El Cid (1961) - DaaVeeDee

El Cid (1961) (Blu-Ray) (*)

$27.99

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Golden Globes
Oscar Academy Awards
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C )

Running Time:
188 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (2.35:1)

Special Features:
Featurette
Filmographies
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1961 and produced in:
Italy ( Italy, Greece )
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Anthony Mann

Written By:
Fredric M. Frank
Philip Yordan

Actors:
Charlton Heston ..... El Cid (Rodrigo Díaz de Bivar)
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

Synopsis:

Spain is overrun by the Moors and the country's only hope rests in a heroic knight known as El Cid (Charlton Heston). He knows a divided Spain cannot stand and implores his countrymen to unify in order to repel the invaders. But a hitch develops in El Cid's campaign: He gets exiled from his homeland of Castile by the region's power-hungry ruler. In the meantime, he attempts to reunite with his estranged wife, Jimena (Sophia Loren) - who's still upset by the fact that he killed her father.

Eleventh-century Spain is divided into Christian kingdoms and Moorish strongholds. The young Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar--dubbed El Cid by his followers--vows to see his country at peace, free from the invader. Vigorously brave and resourceful, the noble knight hates bloodshed and faces treason charges at court for the clemency shown to some emirs. His accuser, Gomez, father of his fiancée, Chimene, dies in the resulting duel. Chimene's avowed vengeance plot fails and Rodrigo is given her hand; the marriage is not consummated and she enters a convent. On Ferdinand's death, his kingdom is divided among his three children. Sancho challenges the decision and imprisons Alfonso, who is released by the Cid. The African war-lord, Ben Yssef, takes advantage of the quarrel by having Sancho assassinated. Alfonso now claims that throne, too, and exiles the Cid. Chimene realizes the nobility of her husband and joins him, but returns to the convent with their two children, when he goes into battle against Ben Yussef. The years pass, El Cid becomes a revered warrior, but refuses to aid Alfonso, preferring his own strategy. He lays siege to Valencia, catapulting food into its starving garrison; when the Valencians kill their evil ruler, Al Kadir, they offer the crown to the Cid. He sends it to Alfonso, who rushes, hysterically gratified, to his side. But the Cid has been hit by a stray arrow. Attended by Chimene, he hides the wound from his men and prepares a final bid to drive the Moors from Spain.

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 Bivar, 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. 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.

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 19 July, 2020.

Customers who bought this product also purchased

The House of Bernarda Alba (Blu-Ray)	Nicholas and Alexandra (Blu-Ray)	The Call of the Wild (Blu-Ray)
The Bride Wore Black ( 1968 ) (Blu-Ray)	Ryan's Daughter (Blu-Ray)