Synopsis

In 11th-century Spain, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar becomes known as El Cid after defending Christian kingdoms while showing mercy toward defeated Moorish leaders. Political betrayal and personal honor eventually force him into exile, but his military skill and reputation draw him back into the struggle for Valencia. The epic follows his campaigns, loyalties, and final effort to unite a divided country against invasion.

Factoids & Trivia

• Producer Samuel Bronston developed the film as part of an ambitious production program based in Spain. It became an American-Italian-Spanish co-production involving Bronston's company, Dear Film, and Spanish partner Aspa Films.

• Principal photography began in November 1960 at Sevilla Studios in Madrid, with extensive location work across Spain and interior filming at Rome's Cinecitta Studios.

• Locations included Belmonte, Burgos, Calahorra, Manzanares, Penisc ola, Valencia, and the Guadarrama Mountains. Penisc ola supplied the coastal setting for the film's large battle scenes.

• The production used approximately 1,700 Spanish Army troops in battle sequences, along with 500 mounted riders from Madrid's Municipal Honor Guard.

• Costumes were hand-sewn by seamstresses near Madrid and reportedly cost about $500,000. A sword factory in Toledo worked under an exclusive contract for eight months to produce medieval-style weapons.

• The picture was photographed in Technicolor using the Super Technirama process and was released in both 35mm and 70mm presentations. Its running time was approximately 184 minutes.

• Sophia Loren's role was expanded after early footage received favorable reactions during production.

• Allied Artists supported the roadshow release with a reported $2 million advertising campaign. The New York premiere took place at the Warner Theatre on December 14, 1961.

• The film received Academy Award nominations for art direction, Miklos Rozsa's musical score, and the song "Love Theme from El Cid (The Falcon and the Dove)."

• Samuel Bronston received a Golden Globe Special Achievement Award for the production.

• El Cid was commercially successful, earning a reported $14 million at the U.S. box office during its first ten months of release.

• The film later received a restored and lengthened version, which was presented at the 1993 AFI International Film Festival.