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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Title: El Cid (1961)
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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 |
Learn more
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
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>
Taglines:
Lover, Leader, Living Legend! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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El Cid: Jimena.
Jimena: Would you take me with you?
El Cid: But... now I... have nowhere to take you.
Jimena: As long as we are together it will not be nowhere. I love you Rodrigo. I love you.
[They kiss]
El Cid: You know what you risk if you come with me, my love?
Jimena: Since my love is not a man like other men my life with not be like other lives.
El Cid: It's only now, only know that I know... how hard the road would have been without you.
[They kiss again]
See more »
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Music by Miklós Rózsa
Performed by Chorus
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren reportedly got off on the wrong foot early in filming which set a bad tone for their working relationship for the rest of the shoot. Heston later said he regretted the way he behaved towards Loren during filming, feeling in retrospect that he'd been unprofessional and unfair to her and wished he'd been kinder and less stubborn towards her. See more »Goofs
The little girl at the well speaks with the voice of a woman many years her senior. See more »Quotes
Jimena: Can you forgive me, Rodrigo?El Cid: Jimena.
Jimena: Would you take me with you?
El Cid: But... now I... have nowhere to take you.
Jimena: As long as we are together it will not be nowhere. I love you Rodrigo. I love you.
[They kiss]
El Cid: You know what you risk if you come with me, my love?
Jimena: Since my love is not a man like other men my life with not be like other lives.
El Cid: It's only now, only know that I know... how hard the road would have been without you.
[They kiss again]
See more »
Alternate Versions
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. 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
See more »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Release Date:
14 December 1961 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El Cid 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:
2.25 : 1Contribute to This Page
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I was debating how to vote on this one as it is one of my favorite movies of all time, and only if I felt something was missing would I not give it a 10.
Well I couldn't think of a single thing missing or that could've been done better in this movie, so this is the first 10/10 or 5/5 I have given. Seriouslly, its that good.
I am very particular about my movies. There has to be good story, characters, action, cinematography and attention to detail and authenticity.
El Cid has all this and more. The characters are compelling and real, both noble and craven. The story is based on a real person and real location and events, although I am sure some liberties have been taken to dramatize things during this Spanish/moorish conflict. Costumes seem authentic, and there is plenty of action for all so long as you don't mind the long periods of drama between them. And frankly, I give this movie a capitol D for drama!
This is the kind of classic epic that moves you emotionally and draws you in, you feel for the characters and are awed by the events. If you like historical/medieval drama, watch El Cid. It is a classic.