Review of El Cid (1961) by John P — 12 Apr 2008
Ah! those glorious days of the "roadshow", when you had to purchase advance tickets to reserve a seat in a BIG theatre with a BIG curved screen! I remember really anticipating EL CID: reading the epic poem, listening to the stirring Miklos Rozsa score endlessly - so that when I actually saw the film, well...
It was pretty boring.
If the second half could've lived up to the first half, there might have been something for the ages. As it is, Heston's a stalwart (if jaw-clenchingly stiff) hero; Sophia could do with more cleaveage visible (and definitely more facial EXPRESSION!) - and what's Herbert Lom doing in a Super Technirama 70 movie.
Like this? BUT - two key sequences redeem this picture: the Tournament for Calahorra.
(best joust ever filmed!) and the duel between Diego and Sophia's dad, the King's Champion Count Gormaz (the actors look like they need cranes to lift those blades, which really go CLANGGGG!). Bottom line:
I'd sit thru EL CID again just for those two fights; they, alone, justify my overly-generous three-star rating.
This review of El Cid (1961) was written by John P on 12 Apr 2008.
El Cid has generally received positive reviews.
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