Customer Reviews

El Cid [VHS]

5 star:		(160)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

It has been a very long wait indeed for a proper, high resolution 2 disc anamorphic DVD of this epic medieval tale of passion and chivalry. The final results are breathtaking. The transfer is stunning and the sound is rich and full. This is rousing entertainment on the grandest scale.

It's hard to understand why this film took so long to arrive on DVD. Perhaps, as some have suggested, the subject matter has been an issue in our over-sensitive, shrinking world of religious violence. Or our discomfort with nebulous concepts of love, forgiveness and peace. But most likely a matter of rights and licensing issues.

The relevance of this extraordinary film remains current and is a monumental artistic achievements of world cinema. On a personal level, this terrific film provoked me into thinking about how belief systems -- especially about the nature of God (or Allah) -- benefit or harm our world.

The essence of the conflict between warring Castilians and Moors and an invading Muslim threat is unflinching in the opening scene as the North African holy warrior Ben Yussuf quotes "the Prophet" as promising to conquer the world in the name of Allah.

But the real conflict is the idea that there can be peace -- and perhaps even love -- between those who hate. This is exemplified in the troubled and intimate story of Rodrigo (Charlton Heston) and Ximena (Sophia Loren). It begins simply enough with a knight on his way to meet his bride when destiny forces a detour.

El Cid, the legendary hero of Spain was a real person named Don Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar. He lived around 1035 A.D. Although he spent much of his time fighting on the side of the Moors, he became identified as the best incarnation of the true Castilian Christian spirit. His name came from the Arabic "sayyid" meaning "lord" or "chief."

Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren are perfectly cast as larger than life figures of flesh and blood. Their reported confllcts on-set probably added a degree of on-screen realism. They are wonderful together. Too bad Heston and Loren were not able to do a full, shared commentary at the time of the transfer.

Anthony Mann's direction is robust and true to the theme. The movie has a fine sense of composition that the terrific on-location cinematography only enhances. Numerous action-filled vistas fill the screen, richly detailed and beautifully photographed. No CGI elements can rival the texture of a real place captured on celluloid.

The incredible flow of stunning images and the magnificent Miklos Rozsa score are a reminder of what movies can do when they tackle a worthy tale and go all the way.

EL CID is about a real hero who selflessly followed his moral compass. It's also a reasonably true adapataion of the essence of the numerous medieval tales, plays and poems -- unlike the mangling of both poem and hero "Beowulf" in the recent movie of the same name.

Amazing that this magnificent paradox of a tale -- after all, El Cid was a warrior and peacemaker -- continues to be told for a thousand years.

The extras on the second disc include interesting featurettes on producer Sam Bronston, director Anthony Mann and composer Miklos Rozsa as well as vintage radio interviews with Heston and Loren and a "making of" documentary.

The last scenes are a fitting epitaph for Charlton Heston the man and the actor. His passing is truly the end of an era.

This great movie deserves a place in any digital library. Don't miss it.

Highest recommendation.

The 2 Disc Limited Collectors Edition is for a limited time only, comes in a box and contains a roadshow pressbook and vintage, miniature, lobby cards. The film itself and DVD extras are identical with the alternate consumer edition.

I saw this film during its first run in 1961. It was presented in 70mm on a huge screen with outstanding sound. Rosza's music was always part of the appeal. The photography was sometimes breathtaking. The color was rich and beautiful. Among Heston's epics it was neither Ben Hur nor the Ten Commandments, but there are hundreds of movies of less merit that have been given better treatment than this one.

The DVD I have was purchased through Amazon's resale program. It seems to be of Chinese origin as the subtitles are in that language. The print is really pretty awful. The colors seem to bleed and overall the image is not sharp. The sound is stereo with none of the impact of that 1961 memory.

This movie was "restored" in the early nineties. I remember seeing Ms. Loren talking about it on one of the morning programs. But this is not that print. It is a mere shadow of what might have been.

The movie deserves to be presented in a double DVD with full honors of trailers, "Making of...." and the best print they can come up with. Sure it's not Lawrence of Arabia -- what is? Lawrence is by consensus of a half dozen sources one of the three greatest movies of all time. But El Cid is not about an anti-hero like Lawrence but rather about a principled guy with courage and values. There IS an audience for that, too.

I don't know whether the American rights to this movie are tied up by some estate or some studio, or what. But it is time to give us the movie with the technical quality of the original. The movie itself may be a 3 1/2 out of 5. But the only excuse for this foreign ersatz is as a stopgap until the real thing FINALLY comes out.

Heston did so many 'costumers' it was easy to over look just how magnificent some were and this is one of the best. My favourite is the quieter War Lord, but El Cid never fails to move me. It works on many levels, the breathtaking epic, the love story between Heston and Loren, with the secondary characters, especially John Fraser and Herbert Lom, giving fine performances. The jousting sequences outstanding, the location work panoramic....a true experience.

This has been my favorite film since it was screened for us as students in High School so many years ago. It was the first video I ever purchased, also many years ago, and I have always regretted that the pan&scan format cropped so much of the magnificent 70mm image out. This is a film that MUST be seen in the widescreen format! Both Heston and Loren were recent Oscar winners when they were teamed for this and both are at the height of their personal appeal and stardom. The justly famous tournament scene rivals the chariot race from BEN HUR for sheer excitement, and the lush location photography in Spain makes every scene vivid. Although a bit long, the story is well paced and you will wish for more. The exquisite score by Miklos Rozsa will benefit from DVD's improved sound quality. I can't wait to purchase my own copy on DVD!

Finally, El Cid to be released in a digital format. I remember this film from 1961 when as a twelve year old I saw this movie while living on the navy base at Mare Island. It prompted me to visit the base library to see what I could find on the Cid. I remember being very disappointed when I found out he wasn't exactly what Hollywood portrayed in the movie. It didn't matter....the movie is a gem and I saw it again and again.

Anthony Mann hit a homerun when he put Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren together on the screen. The magic is obvious from the first scenes of them together. A gripping screenplay, great locations, terrific photography, and an excellent score by Miklos Rozsa make this movie a benchmark for film making of another era. This, as another reviewer mentions, is the last great movie of Heston's to be released. Shame, shame for it taking so long.

Are we too sensitive today for the contents of this film? Too politically correct? I hope not. The peaceful coexistence of Islam and Christianity, a topic touched on in the film, certainly is a topic of importance today. But that shouldn't be the main idea behind viewing this film. It should be viewed for the great picture it is. If its relevant, great. And what of Heston's stand on the Second Amendment? What difference does a political stand have on the greatness of this movie?

You'll want to buy this one.

It has been a very long wait indeed for a proper, high resolution 2 disc anamorphic DVD of this epic medieval tale of passion and chivalry. The final results are breathtaking. The transfer is stunning and the sound is rich and full. This is rousing entertainment on the grandest scale.

It's hard to understand why this film took so long to arrive on DVD. Perhaps, as some have suggested, the subject matter has been an issue in our over-sensitive, shrinking world of religious violence. Or our discomfort with nebulous concepts of love, forgiveness and peace. But most likely a matter of rights and licensing issues.

The relevance of this extraordinary film remains current and is a monumental artistic achievements of world cinema. On a personal level, this terrific film provoked me into thinking about how belief systems -- especially about the nature of God (or Allah) -- benefit or harm our world.

The essence of the conflict between warring Castilians and Moors and an invading Muslim threat is unflinching in the opening scene as the North African holy warrior Ben Yussuf quotes "the Prophet" as promising to conquer the world in the name of Allah.

But the real conflict is the idea that there can be peace -- and perhaps even love -- between those who hate. This is exemplified in the troubled and intimate story of Rodrigo (Charlton Heston) and Ximena (Sophia Loren). It begins simply enough with a knight on his way to meet his bride when destiny forces a detour.

El Cid, the legendary hero of Spain was a real person named Don Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar. He lived around 1035 A.D. Although he spent much of his time fighting on the side of the Moors, he became identified as the best incarnation of the true Castilian Christian spirit. His name came from the Arabic "sayyid" meaning "lord" or "chief."

Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren are perfectly cast as larger than life figures of flesh and blood. Their reported confllcts on-set probably added a degree of on-screen realism. They are wonderful together. Too bad Heston and Loren were not able to do a full, shared commentary at the time of the transfer.

Anthony Mann's direction is robust and true to the theme. The movie has a fine sense of composition that the terrific on-location cinematography only enhances. Numerous action-filled vistas fill the screen, richly detailed and beautifully photographed. No CGI elements can rival the texture of a real place captured on celluloid.

The incredible flow of stunning images and the magnificent Miklos Rozsa score are a reminder of what movies can do when they tackle a worthy tale and go all the way.

EL CID is about a real hero who selflessly followed his moral compass. It's also a reasonably true adapataion of the essence of the numerous medieval tales, plays and poems -- unlike the mangling of both poem and hero "Beowulf" in the recent movie of the same name.

Amazing that this magnificent paradox of a tale -- after all, El Cid was a warrior and peacemaker -- continues to be told for a thousand years.

The extras on the second disc include interesting featurettes on producer Sam Bronston, director Anthony Mann and composer Miklos Rozsa as well as vintage radio interviews with Heston and Loren and a "making of" documentary.

The last scenes are a fitting epitaph for Charlton Heston the man and the actor. His passing is truly the end of an era.

This great movie deserves a place in any digital library. Don't miss it.

Highest recommendation.

Among all the great Epic productions produced by Hollywood in the late 1950's and early 1960's "El Cid", always seems to be largely forgotten. Yet I believe it really deserves to be included in that pantheon of greats like "Ben Hur", "Cleopatra", and "Spartacus". Filled as it is with a sweeping tale covering an important period in Spain's history, breathtaking settings, romance, gorgeous costumes, well staged battles and tournaments and a very poignant ending this production has something for everyone.

Charlton Heston had one of his greatest roles in Roderigo Diaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid the legendary Spanish warrior that spent a lifetime trying to reconcile the Christians and Muslims of Spain in a united front against the onslaught of the African Moors. The story begins with young Roderigo on his way to his marriage to Jemina (Sophia Loren at her most fetching)when he is forced to fight a battle with the Moorish armies. Capturing five of their leaders he releases them on the promise that they will go and no longer raise arms against the Christian King of Spain. Unfortunately that is viewed as treason by the Spanish court and in the conflict to prove his innocense of treason Roderigo is forced to kill the father of his betrothed. Despite this set back in his marriage plans and after much conflict with Jemina the two are reconciled and eventually marry and experience a most happy life together. The intrigues of the court however make life difficult for Roderigo when King Ferdinand (Ralph Truman)dies and conflict begins to occur between his children. Supporting and then offering the crown to son Alfonso after the seige of Valencia it is finally seen that Roderigo is not trying to usurp the crown for himself but truly wishes to see all the factions in Spain united against the common enemy under their chosen King. At the all important seige of Valencia Roderigo is badly wounded by an arrow and bravely dies. Realising that the weak Alfonso cannot possibly rally the troops to a successful victory the generals take Roderigo's lifeless body and mount it on his horse and in this dramatic way Roderigo leds the army out of the city walls to attack the besieging Moors and bring about a victory for Spain's forces.

"El Cid", as befitting the stunning story it is is a visual feast for the eyes with meticulous direction of both the quite violent battle and seige scenes and with proper care shown in the tender moments experienced between Roderigo and Jemina. Of particular significance is the pairs meeting with the hermit in the wilderness and the many scenes of their married life together.Real tenderness is shown here unexpectadly in a story filled with so much violence and bloodshed. The historical research into the film is I feel flawless. Some of the weapons may be of a later date but everything, including the Castle interiors, and the selected locations in Spain for filming come together to create a wonderful recreation of these times in Medieval Spain. The tournament scenes are beautifully staged and Charlton Heston is totally convincing as the firstly naive and later world weary warrior who spends his life in the service of his King and Country. Sophia Loren of course has the less showy role here but never is Jemina a doormat for the men in the story. It is a great performance from this talented actress and she is at times loving, feisty, and sacrificing. "El Cid", also has great performances from Genevieve Page, John Fraser and Gary Raymond as the warring children of King Ferdinand, and much of the necessary intrigue in such a tale as this comes in the powerful Palace scenes between them. Australian actor Frank Thring who around this time appeared in many Epic Productions also shines in the role of the devious Al Kadir who gets his just rewards for his underhanded dealings with the Spanish.

I've always loved "El Cid", as a stirring drama from the medieval past. Despite its long running time (over three hours), I find my interest never wanes. It is a beautiful production that took years of planning and prepartion to achieve. Lavish without lacking a heart, exciting without loosing sight of the central story, romantic and colourful, I strongly recommend if you like historical dramas to have a look at this classic film, it really is a masterpiece of old Hollywwod movie making on the grand scale. Enjoy!

The imagery in this film is magnificent, with lavish, spectacular sets and vast battle scenes. The cast is great, with beautiful performances by Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren; they have terrific chemistry together, and how the camera loves them ! This was Heston's follow-up to Ben Hur, and he is equally heroic as Spain's hero El Cid. Others in the cast of note are Raf Vallone as Count Ordoñez, the man who also vies for Loren's love, and Genevieve Page, as Princess Urraca, who is secretly enamoured with El Cid. Herbert Lom, though one can only see his eyes, is marvelous and fiery as Ben Yussuf, the Moorish invader who says to his followers, "burn your books, make warriors of your poets, and make your doctors invent new poisons for our arrows !".

Directed by Anthony Mann, the 11th century pageantry and medieval feel of this film has been meticulously created, and the cinematography, shot on location in Spain by Robert Krasker, is superb. The war-torn history of a divided Spain has been skimmed over and highly romanticized, but is very entertaining. There are family conflicts galore, murders and treachery, and lots of sword fights, where what amazed me was the sound of metal against metal; it has never to my knowledge been rendered so well, and adds much reality to the action.

Surprisingly, the art/set direction and song/score were nominated for Oscars, but did not win. The score by Miklos Rozsa is fabulous, but unfortunately it was up against Mancini's "Breakfast at Tiffanys". Sophia Loren received a Best Actress Oscar for this year, but not this film; she won it for "Two Women", which was also released in 1961. Total running time is 180 minutes.

History has many versions of El Cid (1040 ?-1099), depending on who wrote it (the Moors of course, painted him with a harsher brush), and at one point it seems he was a soldier of fortune, but based on the epic "Poema del Cid", he was both man and legend, and "one who lived and died the purest knight of all". This marvelous film has not been given the attention it deserves, and it will be enjoyed by everyone who likes historical dramas, and for Heston fans it is a must.

I saw El Cid soon after its release in 1962 when I was just 12. I was then in an armed forces training school at Dehradun, India, and the entire college had to march five miles to the theater to see it as an inspiring and motivational film for future military leaders. We had never heard of the Cid or any other Spanish hero till then. But, when we left the hall, after seeing this 3-hour magnum opus, we were never to forget him. Since then I must have seen this film on video and in theaters scores of times. On every occasion I was moved afresh by the heroism and sacrifice of 'the man who rode away into legend'- El Cid. I do not think, except for Ben Hur, Sound of Music and Titanic, any other English film has made such a lasting impact. Yet, surprisingly and sadly, El Cid has never figured in the all time greats of Hollywood. Both Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren have given splendid and unforgettable performances, probably their best ever. Their characters and role have been superbly etched by a screenplay, which has done justice to a long but very well knit story. Both the indoor settings and outdoor locales, in which the film was magnificently shot, are so beautiful and natural, that one is literally transported into Spain in the Middle Ages. The lance duel on the plains of Calahara is superbly picturized in the timeless tradition of Hollywood immortal scenes. By the time the movie reaches its unforgettable climax you feel a hollowness creeping into your heart, for you realize that the magic of one of the greatest cinematic epics is about to end and you have no choice but to return to the dreary everyday world! I eagerly look forward to replace my ageing video cassette with the newly released DVD, which I am sure will give me viewing pleasure for as many years ahead as the tape and film versions had given me in the past.

The movie itself is one of the best of it's kind The stars are great, the locations accurate, and the story very good and inspiring. My main complaint is with the video itself. I had the priviledge of seeing this film in it's original format when it was first released, and am very disappointed that it has not been restored to it's original format. This kind of film can not be appreciated in the poor, pan and scan format in which it is presented. Until it is fully restored to the original format, it will continue to be only a three star film. The format in which it is offered is vastly inadequet. Please restore this film to it's rightful glory. It deserves better treatment than this. Thank you.