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ERA
Did you know
63 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Castilian
"TRUE...Actually Shot in the Medieval Locations Where the Actual Story Took Place!"
1963 2h 8m ES
🤯
10.0
MASTERPIECE
★10.0TMDB · 1
AdventureDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Also released as Valley of the Swords, this lugubrious US/Spanish co-production features the usual mid-1960s "tax shelter" international cast. Broderick Crawford plays a despotic 10th century Spanish king who, in cahoots with the invading Moors, has banished handsome Castilian nobleman Spartaco Santoni. With the surreptitious aid of Crawford's daughter Teresa Velasquez, Santoni assembles an army to march against the Moors. In keeping with the 13th century epic poem from which this film was derived ("El Poema de Fernan Gonzales") Santoni's path is smoothed by the celestial intervention of patron saints Milan and Santiago. Among the big names picking up a few tax-free dollars in The Castilian are Cesar Romero, Linda Darnell, Alida Valli and Fernando Rey.
“TRUE...Actually Shot in the Medieval Locations Where the Actual Story Took Place!”
Cast
Espartaco Santoni
Fernán González
Frankie Avalon
Jerifán
Cesar Romero
Jerónimo
Teresa Velázquez
Sancha
Tomás Blanco
Don Nuño
Germán Cobos
Abderramán
Alida Valli
Reina Teresa
Fernando Rey
Ramiro II, rey de León
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Javier Setó
- Writers
- Paulino Rodrigo, Luis de los Arcos, Paulino Rodrigo
- Languages
- Spanish, English
- Countries
- Spain, United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Javier Setó directs. Mario Pacheco behind the camera. Produced in Spain, United States of America. Dialogue in Spanish, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 163 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.
- 3International production across 2 countries: Spain, United States of America.
- 4Directed by Javier Setó, shot by Mario Pacheco. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Espartaco Santoni and Frankie Avalon and Cesar Romero carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "TRUE...Actually Shot in the Medieval Locations Where the Actual Story Took Place!".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0056646 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Mario Pacheco
- Runtime
- 128 min · 2h 8m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- ES
Also by
Javier Setó
Production companies
Who made it
- CI
Cinemagic Inc.
- M.
M.D. Producciones Cinematográficas
Key crew
- StuntsAl Wyatt Sr.
- Art DirectionJosé Antonio de la Guerra
- Camera OperatorJosé María Moreno
- ProducerSidney W. Pink
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- spain
- 10th century
- the moors (people)
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1963-09-06
Also known as
International titles
- Valley of the SwordsUS
- The CastillianUS
