The Castilian


The Castilian 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, Spain.
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.

Plot

Don Sancho is a despotic 10th century castilian king who, in league with the invading Moors, has banished handsome Castilian nobleman Fernán González. With the surreptitious aid of Don Sancho's daughter, Sancha, Fernán González assembles an army to march against the Moors.

Cast

The film was known during production as The Valley of the Swords. Linda Darnell was supposed to star in the film but had to bow out and was replaced by Alida Valli.

Comic book adaption