Zorro has long been a favourite of film goers! Ever since Douglas Fairbanks' l920 trail blazer, THE MARK OF ZORRO. This film adapted to the screen just a year after the character's introduction. That would be Johnston McCulley's story "The Curse of Capistrano", published in the Pulp Magazine, ALL-STORY.
After viewing the Fairbanks film, one can see how this Masked Avenger of Olde Spanish California was so successful. Very much like Edgar Rice Borrough's Tarzan, a veritable explosion of films with many different actors in the role over the years.
The Walt Disney Productions' Zorro Television Series came to fruition with all sorts of stated and implied comparisons to those who had traveled that route and given their interpretations to "The Fox". Most commonly heard was of that to Tyrone Power's performance in the 20th Century-Fox film, THE MARK OF ZORRO(1940). Tyrone Power was still active at the beginning of the ZORRO Series TV run. He would succumb to a heart attack, November 15, 1958, while filming the Biblical costumer, SOLOMON AND SHEBA (Edward Small Productions/UNITED ARTISTS Corporation 1959), in Spain. (Yul Brynner with full beard and hairpiece, replaced him on the production.) The other comparison was to my favourite actor to essay the part, and that is Reed Hadley in the REPUBLIC PICTURES Serial, ZORRO's FIGHTING LEGION (1939). Reed was still active and died in 1971.
These comparisons are okay up to a point, but only on the basis of the actors' portrayals. The film types are all different, one being a Feature Theatrical Film, one a Serial made for viewing in the movie houses on the installment/week to week method. And then we have the Walt Disney TV Series.* The TV series was action-filled, well written, pleasantly acted, well presented and as far as it went, Historically accurate, though strictly fictional
They gave us a Hero who had returned to Olde California suddenly. Having been summoned by his Father, Don Alejandro de la Vega(George J. Lewis), Don Diego relates the stories of troubles in California to his dumb servant, Bernardo.**
They formulate a plan whereby they will both put up a false facade for their public persona. Diego would feign being a soft, ineffectual and even sort of an effeminate weakling and intellectual. You know, an early 19th century California "Girlie Man." Bernardo added a pose of being deaf, as well as being unable to talk.
Then, for two full seasons we followed Zorro's swashbuckling deeds in fighting unjust government and the unknown, secret society of enemies led by the mysterious Aguila(Eagle).
They went through 77 half hour episodes before the series wound up and pitched for the last time. This was followed by 8 hour-long stories on Walt Disney's DISNEYLAND Show. The same cast members were employed and the use of guest stars was the order of the day. A few of Zorro's "Guest Starring" Performers were: Paul Picerni, Annette Funicello and Kent Taylor.
At the end of the day we're able to give this ZORRO Series an O.K. mark and a great mention as a weekly series. ***1/2(Stars, that is!)
* It isn't really to compare these renditions of the ZSorro legend as they were done in 3 different formats, two different media.
** I was surprised to see that the Speechless("Dumb")Servant, Bernardo was a character in the original Johnston McCulley stories.
After viewing the Fairbanks film, one can see how this Masked Avenger of Olde Spanish California was so successful. Very much like Edgar Rice Borrough's Tarzan, a veritable explosion of films with many different actors in the role over the years.
The Walt Disney Productions' Zorro Television Series came to fruition with all sorts of stated and implied comparisons to those who had traveled that route and given their interpretations to "The Fox". Most commonly heard was of that to Tyrone Power's performance in the 20th Century-Fox film, THE MARK OF ZORRO(1940). Tyrone Power was still active at the beginning of the ZORRO Series TV run. He would succumb to a heart attack, November 15, 1958, while filming the Biblical costumer, SOLOMON AND SHEBA (Edward Small Productions/UNITED ARTISTS Corporation 1959), in Spain. (Yul Brynner with full beard and hairpiece, replaced him on the production.) The other comparison was to my favourite actor to essay the part, and that is Reed Hadley in the REPUBLIC PICTURES Serial, ZORRO's FIGHTING LEGION (1939). Reed was still active and died in 1971.
These comparisons are okay up to a point, but only on the basis of the actors' portrayals. The film types are all different, one being a Feature Theatrical Film, one a Serial made for viewing in the movie houses on the installment/week to week method. And then we have the Walt Disney TV Series.* The TV series was action-filled, well written, pleasantly acted, well presented and as far as it went, Historically accurate, though strictly fictional
They gave us a Hero who had returned to Olde California suddenly. Having been summoned by his Father, Don Alejandro de la Vega(George J. Lewis), Don Diego relates the stories of troubles in California to his dumb servant, Bernardo.**
They formulate a plan whereby they will both put up a false facade for their public persona. Diego would feign being a soft, ineffectual and even sort of an effeminate weakling and intellectual. You know, an early 19th century California "Girlie Man." Bernardo added a pose of being deaf, as well as being unable to talk.
Then, for two full seasons we followed Zorro's swashbuckling deeds in fighting unjust government and the unknown, secret society of enemies led by the mysterious Aguila(Eagle).
They went through 77 half hour episodes before the series wound up and pitched for the last time. This was followed by 8 hour-long stories on Walt Disney's DISNEYLAND Show. The same cast members were employed and the use of guest stars was the order of the day. A few of Zorro's "Guest Starring" Performers were: Paul Picerni, Annette Funicello and Kent Taylor.
At the end of the day we're able to give this ZORRO Series an O.K. mark and a great mention as a weekly series. ***1/2(Stars, that is!)
* It isn't really to compare these renditions of the ZSorro legend as they were done in 3 different formats, two different media.
** I was surprised to see that the Speechless("Dumb")Servant, Bernardo was a character in the original Johnston McCulley stories.