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 Lighter and Softer 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."
Awesome Music: Even with 20% of the soundtrack having been cut out of Executive Meddling (which made him furious), Miklos Rozsa delivered, as he always did for his time's Epic Movies. While it has not remained as iconic as that of Ben-Hur, the soundtrack of El Cid could give it a run for its money in the bombast department.
Moment of Awesome: Even if Rodrigo/Cid caught a BIG Idiot Ball, the fact that he made his own lord-of-liege swear by God that he didn't have anything to do with his older brother's death was ballsy.
Spiritual Adaptation: The El Cid campaign in Age of Empires II is clearly based on the movie, at least in places. This shouldn't be surprising as the film was re-released in The '90s, coinciding with a time of raised interest in Hispanic culture in the United States.
