"El Cid"'s return on DVD

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The big question with the 1.29 release of a digitally remastered El Cid -- a two-disc box set with all kinds of extras from Bob and Harvey Weinstein's Miriam Collection -- is "what elements did they work from?" Did the guys who did the digital remastering scan the original negative (which should be in excellent shape, a restoration authority believes) or did they work from the same separation masters with registration problems that resulted in that slightly cruddy-looking, bordering-on-despised Criterion laserdisc from the '90s?

Let's be optimistic and hope/presume that this new El Cid will be a lot better looking. I've called around and no one seems to know who oversaw the digital remastering, much less which elements it was taken from. A guy named Gerry Byrne appears on the DVD in a short video piece in which he discusses "the importance of film preservation and restoration." My restoration source didn't know Byrne from Adam.

The film was originally shot in 35m 8-perf -- the same sideways-through-the-gate format that Spartacus was shot on. It was then blown up to 70mm and called Super Technirama 70.

Directed by Anthony Mann and starring Charlton Heston, Sophia Loren, Raf Vallone and Herbert Lom, El Cid is a dramatically respectable film with a still-interesting subtext -- a battle between valiant Christians and marauding, wild-eyed Moors. A little stiff, a little too stately for its own good...but that was the style of the day.

The somewhat despised Criterion laserdisc of El Cid

I remember liking the first half (i.e., the part mainly concerned with love and honor -- Heston's personal issues and his hunger for Loren's Jimena) better than the second half in which Heston wears a beard and struts around like a great God-like figure. I remember a pretty good jousting-and-sword fight sequence in an arena.

The single best element in the whole film, if you ask me, is Miklos Rosza's score.

Martin Scorsese, naturally, offers an introduction on the DVD. If you buy the big box you can own the original El Cid comic book. The box will cost $39.92; the deluxe two-disc package without the extras will sell for $24.95.

The film itself will be projected at an Arclight screening on 1.28.08. I'm definitely attending.

Jimena: Why did you come?
El Cid: I tried not to come. I tried, I told my love it had no right to live. But my love won't die...
Jimena: Kill it.
El Cid: You kill it! Tell me you don't love me.
Jimena: [long pause] I cannot. Not yet. But I will make myself worthy of you Rodrigo,. I will learn to hate you.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 10, 2008 at 11:57 AM

comment #1

Bilge says ...

This is one of the greatest films ever made. The chemistry between Heston and Loren is pretty terrific, and the plot actually goes in some unexpected directions. And that very, very last scene is kind of crazy.

Anthony Mann might just have been the most underrated director of all time, though he was plenty popular in his day.

Posted by Bilge at January 10, 2008 1:13 PM

comment #2

lazarus says ...

I'm just surprised that Charlton Heston was cast as a Latin guy. Twice.

Posted by lazarus at January 10, 2008 1:19 PM

comment #3

BurmaShave says ...

"I'm supposed to do a thriller for Universal. They want Charlton Heston as a Mexican!"

This movie kept Heston from campaigning on behalf of JFK, no joke.

Posted by BurmaShave at January 10, 2008 1:25 PM

comment #4

btwnproductions says ...

Byrne published the late, lamented Stagebill, till it fell into the East River and drowned in 2002. I believe he was also involved with Variety and is somehow latched onto the Tribeca Film Festival. How he got involved in this Weinstein venture I don't know, but he keeps resurfacing in the NY media biz some capacity or another.

It's been a long time since I watched the Criterion EL CID but as most of the extras from that LD seem to have been ported over to this DVD it's not all that bad.

Posted by btwnproductions at January 10, 2008 1:26 PM

comment #5

p.Vice says ...

What, no post celebrating Zodiac's WGA nom?

Posted by p.Vice at January 10, 2008 1:33 PM

comment #6

Gaydos says ...

One of the greatest Westerns ever made, Anthony Mann's MAN OF THE WEST, is not on region one DVD. The only way to see the movie is a 1991 pan and scan VHS or perhaps an Australian DVD of questionable quality from several years ago.

Sign the petition now!

Posted by Gaydos at January 10, 2008 1:40 PM

comment #7

peachtree says ...

Turner Classic Movies frequently airs Man of the West. Next showing is March 11.

Posted by peachtree at January 10, 2008 1:57 PM

comment #8

Dirty Harry says ...

The Mighty Chuck Heston on the bigscreen. Clutching my tickets in my hot little fist.

Wells -- we should hang out after. Martinis, thick steak, a steam...?

Hey, I'm starting a "Nader For '08" petition. Anyone interested?

Posted by Dirty Harry at January 10, 2008 2:00 PM

comment #9

T. Holly says ...

if only I had seen this at the Academy's Miklos Rosza retrospective

Posted by T. Holly at January 10, 2008 2:02 PM

comment #10

Gaydos says ...

Peachtree: YOU ROCK! THNX!!!!

Anyone who has never seen this film, do yourself a favor. It's up there with Wild Bunch, Pat Garrett, High Country, Shooting, Unforgiven, Red River, ie, one of the really complex, thoughtful, dark Westerns with a great central perf by Gary Cooper and brilliant support from Lee J. Cobb and Jack Lord.

Posted by Gaydos at January 10, 2008 2:04 PM

comment #11

p.Vice says ...

I just watched Man of the West about two or three weeks ago on TCM. They had a great double feature with Lawman, possibly the only respectable film Michael Winner ever directed.

Posted by p.Vice at January 10, 2008 2:07 PM

comment #12

Dirty Harry says ...

Only respectable Michael Winner film?

Death Wish I & 2? Chato's Land? Stone Killer? The Mechanic...? The Bronson canon...? Please tell me you guys aren't that liberal...

Posted by Dirty Harry at January 10, 2008 2:11 PM

comment #13

jeffmcm says ...

Harry, you should be working harder on that ballot initiative to steal 20 of California's electoral votes for your guy (whoever it ends up being).

Death Wish 1 and The Mechanic are both respectable, sure. And I think Chato's Land, even though it's not a very good movie, still is about a wrongly-accused Native American who gets revenge on his honky oppressors.

Posted by jeffmcm at January 10, 2008 2:16 PM

comment #14

Dirty Harry says ...

Jeff, we don't have to steal votes. We just let you Democrats create your own butterfly ballots.

Death Wish 2 kicks 1's ass all over the place. This time it's personal... That Jimmy Page score. Pulp-brilliance.

Posted by Dirty Harry at January 10, 2008 2:22 PM

comment #15

BurmaShave says ...

If the surge keeps, McCain-Lieberman '08 wins by ten points, McCain serves one term and steps aside for Petraeus. You heard it hear first.

NOW WHAT THE FUCK DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH EL CID?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by BurmaShave at January 10, 2008 2:39 PM

comment #16

The Hoyk says ...

I'm technically a clotting-heart liberal, so yeah, I can find some common ground with you, Dirty. Micheal Winner's THE JOKERS with Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed is rather underrated.

Speaking of Dirty and Winner, I've always been curious to check out Michael's female DEATH WISH ripoff DIRTY WEEKEND. Is it worth it on even a cheap laughs basis?

Posted by The Hoyk at January 10, 2008 2:40 PM

comment #17

BurmaShave says ...

SCORPIO is my favorite Michael Winner film, it's arguably terrible but I can't resist Lancaster and Delon. Good call Dirty Harry, he is a master of pulp.

Posted by BurmaShave at January 10, 2008 4:56 PM

comment #18

movieirv says ...

surprised Jeff didn;t remember Gerry Byrne from Variety. He was one of the main editors there for years. Also, surprised no one remembers El Cid being reissued in theaters ten years ago in a dazzling newly struck print "presented by Scorsese." I second "The Jokers," a film that's Dadaist in cocnept: Let's steal the Crown Jewels just to steal them. Great Swinging London stuff.

Posted by movieirv at January 10, 2008 5:13 PM

comment #19

movieirv says ...

in april, weinstein is putting out fall of the roman empire, which jeff has pointed out is really gladiator before gladiator. it won't get the $40 deluxe edition, but it'll be cool to have it out there, followed by 55 days at peking and circus world down the line.

Posted by movieirv at January 10, 2008 5:16 PM

comment #20

moviemaniac2002 says ...

After this film, the next one they simply must
restore is the other Heston/Bronston epic "55 Days At Peking"...Chuck and David Niven (with some help from Ava Gardner)hold off hordes of
Chinese Boxers under the command of the evil
Empress and Prime Minister (played in Charlie Chan makeup by Dame Flora Robson and Sir Robert
Helpmann!) Even features a cameo by Sam Fuller and wonderfully overripe music score by Dimitri
Tiomkin.

Posted by moviemaniac2002 at January 10, 2008 6:44 PM

comment #21

christian says ...

DEATH WISH 2 is so sleazy you need to shower while watching it.

Posted by christian at January 10, 2008 7:17 PM

comment #22

Dellos says ...

Did anyone remember to get the dead guy off the horse or is still riding around out there somewhere?

Posted by Dellos at January 10, 2008 7:57 PM

comment #23

StoneFan1 says ...

"The Fall of the Roman Empire" coming April 29th!

Posted by StoneFan1 at January 10, 2008 9:44 PM

comment #24

SeattleTheater says ...

The really big EL CID news is that Herbert Bergel's Rock Opera adaptation of EL CID (Seattle's funniest late-night show from the '90s) returns to Seattle on January 30th. It's being performed at the BUSH (no relation) school. Here's a MASH-UP clip of the show:

http://homepage.mac.com/mindset/hiddenpastlife/iMovieTheater85.html

If you're anywhere near the Northwest, it'll be well worth checking out! Call 206 322-7978 for info/reservations.

Posted by SeattleTheater at January 10, 2008 9:56 PM

comment #25

Terry McCarty says ...

movieirv wrote:
Also, surprised no one remembers El Cid being reissued in theaters ten years ago in a dazzling newly struck print "presented by Scorsese."

I remember when it played the Cinerama Dome in 1993. I saw it there; it made for a welcome (but temporary) respite from the stress of working on the film JIMMY HOLLYWOOD.

Looking forward to the EL CID DVD.

Posted by Terry McCarty at January 10, 2008 11:44 PM

comment #26

PerfectTommy says ...

Speaking of Heston and history, just watched "Khartoum" again. Excellent film that also explores the Christian vs. Islam dynamic. It's amazing how many thousands of years of history you can cover just with the films of Chuck.

Posted by PerfectTommy at January 11, 2008 3:56 AM

comment #27

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

It's amazing how many thousands of years of history you can cover just with the films of Chuck.

From the rule of Egypt... to the dominion of the apes!

To someone's earlier question, yes, 55 Days at Peking and Circus World are coming later.

Now if only someone would remaster the works of Samuel L. Bronkowitz.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at January 11, 2008 7:13 AM

comment #28

christian says ...

When does JIMMY HOLLYWOOD come out in a 2-disc set?

Posted by christian at January 11, 2008 7:52 AM

comment #29

Rich S. says ...

"From the rule of Egypt... to the dominion of the apes!"

From Chim-pan-A to chim-pan-zee!

Posted by Rich S. at January 11, 2008 8:16 AM

comment #30

Gaydos says ...

btwnproductions: No this isn't THAT Gerry Byrne (who's a friend, a publishing pro and a great guy but NOT a film preservation expert), it's Gerald "Gerry" Byrne who I can't find anything about, not with the aid or God nor Google.

Posted by Gaydos at January 11, 2008 10:24 AM

comment #31

Terry McCarty says ...

Christian wrote:
When does JIMMY HOLLYWOOD come out in a 2-disc set?

It was probably a miracle that Paramount put the film out as a one-disc bare-bones entry.

Some fun trivia re JIMMY HOLLYWOOD:
Madonna and Gary Oldman were considered for the roles played by Victoria Abril and Christian Slater.

To be objective, JH probably falls into the middle of the pack re Barry Levinson's career (at least the films I've seen): it isn't DINER, TIN MEN, BUGSY or RAIN MAN--and it isn't TOYS or SPHERE.

Posted by Terry McCarty at January 11, 2008 12:26 PM

comment #32

sarkmbt says ...

Hour after hour passed away, and slowly Dorothy got over her
fright; but she felt quite lonely, and the wind shrieked so loudly
all about her that she nearly became deaf. At first she had
wondered if she would be dashed to pieces when the house fell again;
but as the hours passed and nothing terrible happened, she stopped
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