Mark of Zorro

Mark of Zorro
Douglas Fairbanks, the most famous of the Zorros, made this mix of comedy and derring-do reluctantly, as a change-of-pace from his modern-dress playboy roles. The Old California adventure fared so well at the box office it caused the athletic superstar to rethink his image and don period finery for his best later vehicles, including The Thief of Baghdad.

Here, Doug has a ball playing dual roles, as hopeless fop Don Diego and as masked caballero Zorro, sworn enemy of all oppressors. When he isn't dueling with the evil Capt. Ramon (Robert McKim) or rescuing peasants, Don Diego/Zorro courts the lovely Lolita (Marguerite de la Motte) with bad magic tricks and worse manners. In the end, when Lolita's family is jailed, our hero throws off his masquerade, whips out his rapier, and wins the leading lady's hand.

Full of fun plot twists, secret passageways, and Fairbanks's signature arms-akimbo bravado, this silent classic (with restored sepia interiors) became the model for all the Errol Flynn-Tyrone Power swashbucklers to come. --Glenn Lovell
Customer Review: Doug's Breakthrough Film
Though lacking the high production values of its 1940 counterpart, the original "Mark of Zorro" is great fun. This adaptation of Johnston McCulley's "Curse of Capistrano" propelled Douglas Fairbanks from light comedian to adventure star. Inventive action sequences and a vigorous pace make this Doug's most enjoyable feature-length vehicle. For comic-book artist Bob Kane, the film was a major influence in the creation of Batman.
Customer Review: Classic Version Of Zorro With America's Leading Man. The Standard For Future Versions Of Zorro.
Johnston McCulley's first Zorro story "The Curse Of Capistrano" appeared in 1919. Douglas Fairbanks, known to audience for romantic comedies, adapted the story for the screen himself under an assumed name. The result set the standard for future adaptations of the masked bandit. This is a MUST for film buffs. Not Rated.