Anthony Mann masterfully directs this classic tale of the 11th-century hero (Heston) who fought to unite Spain. Known as history s "compassionate warrior" the film follows El Cid s remarkable journey from peace-broker accused of treason to the King s fighting champion and later from exiled hero to legendary martyr.System Requirements:Run Time: 188 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/CLASSICS UPC: 796019803960 Manufacturer No: 80396
Technically ambitious but artistically underwhelming, this 1961 epic by Anthony Mann (Man of the West) stars Charlton Heston as an 11th-century hero who drives the Moors from Spain. The film has been described as "glum," and that is indeed apt for a story that focuses so much on its central character's losses in the face of his simultaneous, mythic approbation. Then again, Mann has always been interested in the hidden weaknesses in prevailing myths, so that's not unusual. What is unusual in El Cid is the degree to which technology takes over his filmmaking, as it does here with so many grandiose and bravura moments with a roving camera that don't add up to anything beyond spectacle. As an achievement of Hollywood's technical advancements in the postwar years, and also as part of the filmographies of Mann and Heston, the film is well worth a look. But it is not the artistic equal of other epics of its day, such as Lawrence of Arabia. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
el cid:
I bought this cd as a birthday present. The friend who received this
enjoyed it very much.
El Cid:
This is an old favorite of ours and a classic in our opinion. Thanks to Amazon for making this wonderful hard to find movie available.
Great Movie:
This lovely classic at last available in a DVD with decent picture and sound, along with mind blowing extras. This limited collector's edition comes with 2 additional booklets and few art cards. Even though I purchased the Limited Edition, I feel like the goodies not worth the additional money I paid. Also the box will eat up more space in your DVD rack. So buying the El Cid (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition) (The Miriam Collection) will be a good deal. I highly recommend this along with The Fall Of The Roman Empire... more info
Inspiring Movie:
This is a classic movie that will inspire you. It is clean cut and great for the entire family.
