I saw this movie when I was only 17, and it was an inspiration to me. It made me love Spain, its people and its history, and learn Spanish. I wasn't so much into Charlton Heston as I was into any movies that had Yul Brynner in them, but I thought the portrayal of Don Rodrigo de Bevar was done well by Heston, and I adored Sophia Loren. The story of El Cid's battles against the scimitar-brandishing Moorish Lord, which for some reason I was under the impression Herbert Lom had played, was quite well done--but what did I know? I was only 17. What I also had no clue about was that within my own lifetime, my country, and indeed the world, would be fighting radical Islam which Spain had been conquered by and subjected to for 400 years! Who do you think "the black-turbaned Moorish" were? We need to revive that classic and watch it through 2006 eyes. There's a lesson in there. Who will be America's Cid?
I have not been able to find this movie on DVD, but will read other comments here and see if I can come up with a place to purchase a good one. It's a classic. The scenery is lovely (although it was probably filmed on backlots and in Italy!) the music is beautiful, costuming was very well done, and the movie was just enrapturing. My favorite line is still a battle cry today among the Spanish: "For God, for Country, and for the King!" Por Dios, por la patria, y el Rey!
I have not been able to find this movie on DVD, but will read other comments here and see if I can come up with a place to purchase a good one. It's a classic. The scenery is lovely (although it was probably filmed on backlots and in Italy!) the music is beautiful, costuming was very well done, and the movie was just enrapturing. My favorite line is still a battle cry today among the Spanish: "For God, for Country, and for the King!" Por Dios, por la patria, y el Rey!