El Cid (1961) – Spain’s Medieval Hero and the Truth Behind the Legend

Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren star in Anthony Mann's epic knight's tale El Cid.

We take a look through the history behind the real Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid), the Reconquista and the Almoravid dynasty and ask whether El Cid was actually a chivalrous knight or ruthless mercenary?

Plus: Heston and Loren's epic spat on set, the reason why Francisco Franco loved this movie and Raf Valone's communist partisan, Serie A-winning back story.

Remember Charlie Croker's threat of ethnic genocide, or would just like to get in touch? Drop us a line at historicalmoviespodcast@gmail.com