El Cid (1961) | |
| Director(s) | Anthony Mann |
| Producer(s) | Samuel Bronston, Jaime Prades (associate), Michal Waszynski (associate) |
| Top Genres | Action, Biographical, Drama, Epic, Historical, Romance |
| Top Topics | |
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El Cid Overview:
El Cid (1961) was a Biographical - War Film directed by Anthony Mann and produced by Michal Waszynski, Samuel Bronston and Jaime Prades.
SYNOPSIS
This costume adventure follows the legendary exploits of the 11th-century Spanish knight-errant (Heston) as he battles the Moorish invaders while wooing back his wife (Loren) with his faith and bravery. This marks director Mann's brief excursion into widescreen historical epics after he distinguished himself with his Westerns. (He would begin work on Spartacus only to be replaced by Stanley Kubrick, then later follow these with The Fall of the Roman Empire). Restored under the supervision of Martin Scorsese, who also knows something about the intersection of spiritual inspiration and muscular action.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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Academy Awards 1961 --- Ceremony Number 34 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Art Direction | Art Direction: Veniero Colasanti, John Moore | Nominated |
| Best Music - Scoring | Miklos Rozsa | Nominated |
| Best Music - Song | Music by Miklos Rozsa; Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster | Nominated |
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Quotes from
El Cid: You will soon be a King, you must start to think like one, any man can kill, only a King can give life!
El Cid: [looking at their Christian and Muslim troops camped together] How can anyone say this is wrong?
Moutamin: But they will. On both sides.
Moutamin: In my country, we have a name for a warrior with the vision to be just and the courage to show mercy. We call him... the cid!
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Facts about
According to the legend of El Cid, in his youth Rodrigo came across a leper sinking in quicksand crying for help, but none of the bystanders dared touch him. Rodrigo pulled him from the bog, clothed him in his cloak, housed him in a barn and went to get him some food. When he returned, he found the leper had transformed into an angelic figure that identified himself as St. Lazarus. He said "For your bravery and kindness you will enjoy success as a warrior. You will win battles upon battles and never know defeat". In a nice nod to the legend, the film contains a scene wherein the banished Rodrigo encounters a thirsty leper who begs a drink. After unhesitatingly offering his own pouch, the Leper thanks him by name. "Who are you?" asks Rodrigo. "I am called Lazarus." The leper answers. Then he crosses Rodrigo with his staff. "May helping hands be extended to you everywhere you go, my Cid."
El Cid did not die as depicted in the film. He died peacefully in 1099 while ruling his principality on the coast of Spain. His wife Jimena continued to rule after his death.
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