El Cid (1961)
Anthony Mann's 1961 Spanish reconquista epic. Charlton Heston as Rodrigo Diaz, Sophia Loren.
Raf Vallone was a professional footballer and then a journalist and film critic before acting, which is an unusual route.
Bitter Rice made him a star in Italy, and El Cid and The Godfather Part III gave him international work, the latter playing a cardinal. A View from the Bridge, adapting Arthur Miller, is the one to seek out, and he played the role on stage in Paris as well.