_**It deserves a place among the finest sword & sandal films**_ During the late 11th Century, when what is now Spain comprised of Christian territories and Moorish holdings, Castilian knight Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (Charlton Heston) earns the name ‘El Cid,’ signifying “the lord,” after demonstrating kindness toward a pair of Emirs who had planned an attack on a Spanish city. This leads to accusations of treason against him, but he demonstrates his honor, bravery and skill to King Ferdinand (Ralph Truman) and subsequent rulers (Gary Raymond, John Fraser & Geneviève Page). Sophia Loren portrays his romantic interest while Herbert Lom appears as a Berber general determined to achieve Islamic global dominance. Raf Vallone is also present as Rodrigo’s shrewd competitor for Jimena's affections. “El Cid” (1961) is surprisingly little known when compared with other well-regarded sword & sandal epics, such as “The Ten Commandments” (1956), “Ben-Hur” (1959) and “Spartacus” (1960), but it’s just as impressive and comparable to more recent films like “Troy” (2004), while also being better than the much-praised “Braveheart” (1995) and “Gladiator” (2000). Even if you don't share my opinion regarding those other movies, "El Cid" holds up well alongside any of them. I was familiar enough with Rodrigo’s actual story to anticipate that the political maneuvering would become complicated and questioned whether the movie could maintain clarity and engagement throughout its three-hour length; and it manages to do so (in contrast to “Kingdom of Heaven” from 2005). Just before the drama begins to feel protracted, a well-executed action sequence emerges, such as Rodrigo’s exciting duel with Jimena’s father. I also found worthwhile the underlying themes concerning flawed individuals in positions of power and how to overcome bitterness for productive collaboration. Regarding those who might question Charlton Heston's casting as a Spaniard, the Castilian aristocracy of the 11th Century was generally of Visigothic origin, which is to say German. Despite ongoing immigration from various groups, there are still many blond Spaniards around, even redheads. (It’s important to remember that Spain is part of Europe, not Mexico). The film has a running time of 3 hours and 2 minutes, and filming took place in Spain with studio work completed in Rome. GRADE: A

Source on TMDB