Product Description

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1460 in DVD
• Brand: WELLSPRING/GENIUS
• Released on: 2008-01-29
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 188 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
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

El Cid
El Cid is poorly written, poorly acted, and the actors motivations seem to come from nowhere.

Anthony Mann's classic spectacle
The great director Anthony Mann after having made many Westerns with James Stewart entered into the arena of classic spectacles with this riveting adventure. Heston & Loren are perfectly matched though during screening they developed an intense dislike to each other to the degree that when Mann cast his next film, "The Fall of the Roman Empire" with Loren--she requested that Heston not be her co-star (it went to the wooden Stephen Boyd instead). Nevertheless, they are marvelous together and if you happen to attend a revival showing of this film in Ultra Panavision--do see it. I was fortunate enough to see this film in that wide format (2.75) several years ago in Berkeley but the Miriam edition is an excellent remastering.Compared to the over-rated, ponderous "Ben Hur", "El Cid" showcases Heston at his best particularly in the final scenes as the fallen hero riding to his eventual fate as mythic hero. Exciting swordfights, splendant Spanish landscapes, the beauty of Loren and Anthony Mann's superb direction make this an all time winner which can be appreciated on a large screen (50' and above) flat panel HDTV. Totally recommended.

el cid

I bought this cd as a birthday present. The friend who received this
enjoyed it very much.