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Rating:  - El Cid
C. Heston and S.Loren were excellent in this movie . If you are ready for an old time action , and romantic movie with a sprinkling of history , this is for you ... grab your popcorn and sit back ... it is worth the time to watch .........
Rating: - A Classic
This film is on the Cecil B.Demille scale. Fabulous scenery, excellent editing, great story and cast.
Rating: - A Classic Epic Film
"El Cid"
A Classic Epic Film
Amos Lassen
We loved epic films in the 60's and "El Cid" is an epic in every sense of the word. It is technically ambitious and stars Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren in a grandiose spectacle. Directed by Anthony Mann, "El Cid" is the story of the 11th century hero Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar who fought to unite Spain and who was known as history's "compassionate warrior". The film follows his journey from broker of peace who was accused of treason to being named the fighting champion of Spain and ultimately exiled and becoming a legend. He did not compromise his sense of honor and succeeded in taking the initiative to drive the Moors from Spain.
"El Cid" boasts a good story, interesting characters, and lots of action, lush cinematography, a wonderful music score and attention to detail. Each character is well acted and there are plenty of action scenes. "El Cid" is cinema at its best and the beauty of the film enchants the viewer and the fact that the film is long is of little importance. It plays like a ballad as choices for the hero become more and more difficult. It is a beautiful experience all in all and if you like epics this is one that you do not want to miss.
Rating:  - El Cid rides again in DVD
After waiting many years for El Cid to finally come out on DVD and not trusting prior poorly make Asian copies, I can state for the record it was worth every second. I remember seeing this movie as a young teenager at least 10 times at the famous Wilten theater in Los Angeles on Saturday mornings and was delighted to find that it stands up to the test of time. It is not a classic movie but for its time it provided great enterainment. I will not go into the basic plot of the movie which is based on the Spanish legend of the Cid but I can say that it accommodated my memory of my childhood Saturday morning fun. Great music, color, and action. With Ms Loren as the love interest and at the top of her beauty,how could a young teenage male not enjoy this film. The backgound DVD on the producer and story line explains in part why it took so long for this movie to be released on DVD. International events aside, this movie will provide ideal enterainment for the film buff. I found this film better than the "Fall of the Roman Empire" also producted by the same film studio. Charlton Heston was at the top of his acting career at the time of the filming of El Cid and I will miss his style now that he has passed away.
Rating: - Epic grandeur and intimate love story...
EL CID takes its place among the great screen epics that never allow the eye-popping spectacle to dwarf the human characters--just as "Ben-Hur" was able to do. And who else to play the legendary and noble Spanish hero than CHARLTON HESTON. He's magnificent here, playing his central role with an almost Shakespearean grandeur, as do some of the other cast members, including HERBERT LOM, JOHN FRASER and GARY RAYMOND.
So is the epic sweep of the tale and the intimate love story that begins when he is on his way to wed SOPHIA LOREN and finds himself asked to assume the mantle of leadership against the Moors in 11th century Spain. He makes the journey from peace-broker accused of treason to the King's fighting champion and later from exiled hero to legendary martyr.
Aside from the brilliant cinematography, authentic looking locales and colorful costumes, Miklos Rozsa's score adds a great deal to the intensely dramatic intimate scenes as well as the epic battles, all the while suggesting some Spanish motifs amidst the heraldic fanfares and love theme.
CHARLTON HESTON makes an impressive figure of El Cid, especially good in the final moments as the wounded leader who knows what he must ask his wife to do so that his followers do not lose heart after his death. RAF VALLONE as Count Ordonez, GENEVIEVE PAGE as Princess Urraca, JOHN FRASER as Prince Alfonso and GARY RAYMOND as Prince Sancho are all remarkable effective in strong supporting roles. In lesser roles, HURD HATFIELD and FRANK THRING bring their own brand of authority to minor parts.
Anthony Mann and his assistant directors have done an outstanding job on all of the battle scenes and he never falters in telling the tale in strong dramatic terms. There's an intensity in the scenes between Loren and Heston after he has been forced to kill her father for humiliating his own father in front of the court. Whatever friction there was between Heston and Loren on the set, works for them here because her animosity toward him is a chilling thing to watch.
The DVD has been wonderfully mastered and all of the Miklos Rozsa score sounds better than ever with Overture, Intermission and Exit music reminding us all what a treasure he was as a film composer.
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