The Castilian (in Spanish El valle de las espadas) is a 1963 independently made biographical film drama in Eastmancolor, produced by Sidney W. Pink, directed by Javier Setó, that stars Cesar Romero, Frankie Avalon, Broderick Crawford, Alida Valli, Espartaco Santoni, Tere Velázquez, Fernando Rey, and Soledad Miranda. The Castilian was distributed in the U.S. by Warner Bros. Pictures. All of film's exteriors were shot in Burgos and Peñafiel (Valladolid), Spain.
The Castilian | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Javier Setó |
Written by | Paulino Rodrigo Luis de los Arcos Javier Setó |
Screenplay by | Paulino Rodrigo Luis de los Arcos Javier Setó |
Based on | Poema de Fernán González |
Produced by | Sidney W. Pink |
Starring | Cesar Romero Frankie Avalon |
Cinematography | Mario Pacheco |
Edited by | Richard Mayer Margarita de Ochoa |
Music by | José Buenagú |
Production company | Producciones Cinematográficas M.D. S.L. |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. (USA) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
Country | Spain |
Language | English |
The film's storyline concerns Fernán González of Castile, the first independent Count of Castile, who lived and reigned in the early 10th century. He is considered an important figure in the Spanish Reconquista.
Don Sancho (Broderick Crawford) is a despotic 10th century castilian king who, in league with the invading Moors, has banished handsome Castilian nobleman Fernán González (Espartaco Santoni). With the surreptitious aid of Don Sancho's daughter, Sancha (Tere Velázquez), Fernán González assembles an army to march against the Moors.[1]
The film was known during production as The Valley of the Swords.[2] Linda Darnell was supposed to star in the film but had to bow out and was replaced by Alida Valli.[3]
Films produced by Sidney W. Pink | |
---|---|
|
![]() | This article about a biographical film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
![]() | This article related to a Spanish film of the 1960s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |