I love lots of epic films, but for me EL CID is THE great epic film, even better than BEN-HUR. I wish they'd do a Blu-ray of EL CID from the original Technirama elements.
Do you have the version with the commentary on the producer? Very interesting story. Francisco Franco supported the movie with the Spanish army because he saw himself as the Cid-—the “free agent” who doesn’t want to be king, who only is “protecting” the monarchy until it’s time to hand the reins of power over (which, of course, he actually did).
Bronstein made, I think two more movies after that then cratered. Neither “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” or “Circus World” were hits.