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The Mark of Zorro
Im Zeichen des Zorro
USA 1940
produced by
Daryl F.Zanuck for 20th Century Fox
directed by Rouben Mamoulian
starring Tyrone Power, Basil Rathbone, Linda Darnell, Gale Sondergaard, Eugene Pallette, J.Edward Bromberg, Montagu Love, Janet Beecher, George Regas, Chris-Pin Martin, Robert Lowery, Belle Mitchell, Frank Puglia, Pedro de Cordoba
screnplay by John Taintor Foote, Garrett Fort, Bess Meredyth, based on The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley, music by Alfred Newman
Zorro
review by
Mike Haberfelner
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California, circa 1820: When Don Diego Vega (Tyrone Power) returns from Madrid,
he finds many things changed: His father the Alcalde (Montagu Love) has been removed
from office by greedy Quintero (J.Edward Bromberg) & his Capitan Esteban (Basil
Rathbone) & the peons suffer greatly under that rule - especially
the taxations of course. But as it seems there is little he can do as
Don Diego, he decides to pretend to be an effeminate, even cowardly
caballero by day who seems to be harmless enough to even be trusted by
Quintero, but by night he dresses in black & dons a mask to
terrorize the oppressors, robbing them of their tax-money to
re-distribute it among the peons. & as Zorro, he also finds time to
court Quintero's niece Lolita (Linda Darnell), who is impressed by his courage. As Don
Diego on the other hand, he has an affair with Quintero's wife (Gale
Sondergaarde), much to
the dismay of Esteban, who has designs on her himself, & to that
end, he proposes to Quintero that Diego should be engaged to Lolita -
for peace with the peons, who loved Diego's father, the old Alcalde.
Lolita of course is appalled by the effeminate caballero until he makes
it known to her that he indeed is Zorro. But then part of Zorro's loot
is found in the church & the Padre Felipe (Eugene Pallette) - Diego's only other confidant -
imprisoned. To free him, Diego once again enters Quintero's place (as
himself) & is soon challenged to a fierce duel by Esteban, a master
swordsman - which Diego, quite handy with the sword himself, wins of
course. But after seeing this (& some other evidence) Quintero is
convinced that he is Zorro & incarcerates Diego, to be executed
later that day. But of course, Diego manages freeing himself in time,
organizing a revolt against the regime, forcing Quintero to resign &
handing over office to Diego's father, & annoncing his engagement to
Lolita. Very straight forward, slick & highly
entertaining swashbuckler, with some very fierce swordfights. Allegedly,
Basil Rathbone proved to be such a good fencer in this one, that Tyrone
Power - skilled fencer himself - had to be doubled in some of the fight
scenes to make it look convincing.
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