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IMDbPro

El Cid

  • 1961
  • Approved
  • 3h 2m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
15K
YOUR RATING
El Cid (1961)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer3:27
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory

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.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.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
    • Philip Yordan
    • Ben Barzman
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Sophia Loren
    • Raf Vallone
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    15K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Anthony Mann
    • Writers
      • Fredric M. Frank
      • Philip Yordan
      • Ben Barzman
    • Stars
      • Charlton Heston
      • Sophia Loren
      • Raf Vallone
    • 125User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 7 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:27
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos130

    Charlton Heston, Anthony Mann, and Gene Lester at an event for El Cid (1961)
    El Cid (1961)
    El Cid (1961)
    El Cid (1961)
    El Cid (1961)
    Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, and Hurd Hatfield in El Cid (1961)
    El Cid (1961)
    El Cid (1961)
    Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, and Hurd Hatfield in El Cid (1961)
    El Cid (1961)
    El Cid (1961)
    El Cid (1961)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • El Cid Rodrigo de Vivar
    Sophia Loren
    Sophia Loren
    • Jimena
    Raf Vallone
    Raf Vallone
    • Count Ordóñez
    Geneviève Page
    Geneviève Page
    • Princess Urraca
    • (as Genevieve Page)
    John Fraser
    John Fraser
    • Prince Alfonso
    Gary Raymond
    Gary Raymond
    • Prince Sancho
    Hurd Hatfield
    Hurd Hatfield
    • Arias
    Massimo Serato
    Massimo Serato
    • Fanez
    Frank Thring
    Frank Thring
    • Al Kadir
    Michael Hordern
    Michael Hordern
    • Don Diego
    Andrew Cruickshank
    Andrew Cruickshank
    • Count Gormaz
    Douglas Wilmer
    Douglas Wilmer
    • Moutamin
    Tullio Carminati
    Tullio Carminati
    • Priest
    Ralph Truman
    Ralph Truman
    • King Ferdinand
    Christopher Rhodes
    • Don Martín
    Carlo Giustini
    Carlo Giustini
    • Bermúdez
    Gérard Tichy
    Gérard Tichy
    • King Ramírez
    • (as Gerard Tichy)
    Fausto Tozzi
    Fausto Tozzi
    • Dolfos
    • Director
      • Anthony Mann
    • Writers
      • Fredric M. Frank
      • Philip Yordan
      • Ben Barzman(originally uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In some Muslim countries the entire climax is left out as it depicts the massacre of the Moors.
    • 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, un-horses sixteen guards, and two remaining mounted ones flee, for a total of eighteen.
    • Quotes

      Moutamin: [after El Cid claims Valencia for the King] What a noble subject, if only he had a noble King.

    • Alternate versions
      1993 reissue restores 16 minutes of "lost" footage.
    • Connections
      Edited into Wizards (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      The Falcon and the Dove
      (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster

      Music by Miklós Rózsa

      Performed by Chorus

    User reviews125

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Epic grandeur but also an intimate love story...
    EL CID takes its place among the great screen epics that never allow the eye-popping spectacle to dwarf the human characters--just as "Ben-Hur" was able to do. And who else to play the legendary and noble Spanish hero than CHARLTON HESTON. He's magnificent here, playing his central role with an almost Shakespearean grandeur, as do some of the other cast members, including HERBERT LOM, JOHN FRASER and GARY RAYMOND.

    So is the epic sweep of the tale and the intimate love story that begins when he is on his way to wed SOPHIA LOREN and finds himself asked to assume the mantle of leadership against the Moors in 11th century Spain. He makes the journey from peace-broker accused of treason to the King's fighting champion and later from exiled hero to legendary martyr.

    Aside from the brilliant cinematography, authentic looking locales and colorful costumes, Miklos Rozsa's score adds a great deal to the intensely dramatic intimate scenes as well as the epic battles, all the while suggesting some Spanish motifs amidst the heraldic fanfares and love theme.

    CHARLTON HESTON makes an impressive figure of El Cid, especially good in the final moments as the wounded leader who knows what he must ask his wife to do so that his followers do not lose heart after his death. RAF VALLONE as Count Ordonez, GENEVIEVE PAGE as Princess Urraca, JOHN FRASER as Prince Alfonso and GARY RAYMOND as Prince Sancho are all remarkable effective in strong supporting roles. In lesser roles, HURD HATFIELD and FRANK THRING bring their own brand of authority to minor parts.

    Anthony Mann and his assistant directors have done an outstanding job on all of the battle scenes and he never falters in telling the tale in strong dramatic terms. There's an intensity in the scenes between Loren and Heston after he has been forced to kill her father for humiliating his own father in front of the court. Whatever friction there was between Heston and Loren on the set, works for them here because her animosity toward him is a chilling thing to watch.

    The DVD has been wonderfully mastered and all of the Miklos Rozsa score sounds better than ever with Overture, Intermission and Exit music reminding us all what a treasure he was as a film composer.
    helpful•14
    1
    • Doylenf
    • May 7, 2008

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    FAQ2

    • Midwest Premiere Happened When & Where?
    • "El Cid"---Was It Filmed in Spain?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 14, 1961 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • United States
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • Arabic
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • El Sid
    • Filming locations
      • Torrelobaton Castle, Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain(for Vivar, El Cid's home town)
    • Production companies
      • Samuel Bronston Productions
      • Dear Film Produzione
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,250,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 2 minutes

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