Don Diego Vega pretends to be an indolent fop as a cover for his true identity, the masked avenger Zorro. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.
Douglas Fairbanks
Don Diego Vega / Señor Zorro
Noah Beery
Sgt. Pedro Gonzales
Charles Hill Mailes
Don Carlos Pulido
Claire McDowell
Dona Catalina Pulido
Marguerite De La Motte
Lolita Pulido
Robert McKim
Capt. Juan Ramon
George Periolat
Gov. Alvarado
Walt Whitman
Fray Felipe
Sidney De Gray
Don Alejandro (as Sydney De Gray)
Tote Du Crow
Bernardo
Noah Beery Jr.
Boy (uncredited)
Milton Berle
Boy (uncredited)
Gilbert Clayton
Soldier with 'Z' Carved on His Face
Manuel Caballero
Villager
John George
Prisoner in Jail
Augustina López
Woman at Fray Felipes Trial
Albert MacQuarrie
Charles Stevens
Jack Tornek
Betty Vent
John Winn
Director
Fred Niblo
Scenario Writer, Writer
Douglas Fairbanks
Scenario Writer, Writer
Eugene Miller
Story
Johnston McCulley
June 6, 2022
7
It was always one of the highlights during the school holidays to watch Guy Williams and Henry Calvin in the 1957 television series of this story - and you can clearly see it's roots in this. A classic piece of action adventure based around the antics of Fairbanks' "Zorro" - a Scarlet Pimpernel style character that couldn't tie his own shoelaces on the outside, but with a secret persona determined to fight for justice and equality in the face of the corruption of the Governor (George Periolat) and the nasty "Capt. Ramon" (Robert McKim). His identity is known only to a few loyal friends; not even his often disappointed parents, nor his would be señorita "Lolita" (Marguerite de la Motte) who see him as a bit of a wastrel - know how courageous "Don Diego" actually is!. There is quite a lot of humour in this, McKim and a fairly hammy Noah Beery ("Sgt. Gonzales") bring some light-hearted menace to the proceedings and plenty of fisticuffs, sword fencing and a really well choreographed cat and mouse sequence for the last twenty minutes make for a most enjoyable feature. Fred Niblo and Douglas Fairbanks were clearly on the same wavelength in this picture - which wasn't always the case between the star and his directors - and their efforts provide for a great film to look at, with the costumes (how hot must they have been under all of that?) and casting looking every the inch the part, too... Short, certainly, but that just makes it all the sweeter.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00