Man of La Mancha

1972
PG
2h 12m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

4.9K

YOUR RATING

Sophia Loren, Peter O'Toole, and James Coco in Man of La Mancha (1972)

The funny story of mad but kind and chivalrous elderly nobleman Don Quixote who, aided by his squire Sancho Panza, fights windmills that are seen as dragons to save prostitute Dulcinea who is seen as a noblewoman.

Play trailer3:09

6 Videos

31 Photos

Costume Drama Period Drama Quest Drama Fantasy Musical Romance

The funny story of mad but kind and chivalrous elderly nobleman Don Quixote who, aided by his squire Sancho Panza, fights windmills that are seen as dragons to save prostitute Dulcinea who i... Read allThe funny story of mad but kind and chivalrous elderly nobleman Don Quixote who, aided by his squire Sancho Panza, fights windmills that are seen as dragons to save prostitute Dulcinea who is seen as a noblewoman.The funny story of mad but kind and chivalrous elderly nobleman Don Quixote who, aided by his squire Sancho Panza, fights windmills that are seen as dragons to save prostitute Dulcinea who is seen as a noblewoman.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

4.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 3 nominations total

Videos6

Trailer 3:09

Trailer

Clip 2:52

Man Of LA Mancha: Don Quixote Charges The Giant

Clip 2:52

Man Of LA Mancha: Don Quixote Charges The Giant

Clip 2:41

Man Of LA Mancha: I, Don Quixote

Clip 2:59

Man Of LA Mancha: Don Quixote Meets Aldonza

Clip 2:28

Man Of LA Mancha: The Impossible Dream

Clip 2:25

Man Of LA Mancha: The Birth Of Don Quixote De LA Mancha

Photos31

+ 24

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Kirk Douglas was so keen to play Don Quixote that he offered Paramount $1m for the rights. In 1965, Anthony Quinn negotiated with Dale Wasserman for the film rights. Quinn wanted Mexican comedian Cantinflas for the role of "Sancho Panza" (with Quinn as Quixote).

Goofs
In the film, Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra uses the story of Don Quixote to defend the hero's chivalric notions. In the final pages of the novel, and only in the final pages, he declares that his intention was to satirize and poke fun at the exaggerated books of chivalry which were then in vogue. Part I of "Don Quixote" published in 1605, is mostly comic; Part II, published in 1615, is more melancholy and psychological. Most critics feel that, despite his satirical intentions, Cervantes mellowed and began to admire Don Quixote between publication of the 2 parts.

Quotes
Miguel de Cervantes: I'm a poet.
The Duke: They're putting people in prison for that?
Miguel de Cervantes: No, no, no, not for that.
The Duke: Too bad.

Crazy credits
During the opening credits, we see the animated sails of a windmill, which, with each turn, begin to reveal, and finally become, a sketch of the face of Don Quixote. The camera moves in for an extreme closeup of the facial features, which, as the camera gets close, reveal themselves to be a giant prop in an outdoor stage presentation during a festival. As the opening credits end, the sketch of that prop dissolves into the real item.

Alternate versions
The DVD features the MGM logo in the credits, but not the United Artists one, although the film is a United Artists release. The VHS release featured both logos, and the original theatrical release only the United Artists one, along with the Transamerica logo (Transamerica once owned UA).

Connections
Featured in The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003)

Soundtracks
Man of La Mancha
(I, Don Quixote)
Music by Mitch Leigh
Lyrics by Joe Darion
Performed by Simon Gilbert, Peter O'Toole (speaking),
and James Coco

User reviews81

Review

Featured review

10/10

A great movie

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It saddens me that there are those out there who think this movie was horrible. How can you watch O'Toole give his speech: "Maddest of all: to see life as it is and not as it should be!" and not be brought to emotion? This movie is not exactly like the theater version. However, if you note who made the screenplay changes, the song changes, etc., it's the same men who worked on the play. There are some good songs cut out. And Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren are not the world's best singers. But this movie is brilliant. Coco is a wonderful Sancho, I love his voice and his expression. O'Toole is a fabulous actor and I felt like the prisoners in the end singing "The Impossible Dream." I own this movie. I encourage anyone who hasn't seen it to go get it and watch it. It has inspired me to try to do better in everything I do, and I often watch it and sing the songs to remind me to "see life as it should be." And if this movie needs a defender, I sign up for the job.