El Cid presents “the story of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar [Charlton Heston] ... a man who became Spain's greatest hero by rising above religious divisions and appealing to all Spaniards, whether Christian or Moorish [similar to how JCVD befriended Jews and Muslims in The Order, where Heston also appeared], so they could confront the threat of destruction looming over their land.” Rodrigo’s efforts at unity are aided by …

_**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 agai…

The film *El Cid* recounts the narrative of Rodrigo Diaz, a figure whose courage and moral principles helped his nation repel Moorish invaders from Spain. What I appreciate most about this movie is that despite its nearly three-hour length, I didn’t once check the time. It's a captivating production with all the expected qualities of an expansive historical epic. The visuals, the costumes, the grand scale, and the…