El Cid (1961)

The national hero of Spain, Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar, was a real man, born in AD 1043 and died in 1099. In that brief lifetime, Rodrigo came to be known as El Cid (the Lord) for his bravery in combat and fairness to all whether Christian or Muslim in the fractious land that was medieval Spain. Whether the man himself lived up to his idealized reputation is unknown; what is known is that the movie version of his life is one of the greatest epics ever made.

Spain is divided; a confused mass of city-states, partly Moor and partly Christian. King Ferdinand (Ralph Truman) rules Leon, Castile, and Asturias. Rodrigo (Charlton Heston), a subject of King Ferdinand, routs a Moorish attack on a Christian village, capturing five kings. Rather than turning them over to the King's herald Count Ordonez (Raf Vallone) for summary execution, Rodrigo marches them back to Bivar. His father tells him the prisoners belong to him. Rodrigo frees them after they promise to war against Ferdinand no more. This infuriates Ordonez who rides back to inform the king. The Moors, on the other hand, dub Rodrigo "El Cid," a man who has the vision to be just while surrounded by barbarism. Rodrigo is ordered to report to the king in five days...

In Burgos, the capital, Rodrigo is accused of treason. Washing his name clean in the blood of the king's champion, Rodrigo loses the love of his daughter, the beauteous Jimena (Sophia Loren). When a rival king comes to dispute the ownership of the city of Calahorra, Rodrigo volunteers to fight as the king's champion in one of the very best depictions of medieval trial by combat. Rodrigo slays Don Martin (Christopher Rhodes) after a breathtaking display of horsemanship and hand-to-hand combat in a very realistic and violent sequence. Rodrigo presents the colors Jimena bestowed on Don Martin back to her. The color is now deepest black blotched by blood red. This begins an on-again-off-again romance between The Cid and Jimena that lasts the rest of his life...

After the death of King Ferdinand, there is war between the heirs Prince Sancho (Gary Raymond) and Prince Alfonso (John Fraser). Alfonso has his elder brother cruelly assassinated beneath the walls of Zamorra. Cid forces Alfonso to swear on holy relics he had no complicity in the murder. Alfonso does, but banishes the Cid from his realm, recalling him whenever the threat from the Moors recurs. Through all the vicissitudes of his career, Rodrigo remains a true champion of the right - the purest knight of all. Finally at Valencia, the invading Moors fatally wound the Cid. Before he expires, he extracts a promise from Jimena that he will lead his troops in battle at all costs. The Cid's body is fastened upright in the saddle and he leads the Christians on a rout of the Moors once again.

Directed by Anthony Mann (Winchester 73, Fall of the Roman Empire) El Cid was produced by Samuel Bronston, the father of what I call the intelligent epic. In addition to El Cid, Bronston produced the blockbusters King of Kings, Fall of the Roman Empire, and 55 Days at Peking all well worth seeking out diligently and seeing. These films represent the high water mark of the epic motion picture with vast casts of thousands, elaborate sets and locations, and sweeping panoramic photography.

El Cid has all the pageantry and color of medieval Spain with beautiful Spanish locations, castles, armor, and costuming. Director Anthony Mann orchestrates his shots with uncommon style. Charlton Heston (Ben Hur, Soylent Green) is a stalwart hero in one of his finest outings filling the larger than life shoes of the dynamic Rodrigo. And Sophia Loren (Man of La Mancha) is in her best form as the fair lady Jimena. The supporting cast is sterling, with Gary Raymond, John Fraser, and Genevieve Page as the scheming royals, while Hurd Hatfield, Raf Vallone, Douglas Wilmer, and Herbert Lom provide colorful portraits of various Christians and Moors.

If any film could benefit from a full DVD treatment, this is it. Unfortunately, El Cid is only available in a 4x3 pan and scan format VHS tape, despite its being restored. This is truly a crime as the 2.35:1 theatrical format would be a joy to behold with Robert Krasker’s award winning cinematography. Miklos Rosza contributed perhaps his finest score to El Cid with its majestic heroic themes.

Anybody who likes a rousing heroic movie will find El Cid to be among their favorites. Recommended to all.

Thanks for reading!

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening