EL CID

Director: Anthony Mann
Music: Miklos Rozsa
Cast: Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren

El Cid is set in eleventh century Spain at a time when the tensions between the Christians and Muslims are escalating.The story begins as Rodrigo Diaz of Bivarre(Charlton Heston) is travelling to Castille in order to marry his fiance' Chimene (Sophia Loren). On the way he and his party are attacked by Moors in a village. The village is virtually destroyed by the Moors but their leaders are captured. The crowds of peasants gather at Bivarre to see Rodrigo and his prisoners and the people wish to see the leaders hanged. An officer of the king of Castille arrives and is about to hang the prisoners when Rodrigo decides to let them go. One of the leaders, Motamid, Emir of Zaraggossa pledges eternal friendship to Rodrigo and gives him the name El Cid. The other leaders also pledge allegiance to him. As this is done the officer accuses Rodrigo of treason and orders him to appear before the king to answer the charges. Chimene's father is one of his accusers while Rodrigo's father defends him and calls his accusers liars. Chimene's father then slaps Rodrigo's fathers face with a gauntlet, shaming him. When Rodrigo learns of this he confronts Chimene's father, the king's champion and kills him. Chimene sees this and swears to avenge her father and when Rodrigo accepts to fight the Champion of Aragon in order to clear his name of the charges of treason she sees her opportunity. After a titanic battle in which Rodrigo was always on the back foot he manages to defeat the other champion and claim the city of Calahora for Castille causing Chimene great anguish. Chimene is then forced to marry Rodrigo after her hired assasin failed to kill him during an expedition in which Rodrigo was saved by lord Motamid. King Ferdinand dies soon after and divides his kingdom between his three children which results in the kingdom being torn apart. King Sancho, the eldest orders king Alphonso imprisoned. Rodrigo recaptures Alphonso and takes him to his sister, ruler of Calahora. Meanwhile in Valencia the African Emir, Ben Yusef who plans to invade Spain orders the Emir of Valencia to hold his position if they are attacked as he hopes to land his forces there. Ben Yusef sends an assasin to kill king Sancho and gain favour with Alphonso. The assasin does this but is discovered by Rodrigo and killed. Alphonso is named king and at the ceremony asks everyone to kneel in sign of fealty. Only Rodrigo does not and asks the king to swear upon the holy books to prove his innocence. He does this reluctantly and afterwards banishes Rodrigo for life from Castille. Chimene then falls in love with Rodrigo once again and they hope to live their lives in peace. When they awake after spending a night in a barn they are met outside by an army of knights loyal to him and from here on he leads his forces against Ben Yusef with the help of Lord Motamid and other mercenaries.

BACK