El Cid

Director: Anthony Mann

Overview

This film version of Pierre Corneille's El Cid focuses on the life of 11th-century Spanish hero Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar. The triumphs of his military life are not matched by his private affairs; he is betrayed by his bride and is made a political pawn by the avaricious Spanish landowners.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/04/2004
UPC:	4897007038213
Original Release:	0000
Source:	SUPER D INDEPENDENT DIST.
Language:	English
Sales rank:	10,920

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Charlton Heston	Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar (El Cid)
Sophia Loren	Chimene
John Fraser	King Alfonso
Raf Vallone	Count Ordonez
Gary Raymond	King Sancho
Herbert Lom	Ben Yussuf
Massimo Serato	Fanez
Douglas Wilmer	Moutamin
Frank Thring	Al Kadir
Hurd Hatfield	Count Arias
Ralph Truman	King Ferdinand
Andrew Cruickshank	Count Gormaz
Michael Hordern	Don Diego
Carlo Giustini	Bermudez
Christopher Rhodes	Don Martin
Fausto Tozzi	Dolfos
Tullio Carminati	Priest
Barbara Everest	Mother Superior
Katina Noble	Actor
Nelio Bernardi	Actor
Franco Fantasia	Soldier
Genevi?ve Page	Urraca,Actor
G?rard Tichy	le roi Ram?rez
Nerio Bernardi	Actor
Tullio Carminatti	Priest
Mikl?s R?zsa	Composer

Technical Credits

Fredric M. Frank

Philip Yordan

Ben Barzman

Diego Fabbri

Fredric M. Frank	Screenwriter
Philip Yordan	Screenwriter
Yakima Canutt	Stunts
Samuel Bronston	Producer
Anthony Mann	Producer
Jack Erickson	Special Effects
Alex Weldon	Special Effects
Ben Barzman	Screenwriter
Verna Fields	Sound Effects
Gordon K. McCallum	Sound Effects
Robert Haggiag	Producer
Diego Fabbri	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Charlton Heston's knack for wearing the mantle of larger-than-life characters serves him well in this 1961 Anthony Mann film of a noble Spanish warrior's campaign to unite his divided country against the threat of a Moorish invasion. Amid the pageantry of 11th century feudal Spain, Heston portrays the legendary Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known to history as El Cid Campeador, "the Lord Champion." Based on accounts of the Cid in El Cantar de Mio Cid circa 1200, the motion picture idealizes Rodrigo as a selfless knight committed to his cause even when his own wife, his king, and his people scorn him. Heston plays his role to the hilt, literally, as he wields sword, lance, and dagger against his enemies. The one flaw in his outwardly brilliant performance is his failure to plumb the inner turmoil of a man in conflict. Among the highlights of the film are a spectacular joust to the death over a disputed city and a seaside battle with flying arrows, shining scimitars, charging cavalry, and beating drums. The great Miklos Rosza provides an excellent music score, suggestive of the time and place, and cinematographer Robert Krasker captures the panorama of battle and the splendor of castles and countrysides. Sterling performances mark the film throughout. In particular, Herbert Lom is splendidly sinister as the invading Ben Yussef, and John Fraser and Gary Raymond are cat-claw sharp as quarreling siblings who aspire to the throne. Sophia Loren brings beauty and depth to her role as the Cid's wife, Chimene. Producer Samuel Bronston lent a liberal wallet to the making of this film, and he came up with a classic. Fans of the grand and glorious epics of the '50s and '60s should feel right at home with El Cid.