El Cid
El Cid is a 1961 epic historical drama film directed by Anthony Mann and produced by Samuel Bronston. The film is loosely based on the life of the 11th-century Castilian warlord Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, called "El Cid" (from the Arabic al-sidi, meaning "The Lord"). The film stars Charlton Heston in the title role and Sophia Loren as Doña Jimena, spelled "Chimene" in the script and pronounced that way (shim-ain) in the film. The screenplay is credited to Fredric M. Frank, Philip Yordan and Ben Barzman, with uncredited contributions by Bernard Gordon.
Plot
General Ben Yusuf of the Almoravid dynasty has summoned all the emirs of Al-Andalus to North Africa. He chastises them for co-existing peacefully with their Christian neighbors, which goes against his dream of Islamic world domination. The emirs return to Spain with orders to resume hostilities with the Christians while Ben Yusuf readies his army for a full-scale invasion.
Cast
- Andrew Cruickshank
- Antonio Mayáns
- Barbara Everest
- Carlo Giustini
- Charlton Heston
- Christopher Rhodes
- Douglas Wilmer
- Fausto Tozzi
- Franco Fantasia
- Frank Thring
- Gary Raymond
- Geneviève Page
- Gerard Tichy
- Herbert Lom
- Hurd Hatfield
- John Fraser
- Massimo Serato
- Michael Hordern
- Nerio Bernardi
- Paul Müller
- Paul Naschy
- Raf Vallone
- Ralph Truman
- Robert Rietti
- Roland Ménard
- Rosalba Neri
- Sophia Loren
- Tullio Carminati
- Virgilio Teixeira