The fabled Spanish hero Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar (a.k.a. El Cid) overcomes a family vendetta and court intrigue to defend Christian Spain against the Moors.
Director:
Anthony Mann
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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 |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Storyline
Epic movie of the legendary Spanish hero, Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar (Charlton Heston) ("El Cid" to his followers), who, without compromising his strict sense of honor, still succeeds in taking the initiative and driving the Moors from Spain. Written by Stewart M. Clamen <clamen@cs.cmu.edu>
Plot Keywords:
spanish history | reconquista | spain | epic | christian muslim conflict |Taglines:
Lover, Leader, Living Legend! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Release Date:
14 December 1961 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El Sid See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$6,250,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (some 35 mm prints)| 4-Track Stereo (35 mm prints)| 70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System)Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1
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(uncredited)
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Music by Miklós Rózsa
Performed by Chorus
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
By the time this was released, Allied Artists (formerly Monogram) had ceased production and was only distributing independent productions. The rights for the Western Hemisphere were acquired from Producer Samuel Bronston. This gave Allied Artists its first full-blown epic, which was given a roadshow presentation followed by a general release. Two years later, it distributed Bronston's 55 Days at Peking (1963). See more »Goofs
The bearded assassin who kills Prince Sancho gets his comeuppance from the Cid outside the castle gates. The same character is later seen in the background during Cid's deathbed scene. See more »Alternate Versions
1993 reissue restores 16 minutes of "lost" footage. See more »Soundtracks
The Falcon and the Dove(uncredited)
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Music by Miklós Rózsa
Performed by Chorus
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.