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)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: Veniero Colasanti, John MooreNominated
Best Music - ScoringMiklos RozsaNominated
Best Music - SongMusic by Miklos Rozsa; Lyrics by Paul Francis WebsterNominated
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Quotes from

Jimena: Why did you come?
El Cid: I tried not to come. I tried, I told my love it had no right to live. But my love won't die...
Jimena: Kill it.
El Cid: You kill it! Tell me you don't love me.
Jimena: [long pause] I cannot. Not yet. But I will make myself worthy of you Rodrigo, I will learn to hate you.


Prince Sancho: [after Count Ordóñez betrays Prince Sancho in and ambush to kill El Cid] Kill him!
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: People of Valencia! I bring you bread!


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Facts about

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Charlton Heston himself was not overly impressed by the finished film, suggesting in his 1995 autobiography "In the Arena" that the film might have been better if William Wyler had directed it instead of Anthony Mann.
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.
It wasn't until viewing the finished film at the premiere that Dr. Miklós Rózsa discovered that roughly 20% of his score had been eliminated. He didn't do another score for producer Samuel Bronston.
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Best Music - Scoring Oscar 1961











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Also directed by Anthony Mann




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Also released in 1961




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