Man of La Mancha (1972)

In the heart of the sixteenth century, the story unfurls around Miguel de Cervantes, a dynamic poet, adroit playwright, and occasional actor, who, along with his loyal manservant, finds himself ensnared in the unforgiving grasp of the Spanish Inquisition. Accused of staging an entertainment piece that offends the orthodoxy of the Inquisition, they are thrown into a vast, ominous dungeon, becoming unwilling guests in a world of despair. Inside this echoing abyss, a motley crew of fellow prisoners, each carrying their own tales of woe, conspire against Cervantes and his servant. They initiate a daunting mock trial with the intent of seizing or incinerating his valuable possessions. Among these treasures is a manuscript that Cervantes guards with fervent desperation, a written testament of an eccentric, yet enthralling tale: the story of Don Quixote. This manuscript serves as the gateway to the musical rendition of Don Quixote, where we meet the ageing nobleman, lost in his own mad world of chivalrous quests and misguided adventures. A source of embarrassment to his once noble family, Quixote, accompanied by his unwavering companion Sancho Panza, valiantly duels with windmills and gallantly defends his lady love, Dulcinea. Unknown to him, Dulcinea is in reality Aldonza, a hardened lady of the night, far removed from the pedestal upon which Quixote places her. In an act of desperate preservation, Cervantes brings his manuscript to life within the grim confines of the dungeon. Using the rudimentary costumes, crude makeup, and the reluctant participation of his fellow inmates, he stages an unconventional defense. This is not merely a tale of Cervantes and his fictional hero, but a journey that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, drawing all into the whirlwind world of Don Quixote.

Man of La Mancha is an adventure movie featuring Peter O'Toole and directed by Arthur Hiller.

Man of La Mancha is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

It is also possible to buy Man of La Mancha on Amazon Video, Apple TV and Vudu.