A Volta de El Zorro

First Zorro serial is one of the best. It's a modern story with planes and trains and cars and horses all being used to great effect to tell the story of Zorro (James Vega) trying to stop the villain from blowing up the railroad he own stock in. Its one of the large scale serials that Republic did in the late 30's and early 40's before budgets got tighter thanks to wartime austerity. The large cast of characters is nicely handled and it doesn't have the round and round feeling that later Zorro serials engendered. This has spectacular effects that help elevate things a couple of notches- Where else are you going to see a train try to out run a plane that is trying to bomb it?. If there is a flaw it's that there is a few musical numbers that don't really fit (Most musical numbers don't fit in serials since they slow the serial down too much)

This was one of the best early serials filled with action furnished by Yakima Canutt on the horse. Although later serials would improve the mask it was also unique in it's scripting. It was well written as serials go. It was mentioned somewhere that a serial was silly. True perhaps but we didn't get that serious with them and enjoyed anyway. This Zorro was entertaining and interesting. One of the best cliffhangers endings was with the train, early in the serial.

Good early Republic actioner. Only one cheat at a chapter ending, where you see Zorro fall from a building, but the next chapter shows him still hanging there. Carroll is best, Renaldo is fun, and Yakima Cannutt's stunt work is first rate. If only they didn't have Zorro SING!

This was typical Saturday afternoon serial stuff from Republic with the script reduced to good vs. bad shootouts, this time involving a crooked man (NOAH BEERY) who wants to take over a railroad and will stop at nothing (including bombs and derailments) to get his way. Only thing stopping him is our man Zorro (JOHN CARROLL) who dons the mask whenever he has to get down to business.

The episodes I watched were three of the earlier episodes (#3, 4 and 5) where the villains open a derailment switch and almost trap Zorro before he can release his foot caught between closing tracks as a train approaches. He uses a unique way of getting out of the situation.

Lots of scenes with the villains using the wireless to contact each other as Zorro overhears their plans. HELEN Christian and REED HOWES are two of the most bland performers in the history of serials, judging from their work in this serial. Christian has the femme lead and she almost disappears while talking.

Carroll is okay as Zorro using his slight Spanish accent and looking boyishly young before he made it to better films as a featured player.

Something only the kiddies could really love--standard serial stuff.

The first of the many serials based on the Zorro character released by Republic during the 30s and 40s.

In this one John Carroll (before going on to bigger and better things) plays the hero and his mild-mannered alter ego James Vega. Noah Beery Sr. is wasted as the Marsden, the head bad guy trying to take over the California/Yukatan Railroad. He basically never leaves his office and only appears to radio instructions to his henchman led by Richard Alexander and Robert Kortman.

As usual in Republic serials, the stunt work in this one is great. Yakima Canutt visibly doubles the hero and performs some dangerous horse to train transfers among others.

All in all it isn't bad. The only problem I had with it was the inclusion of a couple of songs for Zorro to warble as he galloped across the range. A tip of the hat to the singing cowboys of the day, I suppose.