Don Rodrigo (Charlton Heston) is on his way to marry Ximena (Sophia Loren) when he saves a town from a Moor attack. Don Rodrigo spares the lives of the Moor emirs who proclaim him El Cid. The Spanish accuse him of treason and Don Rodrigo ends up having to fight and kill the king's champion, who is also Ximena's father...
Although Don Rodrigo regains the king's favour he loses Ximena's. She even tries to get him killed with various intrigues as the Christians spend as much time fighting each other as the Moors. Despite being shunned and exiled Don Rodrigo, El Cid, remains fiercely loyal to the king. As Ibn Yusef's forces gather near Valencia it will soon be time for El Cid to fight in the deciding battle against the Moor invaders...
The film is an amazing spectacle. The various twists and turns in the court intrigue may sometimes be a bit confusing but the sheer majesty of the film will take you safely through it. The frequent battle scenes and fights are very bloody. It is dominating, excessive, memorable... just like an epic should be. Romantic and bold like El Cid the perfect knight.
