in Southern Pines during operating hours, online at www.sunrisetheater.com or at the box office prior to each performance.

For more information, call the Sunrise Theater at 692-8501 or visit the Web site at www.sunrisetheater.com.