El Cid (1961)

The fabled Spanish hero Rodrigo Diaz (a.k.a. El Cid) overcomes a family vendetta and court intrigue to defend Christian Spain against the Moors.

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Fredric M. Frank (story), Philip Yordan (screenplay)

Stars:

Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, Raf Vallone

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlton Heston	...	El Cid Rodrigo de Vivar
Sophia Loren	...	Jimena
Raf Vallone	...	Count Ordóñez
Geneviève Page	...	Princess Urraca (as Genevieve Page)
John Fraser	...	Prince Alfonso
Gary Raymond	...	Prince Sancho
Hurd Hatfield	...	Arias
Massimo Serato	...	Fanez
Frank Thring	...	Al Kadir
Michael Hordern	...	Don Diego
Andrew Cruickshank	...	Count Gormaz
Douglas Wilmer	...	Moutamin
Tullio Carminati	...	Priest
Ralph Truman	...	King Ferdinand
Christopher Rhodes	...	Don Martín

Storyline

Epic film of the legendary Spanish hero, Rodrigo Diaz ("El Cid" to his followers), who, without compromising his strict sense of honour, still succeeds in taking the initiative and driving the Moors from Spain.

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Plot Keywords:

spanish history | reconquista | spain | epic | christian muslim conflict | 

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Taglines:

The GREATEST ROMANCE and ADVENTURE in a THOUSAND YEARS!

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

English Latin Italian

Release Date:

14 December 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

El Sid

Filming Locations:

Sevilla Studios, Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$6,250,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$26,620,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Bronston Productions,Dear Film Produzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

182 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (some 35 mm prints) 4-Track Stereo (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was partly funded by the fascist regime of General Francisco Franco. It was heavily promoted as pro-Franco propaganda when it was released in Spain. Franco actively supported Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy during World War II, although he did not formally join the Axis Powers.

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Goofs

The little girl at the well speaks with the voice of a woman many years her senior.

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Quotes

El Cid: People of Valencia! I bring you bread!

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Alternate Versions

(spoiler) In some Muslim countries, the film was nearly banned until the censors thought of a better idea, which was to simply cut out the entire climax of the film, so instead of showing the dead El Cid lead his army to victory against the Moors, they simply ended it at his deathbed.

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Connections

Referenced in Edición Especial Coleccionista: Phineas y Ferb: A traves de la 2ª Dimensión (2013)

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Soundtracks

The Falcon and the Dove
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Music by Miklós Rózsa
Performed by Chorus

User Reviews

This is a keeper

As a movie El Cid grows on you. At first it is the story of a relatively ordinary man whose trip to his wedding is interrupted by a battle between the Moors and the Christians of 11th century Spain. But this is no ordinary man. Or perhaps he is an ordinary man who is destined to do extraordinary things. Early on he is forced to kill his fiancé's father as a matter of family honor, thus earning the enmity of his fiancé, who nonetheless cannot stop loving him, however hard she tries. And much of the story is devoted to the doomed nature of their love, as historical events continue to overtake the plans they would rather make. And with each new episode El Cid's stature grows, from warrior to hero to legend to mythic figure. Even in exile he has a following. And if the script is not true to history, this film still does a great service to the memory of a great man who put God and country ahead of himself. Something extra must be said about the crowd scenes. There were real people out there, not multiple CGI images made to look like the hordes that are a part of all epics. Over 30,000 costumes were made for this movie and General Franco donated the Spanish army to fill them. The difference is stunning, and sobering. There is a reality to the battle scenes that simply doesn't obtain in later movies such as Gladiator or Lord of the Rings. Now that old films such as this are so readily available in various formats we are presented with the dilemma of deciding which ones should occupy our bookshelves, to return to again, to remember a detail, or to reclaim the feeling that the story may create. In terms of the greatness, the mission and the struggles of the human spirit, this one's a keeper.