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The Castilian

Original title: El valle de las espadas
  • 19631963
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
4.9/10
157
YOUR RATING
The Castilian (1963)
  • Drama
The young leader of the Spanish kingdom of Castile tries to get the various warring kingdoms of Spain to unite and join forces against the invading Moors.The young leader of the Spanish kingdom of Castile tries to get the various warring kingdoms of Spain to unite and join forces against the invading Moors.The young leader of the Spanish kingdom of Castile tries to get the various warring kingdoms of Spain to unite and join forces against the invading Moors.
IMDb RATING
4.9/10
157
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Javier Setó
  • Writers
    • Anonymous(poem "Poema de Fernán González")
    • Paulino Rodrigo(story)
    • Luis de los Arcos(story)
  • Stars
    • Espartaco Santoni
    • Frankie Avalon
    • Cesar Romero
Top credits
  • Director
    • Javier Setó
  • Writers
    • Anonymous(poem "Poema de Fernán González")
    • Paulino Rodrigo(story)
    • Luis de los Arcos(story)
  • Stars
    • Espartaco Santoni
    • Frankie Avalon
    • Cesar Romero
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos

    The Castilian (1963)
    The Castilian (1963)
    The Castilian (1963)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    Espartaco Santoni
    Espartaco Santoni
    • Fernán Gonzálezas Fernán González
    Frankie Avalon
    Frankie Avalon
    • Jerifánas Jerifán
    Cesar Romero
    Cesar Romero
    • Jerónimoas Jerónimo
    • (as César Romero)
    Tere Velázquez
    Tere Velázquez
    • Sanchaas Sancha
    Tomás Blanco
    Tomás Blanco
    • Don Nuñoas Don Nuño
    Rafael Durán
    Rafael Durán
    • Gonzalo Díazas Gonzalo Díaz
    Germán Cobos
    Germán Cobos
    • Abderramánas Abderramán
    Alida Valli
    Alida Valli
    • Reina Teresaas Reina Teresa
    Fernando Rey
    Fernando Rey
    • Ramiro II, rey de Leónas Ramiro II, rey de León
    Broderick Crawford
    Broderick Crawford
    • Don Sanchoas Don Sancho
    Julio Peña
    Julio Peña
    • Iagoas Iago
    George Rigaud
    George Rigaud
    • Millánas Millán
    • (as Jorge Rigaud)
    Ángel del Pozo
    Ángel del Pozo
    • Don Garcíaas Don García
    Luis Induni
    Luis Induni
    • Capitánas Capitán
    Beni Deus
    Beni Deus
    • Íñigoas Íñigo
    • (as Beny Deus)
    José Calvo
    • Fraileas Fraile
    Paco Morán
    • Peribáñezas Peribáñez
    • (as Francisco Morán)
    Hugo Pimentel
    Hugo Pimentel
    • Bustiusas Bustius
    • Director
      • Javier Setó
    • Writers
      • Anonymous(poem "Poema de Fernán González")
      • Paulino Rodrigo(story) (screenplay) (dialogue)
      • Luis de los Arcos(story) (screenplay) (dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This Spanish co-production was one of a small group of films shot in the new short lived Panacolor process.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Le viager (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Canción de Fernán
      Music by José Buenagú

      Lyrics by Paulino Rodrigo (as P. Rodrigo Díaz) and Javier Setó

      Performed by Frankie Avalon

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    1/10
    Best forgotten for ever.
    It is not often that I come across a old historical???? film, that I haven't seen before. Until yesterday "The Castillian" was one such film.

    The reason for its obscurity is obvious from the start. Everything about the film is ridiculously bad.

    The combat and romance scenes are so terrible that they do make you laugh occasionally, when they are not making you cringe and groan. Such amusement is more than nullified however by the inappropriate theme of islamophobia, that turns history on its head.

    In this film the Muslims are presented as aggressive, murderers, rapists and barbarians, at a time when any historian (outside of Spain) will point out that the reverse was true. Muslim Andulsia had in fact been the most civilised culture on the planet before the time of the story. Christian Europe only slowly emerged from its Dark Ages, by acquiring the knowledge that the Andalusian Muslims had previously safeguarded from the destructive forces of Rome.

    The bad dubbing also grated. I couldn't find anything at all in the plot, characters or dialogue, that I liked.

    This film is sure to be compared with the acclaimed "El Cid". Despite sharing some of this film's major historical falsehoods and strong Christian bias, El Cid does at least not demonise all Muslims. El Cid is in fact a much better film in every way and one I enjoy watching.

    Frankie Avalon's next film role was entitled "Operation Bikini", which pretty much sums up what producers felt about his ability to convince in a straight acting part.
    helpful•6
    6
    • skbg06720
    • Nov 13, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 6, 1963 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • United States
    • Languages
      • Spanish
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Kastilier
    • Filming locations
      • Arlanza River, Burgos, Castilla y León, Spain
    • Production companies
      • M.D. Producciones Cinematográficas
      • Cinemagic Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 8 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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