'El Zorro' Page at Readers of the Purple Sage Western Bookstore

The 'El Zorro' Legend Young Don Diego de la Vega returns to Spanish-colonial era California (circa 1820s) following his education in Spain. The people of California are oppressed by a tyrannical government, and expert swordsman Diego decides to 'avenge the helpless and punish cruel politicians'. He assumes the identity of a foppish hidalgo {nobleman} during the day, and masquerades as a masked avenger at night; his father does not (at first) know of his son's dual life, and complains to Diego about his avoidance of political involvement.
Diego/Zorro is aided by his deaf-mute manservant Bernardo and by ally Friar Felipe. He romances the impoverished noblewoman Lolita in both roles: she is offended by the attentions of the passionless Diego and is impressed by the dashing Zorro. The government officials vary in each story, but Diego is usually cozy with lower ranking soldierss (Sergeant Garcia in the TV series), while that same person is sworn to capture the notorious El Zorro. (The title means 'the fox' in Spanish.) In the original books & stories, Zorro is aided by many fellow rebels, but seldom so in the movies.

          Johnston McCulley's fascination with legends of early California, in combination with his fondness for Baroness Orczy's 1905 novel "The Scarlet Pimpernel", formed the basis of Zorro's fight against injustice. The first Zorro piece, 'Zorro Rides Again', appeared in the October 1918 issue of Argosy All-Story Magazine, followed by four more Zorro tales. Grosset & Dunlap published a rewrite of those stories as the novella "The Curse of Capistrano" [1919].
          Douglas Fairbanks and wife Mary Pickford chose McCulley's swordfighting hero as the first production of their new United Artists movie studio. Fairbanks co-wrote the script (as Elton Thomas) and produced and starred in the renamed "The Mark of Zorro". His Zorro was a superior swordsman graced with a social conscience, who bests all of his opponents, accompanied by the familiar Fairbanks brio. The 1920 film was a substantial commercial success, and publisher Grosset & Dunlap reissued McCulley's novella with the same title as the film.
          Due to continuing public demand, McCulley wrote over 60 additional Zorro stories starting in 1922; the last was published posthumously in 1959.

'El Zorro' In The Media The El Zorro character starred in 5 feature films and five 'Saturday morning' serials thru the 1940s before Walt Disney bought the rights. The Disney "Zorro" black-and-white network television series ran on A.B.C. from October 1957 to June 1959, and encompassed 78 half-hour episodes and four hour-long specials. The series was a huge hit – essentially adding the Zorro story to mass culture – and made a star of actor Guy Williams. (His Hollywood career included the hit TV show "Lost In Space" [1965-68] and not much else; his investments, however, were very successful, and he retired to Argentina in 1973 to enjoy his wealth.)
Three Spanish-language Zorro movies were made in the 1960s, two features in the 1970s, and the parody "Zorro, The Gay Blade" in 1981. The live-action TV series "The New World Zorro" ran for 88 episodes in 1990-93. Antonio Banderas starred in "The Mask of Zorro" [1998] and the sequel "The Legend of Zorro" [2005]; the first was extremely successful, the sequel less so; both continue good sales on DVD & Blu-ray. D.I.C. Entertainment produced the animated film "The Amazing Zorro" for broadcast on Nickelodeon in 2002.

McCulley's original fiction remains is print. Given that Zorro was one of the original 'caped crusaders' of fiction and film – 'Batman' creator Bob Kane cites Zorro as one of his inspirations – it is not surprising that much recent Zorro activity is in the form of comics and graphic novels. The 2008 West End London stage musical "Zorro" features choreography by renowned flamenco dancer Rafael Amargo, and is currently on world tour. Can a musical feature film be far behind?

"The Mark of Zorro" [1920]
directed by Fred Niblo, starring Douglas Fairbanks, with Noah Beery, Sr.
http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Zorro-Featuring-Original-Score/dp/B0014C3VVI/
http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Zorro-Douglas-Fairbanks/dp/6305211094/
http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Douglas-Fairbanks-Marguerite-Motte/dp/B000KJTC50/
http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Zorro-Sr-Noah-Beery/dp/B000BDH62Q/
http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Zorro-Enhanced-Douglas-Fairbanks/dp/B002NLXCWC/

"Don Q, Son of Zorro" [1924]
starring Douglas Fairbanks, with Mary Astor
http://www.amazon.com/Douglas-Fairbanks-McDonald-Stella-Hersholt/dp/B000P0ILJC/

"The Bold Caballero" [Republic Pictures Dec 1936]

Bold Caballero movie starring Robert Livingston

Filmed in Magnacolor; Zorro is captured and set for execution for the murder of the new Governor of California, but he escapes and proves to the Governor's lovely daughter that the oppressive Commandante did the murder. Written & directed by Wells Root; sdtarring Robert Livingston, Heather Angel, Sig Ruman, Ian Wolfe, Robert Warwick, Emily Fitzroy, Charles Stevens, Chris-Pin Martin, Carlos De Valdez, Yakima Canutt & Iron Eyes Cody
Alpha Home Ent. color DVD [6/2008] for $7.98
Republic Pictures color VHS [6/98] out of prodn/used
full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Zorro Rides Again"
12-chapter film serial [Republic Pictures Nov 1937]

poster for Chapter 3 of 'Zorro Rides Again' 1937 film serial

Construction of the California-Yucatan Railroad is blocked by terrorists hired by profiteers; the aged co-owner asks for help from his nephew, the great-grandson of the original Zorro, who seems more adept at golf than at derring-do. "Can one black-clad man on horseback defeat a gang supplied with airplanes and machine guns?" Chapter Titles: 1. Death From The Sky; 2. The Fatal Minute, 3. Jugger-naut; 4. Unmasked; 5. Sky Pirates; 6. The Fatal Shot; 7. Burning Embers; 8. Plunge of Peril; 9. Tunnel of Terror; 10. Trapped; 11. Right of Way; and 12. Retribution Directed by John English & William Witney; starring John Carroll, Helen Christian, Noah Beery, Reed Howes, Duncan Renaldo, Richard Alexander, Nigel De Brulier, Chris-Pin Martin, Jason Robards Sr. & Pair o' Dice the Horse
Echo Bridge Home Ent. b&w DVD [4/2003] for $4.98
Direct Source Label b&w DVD [7/2006] for $5.98
Marengo Films b&w DVD [6/2004] for $9.99
full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Zorro's Fighting Legion"
12-chapter film serial [Republic Pictures Dec 1939]

poster for Chapter 1 of 'Zorro's Fighting Legion' 1939 film serial

In 1824, a man clad in full-metal, golden-colored armor unites with the Yaqui Indians and starts a war to become Emperor of Mexico; a band of Legionnaires who took up the fight against the usurper ask Don Diego/Zorro to join them. Chapter Titles: 1. The Golden God; 2. The Flaming 'Z'; 3. Descending Doom; 4. The Bridge of Peril; 5. The Decoy; 6. Zorro To The Rescue; 7. The Fugitive; 8. Flowing Death; 9. The Golden Arrow; 10. Mystery Wagon; 11. Face To Face; and 12. Unmasked Directed by John English & William Witney; starring Reed Hadley, Sheila Darcy, William Corson, Leander De Cordova, Edmund Cobb, John Merton, Buddy Baer, C. Montague Shaw, Budd Buster, Carleton Young {as Benito Juarez}, Guy D'Ennery, Paul Marion, Joe Molina & Helen Mitchel
Alpha Home Ent. b&w DVD [3/2008] for $7.98
R.O.A.N. b&w DVD [6/2004] for $13.49
Republic Picturesb&w VHS [5/95] 2 tapes - out of prodn/used
full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"The Mark of Zorro" [1940] starring Tyrone Power
http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Special-Colorized-Black-White/dp/B000A9QK8M/
http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Zorro-Tyrone-Power/dp/B00008LDO2/

"El Zorro de Jalisco" [Mexico 1941] /tt0033296/
startring Pedro Armendariz, Emilio 'Indio' Fernandez, Consuelo de Alba
http://www.amazon.com/El-Zorro-Jalisco-Pedro-Armendariz/dp/B00062IEVE/
http://www.amazon.com/El-Zorro-Jalisco-Slim-Case/dp/B002R2Q0EO/
http://www.amazon.com/El-Zorro-De-Jalisco/dp/B000TJBNUI/

"Zorro's Black Whip" [1944 film serial]
with Linda Stirling as an 1880s female descendent, The Black Whip
http://www.amazon.com/Zorros-Black-Whip-Linda-Stirling/dp/B0001GOHCA/
http://www.amazon.com/Zorros-Black-Whip-Volumes-Complete/dp/B000YDKAMG/

Zorro Cliffhanger Collection (1937-44)
http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Cliffhanger-Collection-1937-44-3DVD/dp/B0000WN1J0/
http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Cliffhanger-Collection-John-Carroll/dp/B000BRBAGA/

CHAPTER TITLES: (Disc Three) (Zorro's Black Whip) 1. The Masked Avenger 2. Tomb of Terror 3. Mob Murder 4. Detour to Death 5. Take Off That Mask! 6. Fatal Gold 7. Wolf Pack 8. The Invisible Victim 9. Avalanche 10.Fangs of Doom 11.Flaming Juggernaut 12.Trail of Tyranny

"Son of Zorro" [1947 film serial] with George Turner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Zorro

BC's Zorro TV series fansite
http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Treasures-Complete-Season/dp/B0029R81BC/
http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disney-Treasures-Complete-Second/dp/B0029R81BM/
http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Complete-First-Season-Second/dp/B002W1LGAS/
http://www.allposters.com/-st/Zorro-Television-Posters_c123739_.htm

"The Sign of Zorro" [1958] /tt0054307/
made from eight episodes of the TV series and released as a feature film

"Zorro The Avenger" [1959]
another theatrical compilation of several Zorro TV episodes

"Zorro" [Spain 1961] starring Frank Latimore
"The Shadow of Zorro" aka 'Zorro The Avenger' [Spain 1962] starring Frank Latimore

"Le Tre Spade di Zorro" aka "The Three Swords of Zorro"
[Spain 1963] /tt0057602/ starring Guy Stockwell, Gloria Milland, Mikaela, Antonio Prieto
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Swords-Zorro-Guy-Stockwell/dp/B000056NNS/

"La Gran Aventura del Zorro" [Mexico 1974]
starring Rodolfo de Anda, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Jorge Arvizu, Helena Rojo, Jorge Russek
http://www.amazon.com/Aventura-Zorro-Zorros-Great-Adventure/dp/B000VXWKAY/

"The Mark of Zorro" [1974]
TV remake of the 1940 film; starring Frank Langella

"Zorro" [1975] starring Alain Delon
http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Alain-Delon-Ottavia-Piccolo/dp/B0000AZVD6/
http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Slim-Case-Alain-Delon/dp/B00080MQT0/
http://www.amazon.com/Zorro-Alain-Delon/dp/B0000589K2/

"Zorro, The Gay Blade" [1981 parody]
starring George Hamilton, Lauren Hutton, Brenda Vaccaro, Ron Leibman

"The New World Zorro" TV series [Family Channel 1990-1993]
featuring Duncan Regehr {88 episodes}; shot entirely in Madrid, Spain

"The Mask of Zorro" [1998] starring Antonio Banderas & Anthony Hopkins
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ASIN=B002PQKNR2
http://www.amazon.com/Mask-Zorro-Deluxe-Antonio-Banderas/dp/B000ARXF96/
http://www.amazon.com/Mask-Zorro-Superbit-Deluxe-Collection/dp/B00006CXGN/

"The Amazing Zorro" TV animated film [2002]
created by DIC Entertainment for Nickelodeon
http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Zorro/dp/B0011Z5NNW/

"The Legend of Zorro" [2005]
starring Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rufus Sewell, Alberto Reyes
http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Zorro-Blu-ray-Antonio-Banderas/dp/B000WGYMB0/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorro_(novel) Zorro: A Novel is a 2005 mock biography by Chilean author Isabel Allende.

	"Zorro: Mark of The Z" documentary [A&E Biography 1998?] Hosted by Jack Perkins, featuring cartoonist Bob Kane, author Johnston McCulley, Steven Spielberg & actor Guy Williams A&E Home Video color DVD [6/96] for $24.95 full credits at IMDb
	"The Many Faces of Zorro" documentary video [Passport Intl. Ent. May 2000] feature-length main documentary, plus "Insights on Sword Training" with 'sword master' Tim Weske, "Insights on Whip Training" with 'whip master' Anthony De Longis, and interviews with Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas & Catherine Zeta-Jones Written & directed by Phillip Dye; with archive footage of Alain Delon, Douglas Fairbanks, Reed Hadley, Tyrone Power & Linda Stirling K.R.B. Music color DVD [3/2006] for $5.99 Passport Video color DVD [5/2000] for $7.98 full credits at IMDb
	"Behind The Mask of Zorro" documentary feature [History Channel Nov 2005] A combination of interviews and scripted scenes. Co-produced, written & directed by Barbara Martinez Jitner; narrated by Esai Morales; featuring Isabel Allende & Antonio Banderas; starring Valeria Andrews, Alexandra Barreto, Jesse Borrego, Eloy Casados, Pete Leal, Jackson Lee, Eddy Martin, Heather Montanez & Luis Robledo A&E Home Video color DVD [7/2008] for $29.95 full credits at IMDb

http://www.zorrothemusical.com/ [2008] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorro_(musical)

Readers of the Purple Sage Bookstore'El Zorro'

Readers of the Purple Sage Bookstore
'El Zorro'