EL CID
US, 1961, 182 minutes, Colour.
Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, Herbert Lom, Genevieve Page, Raf Vallone, John Fraser, Douglas Wilmer, Michael Hordern, Gary Raymond, Hurd Hatfield, Massimo Serrato, Frank Thring.
Directed by Anthony Mann.
El Cid is a spectacle, the kind of film made in the late 50s and early 60s, especially with Charlton Heston, coming soon after Ben Hur. Here he is teamed with Sophia Loren who won an Oscar that year for the Italian film, Two Women. The film has an international supporting cast from Italy, France, England and Australia’s Frank Thring.
It was one of several spectacles produced by Samuel Bronston (King of Kings, 55 Days at Peking, Fall of the Roman Empire). It was directed by Anthony Mann, a competent director of many genres – but especially a series of films during the 1950s, several of them westerns, with James Stewart.
The film is set in the 11th century, wars within Spain itself as well as the confrontation with the Moors coming from Africa. Charlton Heston plays the leader Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, an admired leader who confronts various enemies, but kills the father of his future wife, played rather vengefully by Sophia Loren.
The main focus of the film is the attack by the Moors, El Cid’s battles against them, his death – and the famous propping him up on his horse to give the Moors the impression that he was still alive or had been resurrected, leading to their rout.
The film is rousing, fine to look at, has an Oscar-nominated score by Miklos Rosza.
The film is interesting to look at in view of changes in attitudes about East and West, Christianity and Islam at the end of the 20th century and into the 21st century.
1. How enjoyable a spectacle, its scope and vastness length, glimpse of history, costumes, decor?
2. Audience response to the production values, scope, re-creation of history, battles, pageantry? The impact of the stars?
3. The importance of the atmosphere of legend and myth, the nature of heroes, heroics and heroic actions? Conflict, good and evil, a quest, endurance? The support of the heroine? How well were these popular ingredients of myth illustrated?
4. Did the film re-create well the atmosphere of Spain in the Middle Ages, its political role in Europe, its relationship with Africa and the Moors? Internal politics and power struggles, foreign alliances?
5. How well delineated were the characters, the quality of their dialogue, stereotyped speech? Were the characters well developed or were they types? Does this matter in this kind of spectacle?
6. How well did the film interest the audience in the political situation of Spain? El Cid and his influence and role in politics and in the safeguarding of the country, relationship with the Moors? King Ferdinand and his control, his thirteen children and their in-fighting , Ben Yussuf and his evil influence, the various Muslim rulers, especially Xadir of Valencia? The clashes, the ideologies, the greed and power struggles?
7. How well did the film illustrate and explore themes of greed, plotting and betrayals? The fact of seeing this kind of human behaviour in sumptuous settings? The ironies of presentation of politics and power?
8. How attractive a hero was El Cid? Charlton Heston and what he brought to the role? The initial presentation of him as a hero, his qualities of character, generosity, magnanimity and loyalty? His pardoning the Moorish chieftains , his wisdom in doing this and yet people opposed to him? His being forced by circumstances and evil advisers? His being misunderstood by the king , by his fiancee? The importance of his encounter with Jimena and her not understanding his position? Her interpretation of disloyalty and the length that she went to kill him? His loyalty despite the dishonour done to him?
9. The characters of Sancho, Alonzo, Urraca? The qualities of their character and their vices? Their plots against one another and their alliances? Their manoeuvring for total power? Their treachery to one another even to death? E1 Cid's loyalty to them because they were the leaders of the country?
10. The character of Jimena , Sophia Loren in the role, her love and the reasons for its turning into hatred? Her plotting the death of her husband, her reaction to him? Her being a mother yet being in the convent? The gradual understanding of the truth and the intensity of her change? Her final support of her husband? Her suitable heroine for this kind of film?
11. The loyalty of Ordonez, his character, royalty?
12. The picture of the various Moorish chieftains, their beliefs, Loyalty and disloyalty ?
13. The dramatic significance of El Cid's fight with Dom Martin? The feeling at the court, the picturing of the battle. Its dramatic placement within the structure of the film?
14. The portrayal of the battles?
15. How well did the film show the passing of the years, the exile of the Cid, his loyalty to the kings and their betrayal of him? His ageing and his relationship with his wife and child? The tenderness of their scenes together compared with the action scenes?
16. The build-up to the siege of Valencia, Radir and his treachery and death, the relief of the siege? His final
heroism in being wounded, the stately mythical ride on the horse leading his troops and terrifying the Moors?
17. How enjoyable an action adventure? How much history can be learnt from this kind of film? The admiration of heroes? The place of myths?
