In bygone days of cinematic dreams,
When epics roamed and heroes' themes,
A film arose, a treasure rare,
El Cid, a tale of honor, love, and care.
With vibrant colors, sweeping vistas wide,
It brought to life a legendary tide,
A 11th-century knight, a warlord true,
Don Rodrigo, El Cid, with heart anew.
The Iberian Peninsula, a land divided lies,
Between Christians and Moors, with conflict's sighs,
Yet El Cid stood tall, a man of noble deed,
Transcending faiths, with friendship's noble creed.
With Charlton Heston, a hero's mantle worn,
And Sophia Loren, a beauty to adorn,
The film unfolded, a tale of love and strife,
A marriage marred, a exile's bitter life.
The screenplay crafted, from records scant and old,
A 12th-century poem, and Corneille's play to mold,
A blend of romance, melodrama, and might,
A coherent whole, in the silver light.
Anthony Mann's direction, a masterful hand,
Guided the action, with a cinematic stand,
The battles raged, with thousands in the fray,
And Don Rodrigo's sacrifice, a legendary way.
The cinematography, a work of art divine,
Robert Krasker's lens, a sweeping, scenic shrine,
Miklos Rozsa's score, an evocative, medieval refrain,
Echoing through the ages, a haunting, heroic strain.
Yet, amidst the grandeur, a flaw did lie,
A romantic dynamic, lacking depth, and a chemistry dry,
Between Heston and Loren, a spark that wouldn't ignite,
A challenge for Mann, to bring the drama to the light.
Despite the shortcomings, the film remains a gem,
A nostalgic treasure, for those who yearn for them,
A cinematic experience, that showcases spectacle and might,
El Cid, a legendary tale, that shines with beauty, and delight.
Martin Scorsese's praise, a testament to its grandeur,
A film that stands the test, of time, and cinematic stature,
El Cid, a hero's tale, that echoes through the ages,
A reminder of a bygone era, when epics roamed, and heroes turned the pages.
(Note: The review in its original form can be read here.)
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