The Mark of Zorro

Ricardo Montalbon does a fair job, but the rest of the acting is atrocious. The Tyrone Power Jr. version was one of the hallmarks of filmdom, and one of my all time favorite movies. I had never seen this movie till today, and couldn't stand more than 20 minutes of it.

Personally, I actually like this film a little better than either of the arguably better known 1920 and 1940 film versions.

As a mid-1970s television feature, it looks more like a big budget film than some of it's studio tentpole brethren of the era. The film makes excellent use of the old FOX Ranch and period costumes to create a set design that looks "real" but has an aura of pageantry that makes the film a visual treat. The action is of a high standard for the day; in a world full of CGI heroes and digital backgrounds, it's nice from time to time to see actual human beings do actual physical stunts to sell the action.

The script and score are more or less recycled from the 1940 film version, but it is the cast that ultimately make the film worthwhile; particular note must be given to Ricardo Montalban, who has a certain ruthless charm that he brings to Captain Esteban Montenegro that makes his character a memorable and formidable villain. Frank Langella was, at this point in his life, a perfect Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro; portraying both aspects of the character perfectly. His danyish Diego is fun, but not over done. One can always see his intelligence behind his foppish exterior. As Zorro, he both heroically dashing and romantically charming, playing his scenes with Anne Archer perfectly.

I'm not aware of a DVD or Blu-ray release, but it is well worth watching when it appears on cable television.

Don Diego returns from Spain to his family in California to find that his father has been replaced as ruler of the area by the dastardly and cruel Don Luis Quintero. Despite being a bit of a swordsman, Diego downplays his skills in front of the wicked Captain Esteban and shows himself to be a bit of a clown in front of his family. However secretly Diego picks up the sword of justice as Zorro and fights to return justice to the region and his people.

I taped this film because I honestly expected it to be a silly film at best; at worst I feared it would be an awful mess of a film that would hopefully make me laugh. However I was very pleasantly surprised to find a film that, although a little cheesy and dated, was actually quite good fun to watch in an unassuming way. The film has a sort of cheesy tone to it that reminded me of badly dubbed movies from Europe in the 70's but this was actually much better without taking itself too seriously.

The story is pretty faithful to the original films and it has recognisable parts in spades. While it is never funny it does manage to be enjoyable in the way it is playful as well as having a bit of swash and buckle about it. While the majority of it only hints at action, the final swordfight between Zorro and Esteban is more fun than I expect it to be (as one who has grown accustom to CGI and so on).

The cast really helps the whole thing to be as much fun as it is. Langella has a habit of being a bit too heavy and serious but here he gets everything just right. His Diego is a comic fop while his Zorro is suitably heroic and upright without being dry or dull. Middleton is reasonable enough but it is the wonderful Montalban who enjoys the best villain role. He doesn't have that much to do at times but he has a good presence about him and has real charisma. It was a surprise to find Anne Archer in the support cast but she is good as well.

Overall this film quite took me by surprise because I enjoyed it. Of course it's not perfect and of course it's all a bit cheesy and silly at times but it enjoys itself and has a real sense of fun about it. The short running time plays to it's quick pace and to it's benefit as I think much longer and the faults would have begun to impose themselves, however as it is it is short, punchy and a lot more fun than I expected it to be!

Set in the 1840s, in the salty flavour of Old California , in which the inimitable Frank Langella is Don Diego De la Vega , a foppish young who returns to California from Madrid , Spain . In his local home he finds his mother (Yvonne De Carlo) and father Alejandro de la Vega (Gilbert Roland) who has been replaced as ruler of the region by the cruel Don Luis Quintero. The look-alike gay Don Diego poses as a fleebe man , but he dons a black outfit and becomes the Zorro , the legendary masked , hero of oppressed . Zorro riding in the hoof-prints , relishes his secret identity in cape and blade and help the good people who are mistreated , thwarting the ambitious plans of the meanie official , Captain Esteban , (Ricardo Montalban) only to find the people overrun and overtaxed by a corrupt Mayor (Robert Middleton) , as Don Diego he takes matters into his own hands as the masked crusader Zorro. As Zorro fights to return justice to the country and his people .

Derring-do , feats , romance , adventures , humor , and action find this agreeable swashbuckler . Interesting and moving teleplay by Brian Taggert , based on the story "The Curse of Capistrano" by Johnston McCully about the unforgettable Don Diego , the foppish dandy by day and the masked swordsman Zorro who slashes "Z"s everywhere by night. . Here Zorro-Langella is a skilled swordsman , fights evildoers and an greedy oppressor captain , while saving damsel in distress from a fate worse than death . Frank Langella runs , jumps , and leaping all over the images and overacting outrageously when plays the queer Don Diego . A nice cast keeps the picture moving at a rapid clip . Frank Langella gives a cool acting as the foppish Don Diego de la Vega who goes back returns Spain to his family in California and secretly picks up the sword of justice as the masked hero Zorro. He's finely accompanied by a good cast such as : Gilbert Roland , Louise Sorel , Robert Middleton, Anne Archer , Tom Lacy , Yvonne DeCarlo. And special mention for Ricardo Montalbán as the cunning villain captain Estebán .This fairly light Zorro was well-mounted and fast paced by Don McDougall .

Other versions about this known personage , as television series, Zorro , starred by Guy Williams during the 60s and the 90s starred by Duncan Regher , as cinema : the classic silent version (1920) by Douglas Fairbanks and 'The mark of Zorro' (1940) starred by Tyrone Power , Linda Darnell and directed by Robert Mamoulian . European version about famous character Zorro (1975) well played by Alain Delon ,Stanley Baker , Ottavia Piccolo, Giacomo Rossi Stuart and Moustache . And , of course , modern rendition titled 'The mark and legend of Zorro' starred by Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones and directed by Martin Campbell .

Frank Langella makes you forget both Tyrone & Fairbanks - his Zorro is quieter, more serious, more sensual, whereas the other two played the role for laughs at times. And Langella's take on Don Diego the fop is not as effeminate or funny, more like lazy and yawning. And his eyes are very expressive and always moving.

Ricardo Montalban does pretty well as the villain, but can't compete against Basil Rathbone (1940). But the winsome, young Anne Archer is a big improvement over stiff Linda Darnell. Nice to see the still-fit, silent star Gilbert Roland as Zorro's dad.

The dialogue and script of this is very similar to the 1940 version, and it uses the same stirring theme and soundtrack composed by Alfred Newman.

You can catch this version on TV sometimes -- it's worth videotaping.