Cid [Deluxe Edition] [2 Discs] DVD

El Cid
When French playwright Pierre Corneille wrote El Cid, a fanciful version of the life of 11th-century Spanish hero Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar, aka "El Cid", an attempt was made to honor the "classic unities" and to compress the whole story into a single day! Be assured that the 1961 film version of El Cid is more faithful to the actual chronology. Charlton Heston adds one more character to his gallery of historical portrayals as El Cid, the disgraced Spanish knight who rids his country of its Moorish conquerors. The triumphs of El Cid's military life are not matched by his private affairs; he is betrayed by his bride Chimene (Sophia Loren) and is made a political pawn by the avaricious Spanish landowners. El Cid has a climax unique in the annals of movie epics: the final assault against the landgrabbers is led by a dead hero. El Cid established the short but generally profitable reign of producer Samuel Bronston as the King of the Epics; his imprint on the film is much stronger than that of director Anthony Mann. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Charlton Heston as Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar/El Cid Sophia Loren as Chimene Raf Vallone as Count Ordonez Ralph Truman as King Ferdinand Gary Raymond as Prince Sancho John Fraser as Prince Alfonso Genevičve Page as Princess Urraca Andrew Cruickshank as Count Gomez Michael Hordern as Don Diego Gerard Tichy as King Ramirez Christopher Rhodes as Don Martin Hurd Hatfield as Count Arias Massimo Serato as Fanez Carlo Giustini as Bermudez Douglas Wilmer as Moutamin Frank Thring as Al Kadir Herbert Lom as Ben Yussuf

Crew Veniero Colasanti - Art Director Michael Waszynski - Associate Producer Jaime Prades - Associate Producer Veniero Colasanti - Costume Designer John J. Moore - Costume Designer José Lopez Rodero - First Assistant Director Anthony Mann - Director Robert Lawrence - Editor Miklos Rozsa - Composer (Music Score) Mario Van Riel - Makeup John J. Moore - Production Designer Veniero Colasanti - Production Designer Robert Krasker - Cinematographer Manuel Berenguer - Cinematographer Leon Chooluck - Production Manager Samuel Bronston - Producer Anthony Mann - Producer Veniero Colasanti - Set Designer John J. Moore - Set Designer Jack Erickson - Special Effects Alex C. Weldon - Special Effects Yakima Canutt - Stunts Fredric M. Frank - Screenwriter Diego Fabbri - Screenwriter Philip Yordan - Screenwriter

El Cid
Charlton Heston's knack for wearing the mantle of larger-than-life characters serves him well in this 1961 Anthony Mann film of a noble Spanish warrior's campaign to unite his divided country against the threat of a Moorish invasion. Amid the pageantry of 11th century feudal Spain, Heston portrays the legendary Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known to history as El Cid Campeador, "the Lord Champion." Based on accounts of the Cid in El Cantar de Mio Cid circa 1200, the motion picture idealizes Rodrigo as a selfless knight committed to his cause even when his own wife, his king, and his people scorn him. Heston plays his role to the hilt, literally, as he wields sword, lance, and dagger against his enemies. The one flaw in his outwardly brilliant performance is his failure to plumb the inner turmoil of a man in conflict. Among the highlights of the film are a spectacular joust to the death over a disputed city and a seaside battle with flying arrows, shining scimitars, charging cavalry, and beating drums. The great Miklos Rosza provides an excellent music score, suggestive of the time and place, and cinematographer Robert Krasker captures the panorama of battle and the splendor of castles and countrysides. Sterling performances mark the film throughout. In particular, Herbert Lom is splendidly sinister as the invading Ben Yussef, and John Fraser and Gary Raymond are cat-claw sharp as quarreling siblings who aspire to the throne. Sophia Loren brings beauty and depth to her role as the Cid's wife, Chimene. Producer Samuel Bronston lent a liberal wallet to the making of this film, and he came up with a classic. Fans of the grand and glorious epics of the '50s and '60s should feel right at home with El Cid. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
 

Anthony Mann: Directors Guild of America, Best Director (nominated) Anthony Mann: Golden Globe, Best Director (nominated) John J. Moore: Academy, Best Color Art Direction (nominated) Miklos Rozsa: Academy, Best Drama or Comedy Score (nominated) Miklos Rozsa: Academy, Best Song (nominated) Miklos Rozsa: Golden Globe, Best Original Score (nominated) Paul Francis Webster: Academy, Best Song (nominated) Samuel Bronston: Golden Globe, Special Achievement Award (winner) Veniero Colasanti: Academy, Best Color Art Direction (nominated)

Golden Globe, Best Picture - Drama (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Spanish, English Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: Disc 1 - Feature commentary with Bill Bronston (son of producer Samuel Bronston) and Neal M. Rosendorf (historian & biographer of Samuel Bronston) Vintage radio interviews with Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren Still galleries Filmographies Disc 2 - Hollywood conquers Spain: the making of El Cid Samuel Bronston: the epic journey of a dreamer Behind the camera: Anthony Mann and El Cid Miklós Rózsa: maestro of the movies Preserving our legacy: Gerry Byrne of film preservation and restoration Trailer gallery MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 2 DVD Sides: 2 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 118 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Cid 1. Overture [3:27] 2. Opening Titles [2:43] 3. Spain, 1080 [2:37] 4. The Shortest Road [2:20] 5. We Call Such a Man 'El Cid' [5:23] 6. How Love Keeps Time [2:55] 7. Tell Me What Has Happened [6:56] 8. How Can They Call it Treason? [4:21] 9. Can a Man Live Without Honor? [10:38] 10. Take Up the Gauntlet [4:39] 11. The Fight For Calahorra [8:55] 12. Then I Will Kill Him [1:32] 13. May You Vanquish All Our Enemies [3:59] 14. Betrayed by a Christian Saved by a Moor [3:59] 15. Volo! [3:21] 16. Small Ghosts [4:11] 17. A Wound too Deep [2:35] 18. Not Within These Walls [1:12] 19. The Kingdom Will Not Be Divided [3:21] 20. Thriteen Times Thirteen [:27] 21. Our Moment Has Come [3:39] 22. It Must Happen Without Me [3:29] 23. Almost a King [2:36] 24. A Queen's Demand [5:04] 25. Oath on the Holy Books [2:05] 26. Exiled [5:23] 27. There is Only One Man... [1:44] 28. There Are Eyes Everywhere [3:57] 29. A New Life [1:25] 30. For Spain! [2:44] 31. The Severed Arm [2:05] 32. The Dream Was Short [:58] Disc #2 -- Cid 1. Summoned by the King [3:07] 2. Our Best Protection [4:26] 3. Bend of the River [2:03] 4. It Takes More Than Courage [3:58] 5. Am I Not a Man, Too? [1:16] 6. Help Me to Escape [1:43] 7. The Ride into Camp [3:53] 8. We Bring You Bread [6:44] 9. The Crown of Valencia [4:38] 10. The Coming Storm [5:25] 11. A Single Arrow [8:39] 12. The Heart is Wounded [3:03] 13. Two Promises to Keep [8:59] 14. Out of the Gates of History [6:05] 15. End Credits [:13] 16. Exit Music [2:03]