History Film / ElCid

''El Cid'' is a 1961 {{epic|movie}} historical film directed by Creator/AnthonyMann and written by Frederic M. Frank and Philip Yordan. Music/MiklosRozsa composed the soundtrack. The film is heavily based off the 1637 stage play ''Le Cid'' by Pierre Corneille.

* AcousticLicense: The Cid arrives at Valencia (depicted by the coastal fortress of Peñíscola about 145km to the north) where his army has surrounded and besieged the fortress for weeks to starve them out. The Cid addresses the starving denizens to inspire them to revolt and has his army lob bread loaves into the fortress with their siege engines. Creator/CharltonHeston as El Cid applies '''[[Creator/BrianBlessed BRIAN BLESSED]]''' levels of vocal projection from the beach about 1/4 mile from the fort, and his words are heard over the surf and penetrates into every back alley within the fortress.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/el_cid_1961_movie_poster.jpg]]

''El Cid'' is a 1961 {{epic|movie}} historical film directed by Creator/AnthonyMann and written by Frederic M. Frank and Philip Yordan. Music/MiklosRozsa composed the soundtrack.

* DanBrowned: Famed Spanish historian Ramón Menéndez Pidal, considered to be ''the'' authority on El Cid back in the day, was famously hired as the production's historical advisor, something that was boasted in the Spanish print's credits... only to have just about each and every one of his notes completely ignored in favor of telling a story that's mostly fictional.

** To begin with, the real Cid acted as more a self-serving mercenary than the multi-culturalist hero he is portrayed as being here. Furthermore, he didn't kill Diego Fernández, his father-in-law, in a duel.

** El Cid was actually exiled ''twice'', at different points in his life, by Alfonso. While the popular legend holds that Rodrigo was exiled for forcing the king to swear his innocence, the real reason probably had more to do with palace intrigues and the fact that he was, well, a self-serving mercenary.
** Both the Moorish Andalusians and the Berber Almoravids wield curved scimitars. In reality, both factions used straight, double-edged swords (Andalusian swords in particular were often nigh-identical to those used by Christian knights). It should be noted that this is a fairly common misconception.

** Yusuf never personally sieged Valencia. Rather, it was his nephew (acting on his orders) who did so. Additionally, the film depicts Yusuf dying during the final charge that breaks the Almoravid siege, when in reality he died of natural causes a good few years after El Cid.
* ArtisticLicenseReligion: While the substituting Allah for God is hardly new when it comes to representing Muslims in film, a notable example happens when Yusuf declares to a dying Ordonez, before finishing him off: "This will be a battle between our God, and yours!" The statement implies a simultaneous and distinct existence of a Christian god and a Muslim god, which is a big no-no for Islam as it is a ''strictly'' monotheistic religion that outright rejects the existence of other deities other than God. It's also unlikely that a religious fundamentalist like Yusuf would say such a thing.

As per the source material, Rodrigo Diaz's (Creator/CharltonHeston) life gets complicated after he kills his bethroted's father in an informal duel. Needless to say, Jimena (Creator/SophiaLoren) takes this badly. In accordance with the best medieval ideals of vendetta, she makes an earnest effort to have Rodrigo killed. As Rodrigo is now the King's champion, replacing Jimena's dad, his majesty takes exception to this and thinks it's a fine idea to make the couple marry after all. Jimena chooses the wedding night to confess that she was party to an underhanded attempt to murder Rodrigo. Hurt but understanding he makes no attempt to consummate the marriage. This does nothing to help Jimena's state of mind as she is deeply in love with her husband, father killer or no.

* AluminiumChristmasTrees: Despite being a fine example of HollywoodHistory, the film gets a few surprising details right.
** While the idea of Moors and Christians cooperating out of nationalistic fervor is rather overdone to say the least, alliances between Christian and Muslim kingdoms were hardly uncommon during the Spanish Middle Ages, and a charismatic warlord like El Cid could well attract followers from both sides. Furthermore it was also not unknown for Moorish warriors to regard North Africans as interlopers and take the side of Christian princes for that reason. The film makes it LighterAndSofter but it is not completely without foundation.
** Almoravid warriors were known historically for wearing face veils, even in non-desert environments where one would think them unnecessary. Contemporary Arabic writers even referred to them as ''al-mulathimum'', or "Veiled Ones."

It is an adaptation of the stories around Don Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a.k.a. "El Cid" (the Lord in Spanish). The real Rodrigo Diaz seems to have been a very successful soldier of fortune who served both Christian and Muslim kings without distinction in eleventh century Spain, eventually leveraging his military skill into a fiefdom in the then-mostly Arab/Berber city of Valencia. After centuries of multiple authors retelling the tale he became the Muslim slaying hero of the Reconquista. In this version Rodrigo is a multi-culturalist, working for a union of Christians and Spanish Moors against an invasion by ferocious Berbers.

* Determinator: After being gravely wounded by an arrow to the chest, doctors inform Rodrigo they could likely save his life through a surgical procedure but he would be laid up for some time. Rodrigo refuses to leave his army and allies at such a critical moment and insists on riding out the next morning to meet Yusef's forces in battle, whether or not he is still alive, dying, or already dead when the morning comes.

The 1961 film ''El Cid'', directed by Creator/AnthonyMann with a soundtrack by Music/MiklosRozsa, is an adaptation of the medieval legend of Don Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a.k.a. "El Cid" (the Lord). The real Rodrigo Diaz seems to have been a very successful soldier of fortune who served both Christian and Muslim kings without distinction in eleventh century Spain, eventually leveraging his military skill into a fiefdom in the then-mostly Arab/Berber city of Valencia. After centuries of multiple authors retelling the tale he became the Muslim slaying hero of the Reconquista. In this version Rodrigo is a multi-culturalist, working for a union of Christians and Spanish Moors against an invasion by ferocious Berbers.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/el_cid_1961_movie_poster.jpg]]

The 1961 film ''El Cid'', directed by Creator/AnthonyMann, is an adaptation of the medieval legend of Don Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a.k.a. "El Cid" (the Lord). The real Rodrigo Diaz seems to have been a very successful soldier of fortune who served both Christian and Muslim kings without distinction in eleventh century Spain, eventually leveraging his military skill into a fiefdom in the then-mostly Arab/Berber city of Valencia. After centuries of multiple authors retelling the tale he became the Muslim slaying hero of the Reconquista. In this version Rodrigo is a multi-culturalist, working for a union of Christians and Spanish Moors against an invasion by ferocious Berbers.

As per the source material, Rodrigo Diaz's (Creator/CharltonHeston) life gets complicated after he kills his girlfriend's father in an informal duel. Needless to say, Jimena (Creator/SophiaLoren) takes this badly. In accordance with the best medieval ideals of vendetta, she makes an earnest effort to have Rodrigo killed. As Rodrigo is now the King's champion, replacing Jimena's dad, his majesty takes exception to this and thinks it's a fine idea to make the couple marry after all. Jimena chooses the wedding night to confess that she was party to an underhanded attempt to murder Rodrigo. Hurt but understanding he makes no attempt to consummate the marriage. This does nothing to help Jimena's state of mind as she is deeply in love with her husband, father killer or no.

Meanwhile, King Ferdinand dies, leaving his kingdom to be divided between his two sons. The elder, Sancho (Gary Raymond), says to hell with that and attacks his younger sibling Alfonso (John Fraser), who is supported by their slinky blond sister, Princess Urracca (Genevieve Page). Rodrigo sides with Sancho, because he is his friend. But Sancho is murdered at the behest of Urracca and the King's Champion publicly forces Alfonso to swear he had NOTHING to do with it. (He didn't.) Needless to say, this goes over like a ton of bricks with Alfonso and Urracca, who promptly exile Rodrigo. This prompts Jimena to resolve her conflict (to hell with vengeance, Dad - it was a fair fight, and ''you'' started it!) and follow Rodrigo. They are dreaming happily of a humble life together in some remote valley when the appearance of his entire fief and just about every officer who ever served with him puts an end to that. The lot of them then set out to fight the Berber horde on behalf of Rodrigo's friend the Emir Moutamin (Douglas Wilmer). Alfonso, back in Castille, busies himself by doing everything possible to make Rodrigo's life harder, including capturing and imprisoning Jimena and their twin daughters. Ordonez (Raf Vallone), Jimena's old admirer and Rodrigo's bitter enemy and attempted murderer, atones by helping Jimena and her children escape. Alfonso sees the light and throws off Urracca's evil influence and rides to join the Cid, dying of his wounds, for the final battle against the Berbers.

The movie ends with a DyingMomentOfAwesome in which Rodrigo's dead body, tied onto his horse, leads the victorious charge and then gallops off into the sunset (literally).

* DanBrowned: Famed Spanish historian Ramón Menéndez Pidal, considered to be ''the'' authority on El Cid back in the day, was famously hired as the production's historical advisor, something that was boasted in the Spanish print's credits... just to have about each and every of his notes completely ignored in favor of telling a story that's mostly fictional.

* DivideAndConquer: Yussef’s plan is to take advantage of Sancho and Alfonso’s power struggle for Castile and force the kingdom into civil war, eventually leaving them vulnerable for his own army. Although he successfully initiates his plan by having a sleeper agent kill Sancho and frame Alfonso as the guilty party, it is squashed when Rodrigo forces Alfonso to swear his innocence, maintaining Castille’s unity.

Meanwhile, King Ferdinand dies, leaving his kingdom to be divided between his two sons. The elder, Sancho (Gary Raymond), says to hell with that and attacks his younger sibling Alfonso (John Fraser), who is supported by their slinky blond sister, Princess Urracca (Genevieve Page). Rodrigo sides with Sancho, because he is his friend. But Sancho is murdered at the behest of Urracca and the King's Champion publicly forces Alfonso to swear he had NOTHING to do with it. Needless to say, this goes over like a ton of bricks with Alfonso and Urracca, who promptly exile Rodrigo. This prompts Jimena to resolve her conflict (to hell with vengeance, Dad - it was a fair fight, and ''you'' started it!) and follow Rodrigo. They are dreaming happily of a humble life together in some remote valley when the appearance of his entire fief and just about every officer who ever served with him puts an end to that. The lot of them then set out to fight the Berber horde on behalf of Rodrigo's friend the Emir Moutamin (Douglas Wilmer). Alfonso, back in Castille, busies himself by doing everything possible to make Rodrigo's life harder, including capturing and imprisoning Jimena and their twin daughters. Ordonez (Raf Vallone), Jimena's old admirer and Rodrigo's bitter enemy and attempted murderer, atones by helping Jimena and her children escape. Alfonso sees the light and throws off Urracca's evil influence and rides to join the Cid, dying of his wounds, for the final battle against the Berbers.

** The bit about Rodrigo making king Alfonso swear himself innocent of his brother's death on a bible in public is most likely a fabrication, though to be fair this bit of embellished history [[OlderThanSteam predates the film by a bit]].

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: While the substituting Allah for God is hardly new when it comes to representing Muslims in film, a notable example happens when Yusuf declares to a dying Ordonez, before finishing him off: "This will be a battle between our God, and yours!" The statement implies the simultaneous existence of a Christian god and a Muslim god, which is a big no-no for Islam as it is a ''strictly'' monotheistic religion that outright rejects the existence of other deities other than God. It's also unlikely that a religious fundamentalist like Yusuf would say such a thing.

* AluminiumChristmasTrees: Despite being a fine example of HollywoodHistory ([[Administrivia/TropesAreTools not that that's a bad thing]]), the film gets a few surprising details right.

As per the source material Rodrigo Diaz's (Creator/CharltonHeston) life gets complicated after he kills his girlfriend's father in an informal duel. Needless to say Jimena (Creator/SophiaLoren) takes this badly. In accordance with the best medieval ideals of vendetta she makes an earnest effort to have Rodrigo killed. As Rodrigo is now the King's champion, replacing Jimena's dad, his majesty takes exception to this and thinks its a fine idea to make the couple marry after all. Jimena chooses the wedding night to confess that she was party to an underhanded attempt to murder Rodrigo. Hurt but understanding he makes no attempt to consummate the marriage. This does nothing to help Jimena's state of mind as she is deeply in love with her husband, father killer or no. Meanwhile King Ferdinand dies leaving his kingdom to be divided between his two sons. The elder, Sancho (Gary Raymond), says to hell with that and attacks his younger sibling Alfonso (John Fraser), who is supported by their slinky blond sister Princess Urracca (Genevieve Page). Rodrigo sides with Sancho, because he is his friend. But Sancho is murdered at the behest of Urracca and the King's Champion publicly forces Alfonso to swear he had NOTHING to do with it. Needless to say this goes over like a ton of bricks with Alfonso and Urracca who promptly exile Rodrigo. This prompts Jimena to resolve her conflict (to hell with vengeance, Dad- it was a fair fight, and ''you'' started it!) and follow Rodrigo. They are dreaming happily of a humble life together in some remote valley when the appearance of his entire fief and just about every officer who ever served with him puts an end to that. The lot of them then set out to fight the Berber horde on behalf of Rodrigo's friend the Emir Moutamin (Douglas Wilmer). Alfonso, back in Castille, busies himself by doing everything possible to make Rodrigo's life harder, including capturing and imprisoning Jimena and their twin daughters. Ordonez (Raf Vallone), Jimena's old admirer and Rodrigo's bitter enemy and attempted murderer, atones by helping Jimena and her children escape. Alfonso sees the light and throws off Urracca's evil influence and rides to join the Cid, dying of his wounds, for the final battle against the Berbers.

* AluminiumChristmasTrees: Despite being a fine example of HollywoodHistory ([[TropesAreNotBad not that that's a bad thing]]), the film gets a few surprising details right.

** The Almoravid warriors ''were'' known historically for wearing face veils, even in non-desert environments where one would think them unnecessary. Contemporary Arabic writers even referred to them as ''al-mulathimum'', or "Veiled Ones."