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El Cid | Year: 1961 Directed: - Anthony Mann Actors/Actresses: - Charlton Heston - Sophia Loren This movie is worth owning! I am ordering this DVD of El Cid (Currently, it has yet to be released). I hope the picture and sound quality is a big improvement... I saw the original film in the theatre, and loved it so much, I travelled over an hour across town about 10 years ago to rent a copy of the VHS. The movie was still just as great, but the picture and sound quality of the VHS were a joke. It looked like someone had duplicated the film through a fisheye lens, then cut-away 75% of the picture to make it fit on a TV screen. Which is too sad, considering the original beautiful wide-screen scenery and cinematography. And the 2-VHS tape set still had the factory hologram seal in place! I've been waiting for some kind of improvement for a long while... Needless to say, Charleton Heston (a.k.a. Moses, NRA President) is perfect for the role of El Cid, and Sophia Loren is beautiful, sexy, desireable, and also gives a stellar performance. While it's been some years since I watched the 2-tape VHS version, I remember this movie to be absolutely top-notch. This movie has it all - suspense, romance, victory, battle, and sorrow. A medieval, gothic european castle is the perfect location for early dialogue between the two young stars. Seeing Loren prop-up the post-mortem El Cid in the last scene on his horse to give encouragement to his troops for a final battle...incredible. Like I said, I'm pre-ordering the DVD. It would be impossible not to exceed the quality of previous VHS releases (I just hope widescreen is an option). And seeing as how the movie itself is a high-caliber production, you can't go wrong. If you enjoy historically-based movies, medieval themes, lengthy epic Hollywood flicks, or Heston and/or Loren, buy this movie. If you liked Ben-Hur ('59), Gladiator (2000), Branagh's Hamlet ('96), Dr. Zhivago, etc, BUY El Cid! 'The Perfect Knight' a PERFECT Film! 'El Cid' is the IDEAL film for any fan of great tales of Knighthood, the Age of Chivalry, and great tales of adventure! Directed by Anthony Mann with reverence to the best elements of the genre, shot on location in Spain, the mammoth production stars perfectly-cast Charlton Heston as Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, a warrior held in such respect by both friend and foe, that he is nicknamed 'El Cid' (The Man). Sophia Loren is luminous as his ladylove, Jimena (one might quibble that she NEVER ages through the film, but Loren is so radiant in the role, who cares?) The battle scenes are epically staged, the color photography is rich and tapestry-like, the sets and costumes capture the feel of medieval Spain, Miklós Rózsa's score is sweeping, wildly romantic, and, in its organ finale, triumphant; EVERY element in this film WORKS, and is a labor of love! The screenplay, by Philip Yordan, Fredric M. Frank, and Ben Barzman, uses Vivar as the definition of Chivalry; noble, with lofty ideals, he opens the film by defending the Crucifix in a small Spanish town, defeating a band of Moors, then showing them mercy, which earns their respect, and gains the blessing of the Church (the symbolism of 'El Cid' and the Cross is clearly juxtaposed; he is truly sent as an answer to Spain's prayers!) He and the beautiful Lady Jimena, daughter of the King's Champion, are to be wed, but when Vivar is forced to face him in a duel, killing him, as the elder attempts to defeat him by treachery, Jimena is sworn to avenge her father's death! Inheriting by default the title of Champion, Vivar is immediately thrust into a spectacular combat against a rebelling city's Champion, fought with an array of medieval weaponry; this scene is the first of many highpoints of the film, and is incredible! The hard-fought victory 'vindicates' Vivar's new title, and Christendom and Spain has its true Champion against the Moor! The film has all the classic elements; heroism and betrayal, pure love and jealous hatred, divine purpose and petty manipulations. Above all of this towers 'El Cid', whose lofty ideals are never compromised, whose only dream is to serve a united Spain. Nothing, not even death itself, will prevent him from fulfilling his destiny! If you have only one film about Knighthood or Chivalry in your collection, this should be it! No other movie even comes close to 'El Cid'...it is truly a triumph! A wonderful epic adventure!! Director Anthony Mann has a big hit on his hands with "El Cid". It stars Charlton Heston as Rodrigo Diaz of Bivar, known in history as "El Cid". A man who has the courage of a thousand men and a man who has the vision to be just. This movie features some of the most stunning battle scenes on film. Sophia Loren turns in an excellent performance as Rodrigo's wife Chimene. The thing I believe steals the film is a spectacular score by Miklos Rosza. (which deservedly got an Oscar nomination) This is a film to see and see again. A wonderful movie!! Buy El Cid at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on El Cid Search with the Priority Search Engine on El Cid This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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