el Cid (1961)

A total historical epic starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren—honestly one of the greatest movies ever made.
It’s all about the brave Spanish fight against the Arab invasion, but also dives into the love, hate, and deep friendship between el Cid and an Arab nobleman whose life he actually saved.

Anyone else catch this flick lately? What’d you think, was it actually any good?

I watched it a while back and really enjoyed it, though honestly, I just have a huge soft spot for any historical epic featuring Charlton Heston😁 I ended up picking up the book later on and liked that too🙂

Lisa Wells65 said:I saw that one a while back and really liked it. Honestly though, I just have a huge soft spot for any of those big historical epics starring Charlton Heston. They just don't make them like that anymore.😁 I picked up the book later on, and honestly, I loved it too.🙂

You got any idea who actually wrote this thing? Like, what's the author's name and the actual title?

Richard Wilson4 said:Has anyone actually sat down and watched this movie yet? If so, what's the verdict? Did you dig it?

I absolutely loved it—honestly, it blows "Kingdom of Heaven" out of the water.
Anthony Mann was one of those rare directors who actually knew how to handle a serious historical epic, rather than just churning out those over-the-top period melodramas that seem to pass for historical epics these days...

Great one—we actually picked up a bundle at a local Target recently that included this along with another absolute gem, the Fall of the Roman Empire, which I honestly think is way more substantial than Gladiator. The only thing I’d give Gladiator the edge on is the action sequences, but everything else is just handled much better in Fall!

Just like every other massive historical epic from the fifties and sixties, this thing is packed with way too much dialogue that just drags on and on... It’s always the same setup, too, where they end up stuck in some dim, shadowy room, just a guy and a girl alone—usually because they're head over heels for each other—and then you're forced to sit through thirty minutes of pure conversational hell...
It’s basically the exact same story whether you're watching Ben Hur or the Fall of the Roman Empire... just different settings, really...
Nah, I think a little scrap is actually good, you know? It really forces everything out into the open...

Great movie! (At least for me). It’s true the dialogue can drag on sometimes, but I don't really mind that in epics like this one. 😉 ...

If anyone here happens to be an expert on Spanish cinema, I was wondering if there are any other films out there centered around the Reconquista?
And more importantly, does anyone know if they’re actually available to stream or buy somewhere?

I watched it! It was great, even if it ran a bit too long

Since we're talking about the passing of the legend Charlton Heston, I really think everyone should check out this movie. It’s a great way to see how they used to pull off massive historical epics with actual substance instead of just throwing $100 million at CGI effects...

Richard Wilson4 said:With the passing of the legendary Charlton Heston, I really recommend everyone check out this movie. It’s a great way to see how epic historical dramas used to be—all about the story rather than just throwing $100 million at CGI effects...

I actually rewatched it yesterday—honestly, probably my fiftieth time watching it, just like pretty much any movie he's in.😍.

BTW, I just realized you asked me a while back who wrote the book😳.
Pierre Corneille wrote Le Cid, which was inspired by The Kingston Trio's version of work by g. de Castro (which itself draws from the legend of el Cid).

That story was one of my absolute favorites growing up in school, mostly because of the movie and how awesome Charlton Heston was in it.

An absolutely stellar film. 👍 👍

It’s airing on CNN at 4:00 PM on the 22nd... you can catch a replay if you missed it, or just watch it for the first time, it really is excellent

Personally, that old-school masterpiece is my absolute favorite. I’ll probably end up rewatching it again whenever the mood strikes—if not this Sunday, then sooner rather than later.
I mean, forget Ben Hura, and don't even get me started on those cheap knockoffs.

Patrick Martin said:Personally, nothing beats those old-school classics; I’ll probably find myself rewatching it again soon, if not this Sunday...
forget about Ben Hura or some cheap modern fluff.

Most of those Charlton Heston flicks are actually pretty solid...

It’s an excellent film, though I honestly felt the subject matter could have been stretched out a bit further. That’s actually why I decided to drop back into this forum for the first time in six months. And let's be real—Sophia Loren looks absolutely stunning in this one.🙂

A masterpiece. Between the score, the acting, and that sense of old-school cinematic grandeur—which, frankly, I’ve always preferred over anything starring Ben Hura—it’s just top-tier. I actually went ahead and put together an extended video Tribute featuring the film's soundtrack; hopefully, you guys enjoy it:

el Cid Campeador - [Tribute Video] THEME

P.S. I remember when this movie was a staple on television across the European Union. A friend from Spain once mentioned to me that they actually avoid broadcasting it in Spain nowadays because it isn't considered "politically correct" regarding Islamic immigrants... honestly, give me a break. It’s clearly being pushed aside because it doesn't fit the modern narrative 🙂

And let's be real—it's only a matter of time before this film is deemed "politically incorrect" here in America too.

Anyway, a message for all the political correctness crowd out there: RECONQUISTA IN OUR HEARTS! 🙂

Does anyone have any suggestions for a historical epic similar to the stuff produced by Ben Hura or those massive movies about the Roman Empire?

James Turner said:It’s a great movie, but I feel like they could've dragged the theme out a bit more. That's actually why I'm checking this forum again for the first time in six months. S. Loren is just stunning in it.🙂

She always was a knockout.

I haven't sat down to watch it myself yet, though I know it's a classic. Re-watched some clips recently—I actually still have the DVD from back when those things weren't crazy expensive. 😁