I'm a bit surprised about Hollywierdos throwing a party around the movie El Cid. Spanish crusader in the Reconquest of Spain right?
I really don't know Scorcese's politics, so I just assume he's a liberal. But he spent a good deal of his own money to restore "El Cid" and they did a fabulous job.
He spoke before they screened it, about how wonderful the movie was, and how timeless the stars (who were both there) were.
This was before (obviously) the War on Terror (so defeating the Muslim horde wasn't particulary controversial yet) and before Heston went very public with his NRA affiliation.
Heston was the best that night. After Scorcese introduced him, he went up to the stage and thanked "Marty" for his devotion to the restoration of cinemas old gems. All class, he said that the restoration brought back the beauty of the film, but then said something along the lines of, "But there was one element to the film that needed no restoration in it's timeless beauty. I'm speaking, of course, of my lovely and ageless co-star, the forever-beautiful Sophia Loren." She said nothing, but just waved to the crowd like she was the Queen of England. I hate to admit, but she was around seventy years old, and she still looked pretty fine, in a old lady sorta way.
After a standing ovation, he sat right next to her and watched the whole film.
It was really cool to see.