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 Solid Sep 01, 2010
The film's visuals are occasionally stunning, and, while the screenplay by Philip Yordan, Ben Barzman and Fredric M. Frank, from a story by Frank, is solid, one does wonder how differently a true film master like Michelangelo Antonioni would have handles such a film. We never get inside any of the characters because they act upon such a large stage that what they say and do almost does not matter, as it is dwarfed by the seeming weight of history. In a sense, the film is like a Frederic Edwin Church painting, wherein natural forces marginalize the efforts of man. The music score by Miklós Rózsa, was much lauded, but in retrospect, it does not hold up against the visuals of cinematographer Robert Krasker. Interestingly, perhaps the most important technical aspect that succeeds in this film is the editing by Robert Lawrence. Repeatedly, the scenes end before typical Hollywood reveals that hammer a point home, especially in epic films like this. There are dozens of examples, but note the scene where Cid kills Chimene's father. First, we never see the final deed, as both men are behind the staircase when Cid strikes his deathblow. Second, after getting Chimene to agree to avenge his death, we see her turn, to see Cid in darkness under the stairs, but then we get the fade. We never see the typical confrontation between the lovers That is delayed for a few minutes. What this shows is that Mann was handed an elephant, and did his best to leave some sort of imprint of himself on it.
The film won some awards at the Golden Globes, and Oscars- mostly technical stuff, but it was a smash hit. The film is shown in a 2.20:1 aspect ratio and clocks in at almost three and a quarter hours in length, and comes in 1 three disk DVD package, as part of The Miriam Collection of films. Unfortunately, the film is split at its intermission, and spread across two DVDs. In this day and age, this is a major boner. Even worse is that the audio commentary is also split. The commentary, by Bill Bronston (son of producer Sauel Bronston) and Neal M. Rosendorf, a film historian, is ok, mentioning some of the unfortunate stereotyping that was portrayed, but it's nothing special. Perhaps the most insightful thing mentioned is how the film used Islamic expansion as a metaphor for the Cold War, whereas now it can be read literally, and how Sam Bronston was clueless as to the deeper themes in the film. Disk 1 features radio interviews with Heston and Loren, while Disk 2 has the featurettes. There's a making of featurette, a film on the career of Bronston as a producer, one on Anthony Mann'sd career as a director, one on the music of Miklós Rózsa, a film on film preservation, and a gallery of theatrical trailers. The worst extra feature, though, comes on Disk 3. There is nothing but a lengthy interview with a none too bright evangelist named John Bevere, who spends his whole interview as an apologist for Christianity, as well as spewing bizarre 1950s era ultra-nationalistic tripe, and generally misinterpreting the film. It's an embarrassing feature, and one wonders what connection to the people involved in the DVD this man has, and why he would be featured so prominently in the packaging.
Overall, El Cid is a terrific popcorn movie to watch, but a film of depth and great art it's not. Akira Kurosawa would have really lifted a project like this into the heavens. These days, all of the thousands of extras would simply be added in via CG, so it is quite impressive to see a film that truly was epic in scope. I also prefer the old method of putting all the credits at the start of the film, and, of course, there's Charlton Heston. Simply put, Heston is the quintessential American Alpha Male Movie Star. John Wayne, Sylvester Stallone, Marlon Brando, Errol Flynn, Cary Grant, Rock Hudson. No one really compares, except for, perhaps, Gary Cooper. While this film does not test his acting chops the way Major Dundee did, nor is it as iconic as his roles in Planet Of The Apes nor The Ten Commandments, it may be the role Heston was most suited to play, for it seems that he is never straining, and always in his comfort zone. Regardless, watch El Cid if you want an idea of what the filmgoing experience was, at its best, during the middle of last century.
 AWESOME - GET ONE TODAY May 04, 2010
ALL I CAN SAY IS AWESOME FILM _ THEY DONT REALLY MAKE LIKE THIS TYPE ANYMORE IN HOLLWOOD.
My background: I am an avid movie buff and will be returning to school to study film, I look to these types of films to educate myself in my filmmmaking pursuits.
El Cid was directed by the extremely talented visionary director Anthony Mann, he also did Fall of the Roman Empire; and the set pieces for that FORE movie were incredible, built from scratch under the direction of Samuel Bronsteen/ the producer. This type of Director is seldom seen in Hollywood and underappreciated ( and actaully this film was not made in Hollywood, or the U.S.)-- Mr. Mann was a true "artist." Too bad he didnt make more epic films.
In my opinion The only other visionary directors in the industry that are somewhat comparable today would be Ridley Scott and Christopher Nolan but I really think Anthony Mann is actually in a seperate class of viisonary directors, along with Cecil B. Demille. I should mention also John Boorman who I thnk is equal to Anthony Mann (having made the epic film EXCALIBUR)in telling quality stories--Boorman is an incredible director.
THE ACTORS :
Charton Heston gave an incredible performance as the Spaniard Rodrigo Diaz of Vivar, known as El Cid. And Sophia Loren also gives an incredible performance. All the acting was stellar from beginning to end!
The DVD I purchased has extra features where you learn that in making the film they employed the advisory input from the most noted scholar in Spain at that time who specialized in this specific time period of the history of Spain; so the they tried to make it as an historically accurate reflection of the real events that took place- however they did base many parts of the movie on a famous poem/book written by a French author.
I only wish we had more directors and producers like Mann and Bronsteen still with us today - they left a filmmaking legacy that that is unforgettable and aweinspiring.
I HIGHLY RECCOMEND THIS FILM FOR BOTH ENTERTAINMENT AND FOR ASPIRING STUDENTS OF FILM
Father In Laws Favorite Apr 22, 2010
Father in law always talked about this movie but we could never find it anywhere local. This was a great present that he watches often!
 El Cid DVD Mar 22, 2010
An entertaining film with fine production design and costumes. Miklos Rozsa's score for El Cid is one of composer's greatest achievements. The widescreen picture is enhanced for 16:9 TVs and of very high quality.
El Cid Mar 15, 2010
Great re mastered edition of a classic epic from the sixties. packaged well and extremley enjoyable.Charlton Heston was super as the legendary El Cid..
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