El Cid (1961)
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- Approved
- 3h 2min
- Biography, Drama
- 14 Dec 1961 (USA)
- Movie
The fabled Spanish hero Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (a.k.a. El Cid) overcomes a family vendetta and court intrigue to defend Christian Spain against the Moors.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 10 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Charlton Heston | ... |
El Cid Rodrigo de Vivar
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| Sophia Loren | ... |
Jimena
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| Raf Vallone | ... |
Count Ordóñez
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| Geneviève Page | ... |
Princess Urraca
(as Genevieve Page)
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| John Fraser | ... |
Prince Alfonso
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| Gary Raymond | ... |
Prince Sancho
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| Hurd Hatfield | ... |
Arias
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| Massimo Serato | ... |
Fanez
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| Frank Thring | ... |
Al Kadir
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| Michael Hordern | ... |
Don Diego
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| Andrew Cruickshank | ... |
Count Gormaz
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| Douglas Wilmer | ... |
Moutamin
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| Tullio Carminati | ... |
Priest
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| Ralph Truman | ... |
King Ferdinand
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| Christopher Rhodes | ... |
Don Martín
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| Carlo Giustini | ... |
Bermúdez
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| Gérard Tichy | ... |
King Ramírez
(as Gerard Tichy)
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| Fausto Tozzi | ... |
Dolfos
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| Barbara Everest | ... |
Mother Superior
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Katina Noble | ... |
Nun
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| Nerio Bernardi | ... |
Soldier
(as Nelio Bernardi)
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Franco Fantasia | ... |
Soldier
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| Herbert Lom | ... |
Ben Yussuf
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Omero Capanna | ... |
Fighter (uncredited)
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| Luis Fernández de Eribe | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Antonio Mayans | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Paul Muller | ... |
Arabian Assistant Doctor (uncredited)
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| Paul Naschy | ... |
Extra (uncredited) (rumored)
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| Rosalba Neri | ... |
Harem Girl (uncredited)
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| Virgilio Teixeira | ... |
(uncredited)
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José Terrón | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Anthony Mann | ||
Written by
| Fredric M. Frank | ... | (story) |
| Philip Yordan | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Fredric M. Frank | ... | (screenplay) |
| Ben Barzman | ... | (screenplay) (originally uncredited) |
Produced by
| Samuel Bronston | ... | producer |
| Jaime Prades | ... | associate producer |
| Michal Waszynski | ... | associate producer (as Michael Waszynski) |
Music by
| Miklós Rózsa | ... | (as Miklos Rozsa) |
Cinematography by
| Robert Krasker | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Robert Lawrence | ||
Editorial Department
| Magdalena Paradell | ... | assistant to editor |
| Stephen Durbridge | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
Production Design by
| Veniero Colasanti | ||
| John Moore | ||
Set Decoration by
| Veniero Colasanti | ||
| John Moore | ||
Costume Design by
| Veniero Colasanti | ||
| John Moore | ||
Makeup Department
| Grazia De Rossi | ... | hair stylist |
| Mario Van Riel | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Leon Chooluck | ... | production manager |
| Guy Luongo | ... | production manager |
| Tadeo Villalba | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Yakima Canutt | ... | second unit director |
| José López Rodero | ... | assistant director (as José Lopez Rodero) |
| José María Ochoa | ... | assistant director |
| Luciano Sacripanti | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Stanley Detlie | ... | property master (as Stan Detlie) |
| Maciek Piotrowski | ... | paintings and drawings |
| José María Alarcón | ... | assistant set decorator (uncredited) |
| Luis Esquinas Sanchez | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Julián Martín | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Gil Parrondo | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
| Francisco Prósper | ... | construction coordinator (uncredited) |
| Emilio Ruiz del Río | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
| Vicente Sempere Sempere | ... | assistant set decorator (uncredited) |
| Jose Velazquez | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Verna Fields | ... | sound editor |
| Gordon K. McCallum | ... | re-recording |
| Jack Solomon | ... | sound recordist |
Special Effects by
| Jack Erickson | ... | special effects |
| Alex Weldon | ... | special effects |
| Antonio Baquero | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Antonio Bueno | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Antonio Parra | ... | special effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Pablo Pérez | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Buff Brady | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Jerry Brown | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Alfio Caltabiano | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Joe Canutt | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Tap Canutt | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Omero Capanna | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Enzo Musumeci Greco | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Miguel Pedregosa | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Jack Williams | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Manuel Berenguer | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| Carl Gibson | ... | head grip |
| John Harris | ... | camera operator (as John Harriss) |
| Norton Kurland | ... | supervising electrician |
| Federico G. Grau | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Gloria Musetta | ... | wardrobe director |
Music Department
| Edna Bullock | ... | music editor |
| Douglas Gamley | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Ian Gardiner | ... | assistant music editor (uncredited) |
| Münchner Symphoniker | ... | music performer (uncredited) |
| Lucie Svehlova | ... | orchestra leader: Tadlow re-recording (uncredited) |
| Eugene Zador | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Pat Miller | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Samuel Bronston | ... | presenter |
| Diego Fabbri | ... | Italian version by (writing credits locked by WGA) |
| Armondo Linus Acosta | ... | design consultant (uncredited) |
| Enzo Musumeci Greco | ... | fencing instructor (uncredited) |
| Robert Rietty | ... | voice dubbing: Massimo Serato (uncredited) |
| Julio Sempere | ... | second assistant to director (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Samuel Bronston Productions
- Dear Film Produzione (in association with)
Distributors
- Allied Artists Pictures (1961) (United States) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors (1961) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as Rank Film Distributors Ltd)
- British Empire Films Australia (1961) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Hafbo (1961) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- J. Arthur Rank Film (1962) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968) (United States) (tv)
- Lii-Filmi (1973) (Finland) (theatrical)
- New Gold Entertainment (1980) (Italy) (tv)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1982) (Finland) (tv)
- Columbia Pictures Television (1983) (United States) (tv)
- Vestron Video International (1983) (Australia) (video)
- Vestron Video (1983) (United States) (video) (CED VideoDisc)
- Media Home Entertainment (1984) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan for VCI Home Entertainment)
- Barium Video (Finland) (VHS)
- Inter Vision (Finland) (VHS)
- Lightning Video (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- Mistar (Finland) (VHS)
- UFA Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Breien Film (1987) (Norway) (VHS)
- Miramax (1993) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Best Film & Video Corp. (1994) (United States) (VHS) (restored version)
- Best Film and Video (1994) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan on 2 tapes)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (Finland) (tv)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
- Star Media Entertainment (2002) (Norway) (DVD)
- e-m-s the DVD-Company (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- Video Film Express (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Classicline (Brazil) (DVD)
- Video Film Express (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (remastered)
- Black Hill Pictures (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
- Black Hill Pictures (2009) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
- VL-Musiikki (2013) (Finland) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Divisa Home Video (2014) (Spain) (DVD)
- WVG Medien (2017) (Germany) (DVD)
- WVG Medien (2017) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2021) (Australia)
- NBC Universal Entertainment (2016) (Japan) (Blu-ray)
- NHK BS Premium (2006) (Japan) (tv)
- NHK-BS2 (1992) (Japan) (tv)
- The Criterion Collection (United States) (laserdisc)
- Tohokushinsha (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
- Vestron Video International (Japan) (video) (Video 8)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Munich Symphony Orchestra (music)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Eleventh century Spain is divided into Christian kingdoms and Moorish strongholds. The young Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar (Charlton Heston), dubbed "El Cid" by his followers, vows to see his country at peace, free from the invaders. Vigorously brave and resourceful, the noble knight hates bloodshed and faces treason charges at court for the clemency shown to some emirs. His accuser, Gormaz (Andrew Cruickshank), father of his fiancée, Jimena (Sophia Loren), dies in the resulting duel. Jimena's avowed vengeance plot fails and Rodrigo is given her hand. The marriage is not consummated and she enters a convent. On Ferdinand's (Ralph Truman's) death, his kingdom is divided amongst his three children. Sancho (Gary Raymond) challenges the decision and imprisons Alfonso (John Fraser), who is released by El Cid. The African warlord, Ben Yussuf (Herbert Lom), takes advantage of the quarrel by having Sancho assassinated. Alfonso now claims that throne, too, and exiles El Cid. Jimena realizes the nobility of her husband and joins him, but returns to the convent with their two children, when he goes into battle against Ben Yussuf. The years pass, El Cid becomes a revered warrior, but refuses to aid Alfonso, preferring his own strategy. He lays siege to Valencia, catapulting food into its starving garrison. When the Valencians kill their evil ruler, Al Kadir (Frank Thring), they offer the crown to El Cid. He sends it to Alfonso, who rushes, hysterically gratified, to his side. But El Cid has been hit by a stray arrow. Attended by Jimena, he hides the wound from his men and prepares a final bid to drive the Moors from Spain. Written by alfiehitchie |
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| Taglines | The GREATEST ROMANCE and ADVENTURE in a THOUSAND YEARS! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $6,250,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | According to the legend of El Cid, in his youth Rodrigo came across a leper sinking in quicksand crying for help, but none of the bystanders dared touch him. Rodrigo pulled him from the bog, clothed him in his cloak, housed him in a barn, and went to get him some food. When he returned, he found the leper had transformed into an angelic figure that identified himself as St. Lazarus. He said "For your bravery and kindness, you will enjoy success as a warrior. You will win battles upon battles and never know defeat." In a nice nod to the legend, this movie contains a scene wherein the banished Rodrigo encounters a thirsty leper who begs a drink. After unhesitatingly offering his own pouch, the Leper thanks him by name. "Who are you?" asks Rodrigo. "I am called Lazarus", the leper answers. Then he crosses Rodrigo with his staff. "May helping hands be extended to you everywhere you go, my Cid." See more » |
| Goofs | Alone and on horseback, Rodrigo confronts a group of mounted guards escorting the prince to a dungeon. In response to Rodrigo's demand for the release of the prisoner, the captain of the guard laughingly says, "There are thirteen of us, and you are alone!" In the ensuing fight, Rodrigo, with some help from the prince, unhorses sixteen guards, and two remaining mounted ones flee, for a total of eighteen. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Wizards (1977). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Falcon and the Dove See more » |
| Quotes |
Moutamin:
[after El Cid claims Valencia for the King]
What a noble subject, if only he had a noble King. See more » |