The Mark of Zorro

Rouben Mamoulian (1940)

89min

U Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Tony Sloman

A wonderful definitive adaptation of the great romantic legend, based on the 1919 Johnston McCulley story, with matinée idol Tyrone Power as the swashbuckling Don Diego Vega, alias the masked avenger known as Zorro. Amazingly, Ty is the equal (well, almost) of predecessor Douglas Fairbanks Sr in this lavish black-and-white 20th Century-Fox spectacular. Basil Rathbone makes as superb a villain as he did playing Sir Guy of Gisbourne to Errol Flynn's Robin Hood two years earlier, and the swordfights are terrific. The only trouble is that on TV at the slightly faster speed you can tell that they're faked. For schoolboys of all ages (and their mums if they're Power fans).

Summary

An aristocratic 19th-century swordsman returns to his native California from Spain to find the people living under the rule of a cruel tyrant. He adopts the guise of a masked avenger, fighting to protect the poor and downtrodden, while playing the foppish nobleman in his day-to-day life to avoid suspicion. Swashbuckling adventure, with Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone.

Cast & Crew

Don Diego Vega Tyrone Power

Lolita Quintero Linda Darnell

Captain Esteban Pasquale Basil Rathbone

Inez Quintero Gale Sondergaard

Fra Felipe Eugene Pallette

Don Luis Quintero J Edward Bromberg

Don Alejandro Vega Montagu Love

Senora Isabella Vega Janet Beecher

Rodrigo Robert Lowery

Turnkey Chris-Pin Martin

Sergeant Gonzales George Regas

Director Rouben Mamoulian

Other Information

Language: EnglishBlack and whiteAvailable on: video and DVD

Drama

Full Episode Guide

Rouben Mamoulian (1940)

Review

Summary

Cast & Crew

Other Information

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