The 1961 epic "El Cid," starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren, is returning for a limited engagement at the Avalon Theatre, 3605 S. State, starting Friday.
A pet project for producer Samuel Bronston (1961's "King of Kings"), the movie chronicles the life of Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar, the 11th-century Spanish knight who attempted to unify two warring factions -- the northern Christian kings and southern Moorish emirs -- within his home country.Bronston, having grown up in Europe and having his production company based in Spain, took a personal interest in El Cid's story and spearheaded the efforts to bring it to the screen.
Pre-production on the film lasted more than a year, as Bronston insisted on authenticity, bringing in Gonzalo Menendez Pidal, a professor of Romance Literature at Madrid University, as the film's historic and literary adviser.
The famed Garrido brothers re-created period armor and weaponry for the production, Academy Award-winning composer Miklos Rosza provided the stirring score and art directors Veneiro Colasanti and John Moore supplied appropriate artwork, tapestries and clothing.
To direct, Bronston brought in Anthony Mann ("Winchester '73," "God's Little Acre"). And his only choice for the lead role was Heston, fresh off his Oscar-winning successes, "Ben-Hur" and "The Ten Commandments."
However, despite a successful theatrical run and the obvious talent involved, the film vanished from circulation and remained unavailable on video for years. Enter director Martin Scorsese, who called the movie "one of greatest epic films ever made."
In fact, Scorsese declared "El Cid" to be an unappreciated masterpiece, saying that "Mann's sense of composition, his use of space and his graceful camera movements bring to life an ancient tapestry where the transformation of an ordinary man into a legend becomes almost a mystical experience."
Consequently, he and Miramax Films acquired the North American distribution rights to the film. At the same time, two French companies had teamed up for restoration efforts on the film, using the original negatives, which had been placed in storage in London.
The new 182-minute, restored print of the film also features remixed Dolby Stereo sound, including the never-before-used intermission music and other themes, as well as many color "corrections."
"El Cid" was made before ratings but would probably receive a PG by today's standards for some violent fight scenes.
For ticket prices or showtimes for "El Cid," or for information on other Avalon Theatre programs, call 266-0258.