El Cid: Battle for Calahorra

[@donallally5504]

They made great movies in those days with great characters and actors in them, this was a real classic in so many ways

[@trevorpayne9671]

No stunt men! No 'Graphics" Fantastic. One of my favourite movies.

[@Marveryn]

not sure about stuntman am pretty sure that wasn't heston that fall of the horse and had the horse run him over.

[@blblbl1449]

Very poor. Cid was devastated on the beginning and then had same energy as his opponent. And the duel.. "fascinating" attacks on the shield/weapon instead on the body. You do not need billions of dollars and latest technology. Today's reconstructors fighting more interesting and better than in this movie

[@elizabethroberts6215]

Saw this firstly in 1962. Became a fan of Mr Charlton Heston after that. Had the great honour, & privilege of meeting him, & his beautiful wife, Lydia, many times’ over the next three decades’. Very ‘down to earth’ people, & fabulous to converse with! Greatest thrills’ of my life!

[@shaun5944]

Best fight scene ever! No CG here. Just pure, raw energy and physical strength. Takes your breath away just watching it! 👍🇬🇧🎬🎥

[@69Jackjones69]

My thoughts exactly

[@davidaynes5023]

Watch Ivanhoe 1952 final duel. But this one is right up there

[@conniesoulis7521]

As movies go..this was a good one .still is.

[@pachocleproplayer8259]

Greetings from Calahorra!!!

[@josephcarlbreil5380]

One of Miklos Rozsa's finest scores. His music for this scene is unforgettable.

[@shaun5944]

It doesn't get much better than this. SL, CH. One of the best films ever made. Thank you leO 👍🎥👋🇬🇧

[@terencewild4245]

Rodrigo Diaz di vivar, Europe needs another man like you right now.

[@lukeskywalker3329]

My sister married one of his descendants. 🙂✝️

[@malafakka8530]

Nonsense

[@deriter64]

From Major Dundee to Ben Hur, nobody played those larger than life roles than Heston.

[@gdgopaul]

I remember Mum (RIP) and my elder brother saying that I was making so much noise crying in the cinema back in the '60's that they had to leave bless 'em. One of my favourite movie scenes ever . . .

[@lawrencebittke8478]

I saw EL CID with my Dad when I was 8. It was an awesome movie and I actually had a “boy crush” when I saw beautiful Sophia Loren on the screen.

[@generalpublic3744]

Same here, she's an amazing looking woman. The love hate relationship was a fascinating thread through the film.

[@johnferguson40]

Sophia Loren, Maureen O'Hara, Lois Griffin at their best, yummy.

[@generalpublic3744]

There was nothing quite like watching El Cid on the big screen. The full effect and enormity of the classic epic made an impact on a impressionable youngster aged six! I was transfixed and watched it all right through. It was a long film, but the battle at the end was the basis for my love of tactical strategy games now.

[@doughill1945]

I first saw this in Torquay around 1962. It remains one of my favourite films. The combat scene was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The setting, the colours and the emotions portrayed just superb

[@jamesmaclennan4525]

One of the few Cinematic fights where the participants actually look as if they are really trying to kill each other

[@signorellil]

Yes, that's the point of this scene. Mann had it choreographed by Enzo Musumeci Greco, an Italian fencing champion and expert on medieval swordsmanship who basically did most of the sword fight choreography in every Italian costume dramas and then went into helping staging fights in a lot of Hollywood epics shot in Europe. He added a quality of realism that up to that time was completely missing from movie sword fights. He created a movie swordfighting training school that's now run by his nephew (another former fencing world champion). The Musumeci Greco family had a long tradition on this - I believe their traditional fencing academy is now world's oldest

[@jackmyers8687]

Fantastic

[@chrisnewport7826]

Never saw better - except in Los Angeles after dark, where 405 and 91 meet.

[@andrewstackpool4911]

And, despite the double-handed swords looking to be light steel or even aluminium absolutely correct weaponry and use. Without the film to hand I am trying to recall who was his opponent and who played the King.

[@mattilatvala4164]

@@signorellil Some expert.... jousting from wrong sides. 😆 (Morning star was a good choice.) Swordfight is silly, only trying to slash trough steel armor. No attempt to wrestle down. Opening oneself long time with every slow haymaker slash. Then - a weak slash suddenly cuts thick steel and it is over.

[@pp-bb6jj]

England needs El Cid now.

[@ronniecoleman2342]

A character of history so great, so epic, so beloved that only Moses could play it.

[@donallally5504]

Absolutely fantastic stuff, one of the best in all cinematic history

[@indyandnorbert1]

Fantastic sequence, saw it as a kid at the cinema when it came out, still draw back as if in 'the line of fire' with every blow. Marvellous film altogether, watch it every few months, never tire. And a wonderful score too.

[@mqblues]

Blood on Heston's blade as he kneels. Great action scene. Bravo!

[@ajvanmarle]

I was ten years old, when I first saw this movie and fell in love with Genevieve Page. To this day, I think it is one of the best portrayals of a sociopath ever.

[@asuntosvarios7456]

¿Un sociópata en la película "El Cid"? ¿Quién?

[@williamwalker146]

Great scene from one of the greatest films ever made.

[@songsmith31a]

I saw this spectacular production when it was given a special screening that utilised the full visual and audio equipment that the Odeon, Marble Arch, London W1 was able to provide many years ago. The brilliance of the filmed scenes and the huge immediacy of the sound were what I remember. They don't make 'em like that anymore!

[@sonnyburnett4321]

For God, for the Cid and for Spainnn!!

[@mareksteinke7023]

To było kiedyś oddanie dla ojczyzny

[@goblin2bis707]

Superb ! music, actors all perfect in this scene

[@AlexandreOliveira1974]

From 2:04 to 2:13, soundtrack briefly brings the tune of one of the 'Cantigas de Santa Maria' by Castillan / Leonese King Alfonso X, the Wise. It's "CSM 7 - Santa Maria amar devemos muit' e loar". Quite interesting the composer made this insertion! The CSM (400+) were composed through the 2nd half of 1200 century (the king died in 1284), more than 150 years after the life and deeds of El Cid. They're a monument for medieval art in MANY senses - yes, musical notation is plainly registered in the 4 known Codices, which has been studied through centuries.

[@ignaciovillanueva9231]

This particular scene was shot in Belmonte, province of Cuenca in Spain. The castle that appears is real and is a 15th century castle if I am not mistaken. Nowadays you can visit it, I did it a few months ago and it is impressive. The village that appears is also the same and you can distinguish the church with its collegiate church. In this village was born an important Spanish writer Fray Luis de León.

[@philpascali4070]

wished humanity to find back such honor back

[@tigerarmyrule]

Proper old style Hollywood. Heston was superb in those roles

[@beviaart]

This is the golden age of Hollywood.

[@seymourskinner2533]

Not made in Hollywood or by Hollywood

[@Redneck322]

In Texas, we still settle disputes in mutual combat.

[@deriter64]

Nobody could have pulled this scene off like Heston.

[@JohnDoe-et8th]

[Gives Ximena her blood-soaked scarf back]: "You colors are no longer black!" epic line

[@alexkrycek21]

Such a brilliant film.

[@carterbentonjr399]

I remember seeing this back in 1972 in Westover Grammer School. We saw it in 2 parts. Boy those were the days. But of course during the romantic scenes we kids would cover our faces. But over all very great movie 🎥. Those times were a-okay 👌.

[@FernandoGon814]

What a masterpiece!

[@sonnyburnett4321]

Viva nuestro Cid Campeador! Viva España!! Dios bendiga al Cid!!

[@marcosolveirasantos8466]

Viva

[@Ac72958]

Viva El Cid. O maior campeão da Espanha

[@carlossantamariapico1571]

¿Cuál Dios? ¿Yaveh, Dios, Allah? Es que combatió por todos ellos. A cambio de dinero.

[@carlossantamariapico1571]

Castillo de Manzanares el Real. About 50 kms far from Madrid. A nice excursion, close to the Guadarrama Sierra

[@sonnyburnett4321]

@@carlossantamariapico1571 Si te destierran de Castilla al menos 2 veces, y estás rodeado de reinos de Taifas moros, no te queda más remedio que trabajar para comer, y lo que mejor sabía hacer El Cid es batallar, pues tuvo que ir a la Taifa de Zaragoza por ejemplo a prestar sus servicios al rey Moro..Cómo diablos iba a vivir si era una España casi entera musulmana, si te destierran? Era común la guerra de cristianos contra cristianos, moros contra moros, y entre ellos..Así que lo del Cid era completamente normal en ese tiempo..pero como buen castellano el era cristiano..de eso no hay dudas…

[@Priyo866]

Memories of me as a kid playing Age of Empires II come to my mind...I was playing El Cid campaign and building small villages all around...hurling monks everywhere and using only El Cid to fight... :P Oh God...nostalgia.

[@robertoinsaurralde2494]

very good

[@jamesupton4996]

That was brutal. And Sophia Loren was awesomely beautiful.

[@tackyman2011]

The Cid with that bare throat, the gorget not coming up to cover his neck. Friggin' Hollywood Medieval.

[@surajratti1329]

Spain wonderful country

[@jslasher1]

Miklos Rozsa's score adds so much to the tenor of these scenes.

[@jorgesantos1641]

Eu era muito jovem quando assisti esse filmaço . Até os dias atuais com 60 anos, ainda me lembro da história.

[@sethpotter9592]

Sometimes I wish trial by combat would return. In our civilized society of today, justice is not served.

[@gdgopaul]

Love this bit of the film when I was a kid . . .

[@ArizonaAirspace]

Charleton Heston was made for this heroic role. He was the El Cid.

[@vierchristopher]

Calahorra.La primera conquista del campeador DEL CID!!!!

[@fernandoalonsobarahona3114]

A great work of art

[@theodoregrapsas4028]

Long Live Castille and El Cid. Castille and El Cid was and is Spain.

[@jackmyers8687]

Grabbing the saddle was a surprise but a great tactical idea

[@lordbouzas3640]

Proud to be Spanish.

[@hughcapetien]

A fact, a lot of folks didn't know that both King Fernando of Castile, and King Ramiro of Aragon were both brothers, Ramiro being the younger illegitimate half brother.

[@elliottbronstein1214]

Hence the point of the duel.

[@osamaobama879]

U recognice the age, but to be honest, more heroic and epic than most stuff u see today!

[@deafsmith1006]

There can only be one!

[@signorellil]

4:41 absolutely brilliant! Reportedly this scene was quite liked by Sergio Leone

[@Prospro8]

The music here is the most interesting thing. Miklos Rozsa used 2 of the 13th Century Cantigas of Santa Maria for the fast music there at the start. A good film, very stylised hero archetype.. This was the last scene they shot in the whole film, and it shows a little. Notice how the knights charge the WRONG way, with their shields NOT facing their opponents' lance sides. They're driving on the wrong side! You'd have thought Franco's cavalry who were on site would have got that right.

[@larry1824]

Haven't seen it in decades but always renember the cids last charge

[@joehayward2631]

ElCid one of the top 5 greatest knights ever

[@AtomicExtremophile]

Heston was in a class of his own...

[@hollyshippy7417]

What we need is a remaster of "El Cid" and its release on 4K. If they can turn out 4ks of forgettable, grade B horror films, it would be a travesty not treat "El Cid" with the same care and distribution.

[@richstex4736]

Not a bad idea, as long as they don't inject a modern perspective in the story line.

[@Pope6006]

This is truly ah great action film!! El rocks!

[@oooTACooo]

Fantastic music

[@JOHN----DOE]

I hope everyone notices how nasty it is when Rodrigo give Ximena her blood-soaked scarf back and says, "Your colors are no longer black."

[@brucesharpe1079]

Proud to have had Spanish ancestor

[@caim4611]

i have too

[@lordbouzas3640]

thetrooth 99 we still have that.... but you know you can challenge someone in the street. We are in 2017.

[@joseramonsamaniego1061]

Be sure Bruce that your ancestor will also be proud of you, because Spain belongs to everyone who honors her with a noble soul.

[@brucesharpe1079]

José Ramón Samaniego hi Jose I am English but I do have Spanish on my grandmother side it goes back three or four generations we don’t know who they are it’s only a little bit my sisters son has a Spanish girlfriend he is learning Spanish off her so that can’t be bad they live in London we had holidays in Spain when I was younger Spain is a lovely country and has a great history we are (part English part Scottish part Spanish and we think there may be german there as well (we are right mongrels ha ha) the wheel turns full circle with my sister son and his girlfriend from Spain

[@robertnegron9706]

Heston must of been a time traveler.

[@George9906]

To whom does Calahorra belong?! Awsome scene! :)

[@salozinp]

Calahorra is an spanish village in region of la Rioja,(famous for his wines).Born in roman (179 B.C),in 405 A.C the visigothic barbarians conquest de city,in 711 the muslims invaders destroy the visigothics and conquest the city.In 1092 The Cid reconquest for christian kingdoms the city and the castle,finally,in 1512 the spanish catholic kings pacify the Rioja zone.One of spanish villages with long history.But the castle in film is the castle of Belmonte,the thrue castle of Calahorra is this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6KZgGmrf8lgY9E

[@pachocleproplayer8259]

salozinp That’s not the castle of Calahorra, really. La Calahorra is a town in southern Spain, in the province of Granada. Calahorra’s castle has been long gone, where it once stood, now lays a XVII century church.

[@cartouche7441]

Apparently, they used a time machine and brought some more developed armor from the 13th century.

[@frankleepower2333]

"I'll give you my sword when you pry it from my cold, dead hands" - Charlton Heston

[@sonsofliberty75]

This is a cinematic experience that defines the word epic! My favorite Heston movie!

[@georgeinfante1106]

Great Epic 🎥 cast. El. Cid. ****

[@qpae123]

Those guys fight like Terminators :))

[@johndudley5761]

Epic 👍👌

[@HectorMeana]

!!!!!!! excelente

[@timcsont6985]

I don't think any of today's millennials and woke crowd would survive such a time when masculinity and mental fortitude were a necessity such as back then.

[@fredfry5100]

Well, not to complain, but my sister used to do things like scratch up my video games, and tore out a page of one of my comics because I annoyed her. She also told me to kill myself in in a number of occasions right in front of my parents. Who usually told me to take it on the grounds that I was a "big guy". Not that they ever said that to or about anyone else. In any case, having read the D"Artagan Romances (Three Musketeers) it is spelled out that "masculinity" is about being rich, powerful, and whatever that society seems cultured.

[@timcsont6985]

@@fredfry5100 that was not even masculinity back then, it was about responsibility, self-control, purpose, courage, and above all... honor.

[@nickmail7604]

It's a good film I watched many times as a child, but the older you get you realise how daft it is. El Cid born 1043 and died 1099 in Spain is in this scene fighting with a 15th century two handed Scottish claymore. But that's the yanks for you, no respect for history.

[@rajeshnaik9879]

i love cid

[@babyrazor6887]

I can't imagine what it would cost to do this shot and build this set today, not to mention just all the costumes alone.

[@manuelgonzalez4061]

La reconquista saved Europe.

[@Skymaster.47]

That's bull. Islamic rule saved Europe and ushered in its Golden Age. The Arabic to Latin translators of Toledo spread scientific and literature works that led to the Renaissance.

[@TheSocratesofAthens]

To whom does Calahorra belong?!

[@mateoalvaro1435]

Esta rodado en España, en el pueblo de Belmonte, cuenca

[@jrisner1951]

One of the knight combat scents ever.

[@francisebbecke2727]

Of course Heston has to win. Sophia looks good no matter what she wears.

[@jackmyers8687]

Why can't we settle all disputes with Trial by Combat?

[@rulason87]

Castilla y Aragón lucharon por Calahorra?? yo pensaba que lucharon Castilla con Navarra...

[@AlfredBernasek-vm2jt]

FANTASTISCH 🎉

[@Armis71]

What's an Italian doing in Calahorra? And a beautiful one at that!

[@georgesturges2918]

ok. WHY IS THIS MOVIE NEVER ON TV CABLE OR WHATEVER???? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[@hughcapetien]

Contact the people at TCM!

[@michaelwalter3399]

I heard that the late Francisco Franco considered the story of El Cid Campeador so important to Spanish culture, he volunteered two regiments of the Spanish army for the battle scenes, much to the ire of NATO.

[@2adamast]

As long as those Spanish regiments didn't invade NATO, there is not much to ire about

[@isidroramos1073]

I don't think that's possible, since Spain joined NATO in 1982...

[@carterbentonjr399]

@@isidroramos1073 that is what I thought 💡. I know the higher ups at NATO didn't want Spain to join as long as Franco was in power.

[@joserumbado317]

We must distinguish between the literary Cid and the historical Cid. There is little to discuss about the literary, since it is based on a few written poems. That is the Cid that I prefer, because he chisels the prototype of the Castilian, of the frontier man, accustomed to fighting for his land, oblivious to the ancient honor of the Asturians and the Leonese, always faithful to his word and defender of the weak, rebellious and courteous to others, stoic and tough, long-suffering and ascetic, indomitable and courageous. When the reciters passed through the villages of Castile in the Middle Ages and recited the verses of the Poem, with their epic and high-sounding tone, even the most seasoned men cried for the Campeador's sorrows or applauded wildly if the Christian hosts plundered a Muslim fortress or the gentleman was swindling some Jewish usurers. In school, we learned those lines by heart. Thus was born Castilla, land of my father and soul of Spain.

[@JohnDoe-et8th]

Problem is, no one could possibly have survived that many whacks with a mace. But quite a show.

[@JohnWilson-zh3il]

Naturally it's a show, but from a practical point it depends on where the mace strikes.

[@JohnWilson-zh3il]

Just re-watched the sequence, and you'll notice all the mace strikes except perhaps 1 were intercepted by the shield. Yes, it was choreographed, but comparatively little plot armor.

[@JOHN----DOE]

@@JohnWilson-zh3il Well, not only does the first one hit him right in the head, but the horse tramples him a couple of times.

[@primusinterpares8202]

ella ya sabia por eso fue de luto.

[@alanfoster6589]

The two most beautiful things in this film. Rozsa's score, and Loren.

[@myaccount7166]

It's hilarious how historically innacurate this scene is🤣

[@Brvnkaerv]

Wow. She was a total fox. Sophia Loren, back in the year I was born.

[@SozialismusIstRuine]

HISPANIA AETERNA..

[@Jyromi]

nice fanfare

[@conniesoulis7521]

What does Kalahora mean in Spanish?

[@sonnyburnett4321]

Calahorra is a city of La Rioja, Spain..It has not translation

[@MaximKretsch]

0:28 left background: The Calahorra industrial area

[@emils4049]

Yeah well how else did they build their Horses? :P

[@IchabodvanTassel98]

Maxim Kretsch really?

[@CESSKAR]

Actually it's the town of Belmonte, in Cuenca.

[@lordbouzas3640]

not true dude

[@reggiespotter3427]

It is Belmonte I have been there, as well as Penniscola and Torrebalaton, fantastic castles.

[@skiphuston3501]

Is that one of the actual castles in the background? I've always wondered that!

[@isidroramos1073]

The castle does reallly exists, it's called Belmonte. It's in Castile (Ciudad Real or Cuenca provinces, not sure) but about 300 km south of Calahorra...

[@sonnyburnett4321]

The castle is in Belmonte (Cuenca) Spain, and it really exists, built by Juan Pacheco, Marquis of Villena, it is in a perfect state of conservation. I have visited it a few times and it is spectacular. It also has a museum of medieval war weapons. Spain has the highest average of fortified castles for the defense of the world, because the Christians had to defend themselves against the continuous attacks of the Muslims...

[@conniesoulis7521]

Sorry Calachora.

[@patrickmann3123]

Looking at the comments I most of seen a different film.I am not asking you if you are Christian or Muslim...I am asking you are you Spainish.Thats what sticks out for me in this film.