Director Anthony Mann's first and finest venture into big-budget epic terrain, with Charlton Heston as the 11-century Spanish leader.
EL CID becomes estranged from his fiancee, Chimene (Sophia Loren), after he kills her father (Andrew Cruickshank), who has unjustly accused him of treason. El Cid and Chimene are married but never enjoy a wedding night; she plots against him and, when her intrigues come to naught, enters a
convent. Upon the death of King Ferdinand (Ralph Truman), Spain, which is continually besieged by the Islamic Moors, is further divided by the deceased ruler's warring offspring. Meanwhile, Chimene realizes that her husband is an honorable man a...
Released:
1961
Rated:
NR
Length:
180 mins