George Fitzmaurice’s 1926 sequel to Rudolph Valentino’s first personal success, The Sheik, proved to be Valentino’s last film—he died from an illness apparently aggravated by harsh conditions on the desert location. Released posthumously, this turned out to be one of Valentino’s biggest successes, thus establishing what’s come to be known as the James Dean Law: there’s nothing like an early death to give your career a shot in the arm.