Zorro: one of Cinema’s earliest masked avengers has been featured in movies, serials and television shows for the past 90 years making him one of the most popular heroes in modern storytelling. Before there was a Batman lurking in a secret cave and living a double life as one of Gotham’s elite, there was Zorro, who also had a secret cave and lived a double life as a Spanish nobleman. Before there was Superman and his quest to for “truth, justice and the American Way” there was Zorro defending the downtrodden from the corrupt and the greedy. Before there was Robin Hood robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, well err, okay so Robin Hood has been around a few hundred years longer but most other prominent heroes featured on the silver screen or in comments all came after Zorro.
The beginning:
Zorro first made his appearance in 1919 in the serialized novel titled “The Curse of Capristrano” which appeared in the pulp magazine “All-Story Weekly”. This story written by Johnston McCulley told the tale of the masked avenger who was known as both the “The curse of Capristrano” and Zorro to those who either feared or adored him. The story, set in colonial Spain, introduced some of the earliest concepts of the masked avenger archetype including a secret identity, fox like wits, humorous charm, a loyal servant who knows all his secrets, along with the idea of non lethal force.
The “Curse of Capristrano” was a hit in the pulp fiction world and soon got noticed by Douglas Fairbanks who had just formed United Artists with his wife Mary Pickford. Something about the story seemed to appeal to Fairbanks who was looking for the right vehicle that could show off both his athleticism and charm. In 1920 The Mark of Zorro was released and went on to become an astounding success. This prompted McCulley to write more stories that featured this now very popular masked avenger.
After the success of the film, McCulley, decided to ignore the end of his first Zorro novel and film which has Don Diego Vega unmasking and explaining why he became Zorro in the first place, and went on to write over 60 more stories that featured the masked avenger with his secret identity safely intact. McCulley also decided to incorporate other elements into the print version of Zorro that Fairbanks had brought to the character on screen. This included Zorro’s use of a black mask, black hat and black clothes along with the personable charm which radiates throughout Fairbank’s original swashbuckling performance.
While McCulley was busy penning all those Zorro stories, Hollywood was also ready to put more of him on the big screen. Five years after the Mark of Zorro, Fairbanks returned to the character in Don Q, The Son of Zorro, once again astounding audiences with his charm and amazing acrobatic ability. In 1936, Zorro once again appeared on the big screen, in starring Robert Livingston and directed by Wells Root. While this third Zorro movie does show Zorro in a full black mask that covers the entire face like the original story much of the characteristics developed by Fairbanks, including Zorro’s charm and athleticism are kept intact. This movie is the first Zorro movie to be made with sound as well as in color and was also considered to be a success, although not as popular as the Fairbanks pictures were.
Republic Pictures, who made The Bold Caballero,went on to make several popular serials that featured the masked hero in one way or the other. The first serial that Republic released was Zorro Rides Again in 1937. This 12 part series is a western hybrid that features horse riding, gun toting heroes and villains along with more modern things such as airplanes and radios. James Carrol plays James Vega the foppish great grandson Don Diego de la Vega who once again dons the family mask and cape to help fight off a villain who is trying to take over a railroad. Packed with action and cliffhangers Zorro Rides Again was a hit with the audience and spurred Republic to make another Zorro serial in 1939 titled Zorro’s Fighting Legion. This time, the original Zorro is back, but this time it is 1826 and he is in the newly formed Republic of Mexico in order to help out his friend.
In 1944, Republic Pictures released its last Zorro based serial titled Zorro’s Black Whip. This serial which featured a female heroine in the roll of the masked avenger, only uses Zorro in the title and was primarily released as a way for the picture company to capitalize off of the popularity of the 1940 remake of The Mark of Zorro featuring Tyrone Powers as Zorro. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. This film is considered by many to be the best Zorro film ever made. Anyone who has seen it will never forget the climatic fight scene between Zorro and Captain Esteban Pasquale. This sword play between Basil Rathbone and Tyrone Powers was so intense that the actor playing the villainous Captain actually suffered several scratches on his forehead.
36 years and one popular television show later, Zorro was remade once again in Zorro (1976) starring French Superstar Alain Delon. This time the story takes place in South America, and the fight scenes are done up spaghetti western style. Despite these changes, the basic character and story of Zorro’s double life remain intact making for a great new update of the world’s first masked avengers.
With over sixty stories, 40+ films and dozens of different television shows to his name, Zorro remains one of Hollywood’s enduring heroes. His earliest incarnations helped influence the idea of the masked avenger which helped inspire the characters of Batman, The Lone Ranger and many others. He even helped spur on the idea of a superhero with a seemingly weak alter ego which led to the likes of Superman and Spiderman. Zorro will undoubtedly continue to live on into the future spurring more movies and shows that tell his story.
- Watch "Zorro" with Alain Delon on FMO
- Watch "The Mark of Zorro" with Douglas Fairbanks on FMO
- Watch "The Bold Caballero" with Robert Livingston on FMO
- Watch "Zorro's Black Whip" Series on FMO
- Watch "Zorro Rides Again" Series on FMO
- Watch "Zorro Fighting Legion" Series on FMO
- Watch "The Vigilantes Are Coming" Series on FMO
Franck Benedittini
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