El Cid



El Cid is an adaptation (starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren) of the medieval legend of Don Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a.k.a. El Cid. The real Rodrigo Diaz seems to have been a very successful soldier of fortune who served both Christian and Moslem kings in eleventh century Spain. After centuries of multiple authors retelling the tale he became the Moslem slaying hero of the Reconquista - the Spaniards' generations long war to take their country back. In this version Rodrigo has suddenly become a multi-culturalist, working for a union of Christians and Spanish Moors against an invasion by ferocious Berber Jihadists.


 * All in the Eyes: Ben Ussuf.
 * Anguished Declaration of Love: It's hard to top Jimena's heartbroken: 'I will make myself worthy of you, Rodrigo. I will learn to hate you.' after Rodrigo kills her father.
 * Arranged Marriage: After their original engagement breaks off, Rodrigo asks the king to give him Jimene as his Standard Hero Reward.
 * Badass Cape: Rodrigo. And Charleton Heston has the shoulders to pull it off, too.
 * Badass Spaniard: The original article so to speak - even if played by the very anglo Charlton Heston.
 * Behind the Black
 * Brother-Sister Incest: Implied with Alfonso and Urraca.
 * Blondes Are Evil: Partly.
 * Combat by Champion: Rodrigo champions Castile.
 * Duel to the Death
 * El Cid Ploy: Trope namer.
 * Expository Hairstyle Change: During the intermission that covers his years spent in exile, Rodrigo grows a beard streaked with gray.
 * Femme Fatale: Urraca is characterized as this, although her part is fairly small.
 * For Doom the Bell Tolls
 * Good Scars, Evil Scars: During his exile, Rodrigo acquires a diagonal scar on his right cheek that runs from beneath his eye to his beard.
 * Historical Hero Upgrade: Definitely. The historical El-Cid seems to have been a great deal more self seeking and much less hostile to Muslims than his legend.
 * The Lady's Favour: Jimene first gives her to the Champion of Aragon in hopes he will kill Rodrigo. Then when that fails offers not just a scarf but her hand in marriage to Ordonez - a disappointed suitor - if he will do same.
 * My Master, Right or Wrong: Rodrigo has a touch of this as he refuses to fight against Alfonso no matter WHAT he does to him because Alfonso is his rightful king.
 * Ominous Pipe Organ
 * Redemption Equals Death: Ordonez who is tortured to death by the Berbers but dies declaring his belief in El Cid.
 * Royal Brat
 * Secretly Dying
 * Ten-Minute Retirement: About how long Rodrigo and Jimena get to dream of a peaceful life together before his army catches up with them. Literally--they step outside the barn, and find his army waiting for them.
 * Very Loosely Based On A True Story: In Real Life the religious frontier was rather porous and there were a number of defections from the Christian side to the Muslim side and vice-versa, both by princes and ordinary warriors. It wasn't unknown for Christians and Muslims to fight beside each other against other Christians or other Muslims without renouncing their Faith openly.