El Cid

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El Cid

1961,

3h 4m,

History/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

93%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

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.

Fernando F. Croce

Slant Magazine

Jan 28, 2008

3/4

To say that El Cid is the most intelligent of the elephantine epics of the early '60s is to damn it with faint praise.

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Phil Mayer

Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Mar 17, 2023

A beautifully filmed, often very exciting saga.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Aug 24, 2020

9/10

There are no wasted moments - it starts right into the action from the opening scene and, despite its three-hour running time, keeps up interest and suspense.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jan 31, 2012

A-

Starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren at their prime, Anthony Mann's grand historical epic is still much admired by viewers and directors.

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Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Apr 29, 2008

B

Charleton Heston is the perfect mythic conflicted hero.

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Jan 17, 2008

Not many filmmakers could make the transition to epic filmmaking with all their signature touches intact; Anthony Mann more or less succeeds.

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Jan 27, 2019

The best inspiring epic movie ever made! With the best movie character ever portrayed: Charlton Heston as Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar! And the best movie score ever composed!

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Kylo G

Dec 31, 2018

A 60's epic above the rest. Almost on par with anything from David Lean. Easy to see where Mel Gibson borrowed from.

Hagrid W

Sep 20, 2017

At the time I first saw this I got so bored. I will need to give it another try.

Kylo G

Apr 29, 2017

Everything you'd expect from an epic: swordfighting, a stolid central performance from Charlton Heston, sweeping vistas, men wearing more mascara than the women, a rousing and repetitive Miklos Rosza score, horses... ...and countless shots of Sophia Loren shedding one tear as she gazes woodenly at something far off. That said, this is actually pretty enjoyable once one surrenders to the clichÃ©s.

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Ron R

Feb 17, 2016

To say that El Cid is the most intelligent of the elephantine epics of the early '60s may be to damn it with faint praise. Anthony Mann's grand historical epic is still much admired by viewers and directors.

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George P

Dec 4, 2011

Spectacular film. Huge production filled with fantastic imagery and solid performances.

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Anthony Mann

Director

Charlton Heston

El Cid (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar)

Sophia Loren

Jimena

Raf Vallone

Count Ordóñez

Geneviève Page

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John Fraser

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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.

Director: Anthony Mann
Producer: Samuel Bronston
Screenwriter: Fredric M. Frank, Philip Yordan, Ben Barzman
Distributor: Allied Artists Pictures, Miramax Films
Production Co: Samuel Bronston Productions, Allied Artists Pictures Corporation
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 1961, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Jan 29, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.9K
Runtime: 3h 4m
Sound Mix: Surround

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