El Cid (1961)

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:

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 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.

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Plot Keywords:

spanish history | 11th century | reconquista | duel | king of spain | 

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Taglines:

The GREATEST ROMANCE and ADVENTURE in a THOUSAND YEARS!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Charlton Heston himself was not overly impressed by the finished movie, suggesting in his 1995 autobiography "In the Arena" that this movie might have been better if William Wyler had directed it instead of Anthony Mann. Conversely, he speculates that Ben-Hur (1959) may have been more effective with Mann, not Wyler, helming it. Heston recalled he once mentioned this idea to Wyler, who thought little of it.

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Goofs

When El Cid and his army are charging down the beach at Valencia the tire tracks from the camera truck are briefly visible in the sand.

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Quotes

Ben Yussuf: The Prophet has commanded us to rule the world. Where in all your land of Spain is the glory of Allah? When men speak of you they speak of poets, musicmakers, doctors, scientists. Where are your warriors? You dare to call youselves sons of the Prophet? You have become women! Burn your books! Make warriors of your poets! Let you doctors invent new poisons for our arrows. Let you scientists invent new war machines! And then, kill! Burn! Infidels live on your frontiers. Encourage them to kill each...

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Alternate Versions

1993 reissue restores 16 minutes of "lost" footage.

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Connections

Referenced in Nina Mann Interview (2008)

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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

Who played Lazarus

One of my favorite films. One of the great scenes is El Cid's meeting with a leper on the road to his banishment. 'Only one knight in Spain would humble his King and share his water with with a leper.' The player of Lazarus is totally uncredited - it sounds like Claud Rains? surely such a key contribution to the movie should not remain unacknowledeged forty years after its filming. Similarly the closing narration is uncredited as well. 'For Spain and God!'

Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

Italian Arabic English Latin

Release Date:

14 December 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

El Cid

Filming Locations:

Sevilla Studios, Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$6,250,000 (estimated)

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:

2.25 : 1