The 1920 silent film classic is projected on the big screen while organist dennis james provides the unforgettable soundtrack. With frank langella, ricardo montalban, gilbert roland, louise sorel. The tv series came out after the sony film the mark of zorro and sony sued them unsucessfully because the ed items from the this 1920 film and original story were out of time. San juan capistrano to be exact, douglas fairbanks as zorro opposes the corrupt colonial government, defends the weak and downtrodden, and gets the girl. Douglas fairbanks stars as the spanish hero zorro, saving california from don diego. Douglas fairbanks impersonates a wealthy young spanish noble who, in his proper person, is an indolent imbecile, the despair of his father and of his charming sweetheart. The mark of zorro is a 1920 silent adventure romance film starring douglas fairbanks and noah beery sr this genredefining swashbuckler adventure was the first movie version of the mark of zorro. The mark of zorro 1920 1920 marked a major turning point in the career of movie matinee idol douglas fairbanks.
The classic story the masked hero of old california his father has been replaced as governor by a corrupt tyrant, so the noble don diego vega plays the coward by day and rides alone at night to defeat the powers of corruption. The mark of zorro is a sound remake of the lavish 1920 smash hit silent film starring douglas fairbanks as zorro and noah beery, sr. It was based on the 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley. In old california san juan capistrano to be exact, douglas fairbanks as zorro opposes the corrupt colonial government, defends the weak and downtrodden, and gets the girl. Mar 05, 2012 the 1940 film has much less humour than was there in the 1920 one, but its a sleeker, better scripted film. From this moment on, fencing was associated with swashbuckling adventure. A mexican robin hood harasses corrupt spanish invaders. This swashbuckler adventure was the first movie version of the mark of zorro. The character of zorro is really the first cinematic superhero. This dvd is a delightful look back at the magic and romance of early hollywood. The version of the mark of zorro that bruce wayne saw as a boy was 1940 version, starring tyrone power. In the mark of zorro, fairbanks plays don diego vega, alias the masked bandit zorro, on a mission to free the poor from the shackles of oppression and win the heart of the one he loves. The mark of zorro 1920 when corrupt governor alvarado george periolat crushes the poor people of spanish california under his iron heel, wealthy fop don diego vega douglas fairbanks sheds. Based on the 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley, which introduced the masked hero, zorro.
Lolita pulido, his fiancee in an arranged marriage, finds him dull and uninspiring. Catherine williamson recently completed her doctorate in english at louisiana state uni. This is clearly stated in the dark knight returns and other batman comics. The mark of zorro is a 1920 film about a seemingly idiotic fop who is really the courageous vigilante zorro, who seeks to protect the oppressed. He hoped that zorro would be an interesting temporary change of pace for him, never dreaming that the films popularity would lock him into the swashbuckling mode for the rest of the silent career. The film is also an extended pun on sexual potency, for while the masked zorro is a deadly swordsman, his cynical alter ego is, well, limp. Before zorro, movie fencing consisted of some fairly primitive blade whacking. The 1920 silentfilm classic is projected on the big screen while organist dennis james provides the unforgettable soundtrack. The mark of zorro 1920 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Other articles where the mark of zorro is discussed. M, just as i got home from school, i was more than a fan. Film preservation associates, distributed by image entertainment, id4727dsdvd, upc 014381472721. The most significant change is that the story now opens with don diego at military school in madrid.
The mark of zorro is a 1920 silent adventure romance film starring douglas fairbanks and noah beery sr this genredefining swashbuckler adventure was the. Young boys all around the world donned homemade capes and masks in imitation of their daring hero. Zorro also once again has a band of caballeros assisting him, just like in the original story and 1920 film. The 1920 the mark of zorro also outdoes later portrayals of zorro in its depiction of the hero as a champion of faith as well as justice, and of the catholic milieu of his native california. Coincidentally, mcculley was raised in the same town in illinois as my stepfather, which is not far from where i live now. Arguably one of the highnotes amongst his sensational ripping yarns is 1924s the thief of bagdad. This is another link that goes into great detail sony pictures v fireworks. The mark of zorro is a remake of the 1920 smash hit of the same name starring the legendary douglas fairbanks sr. The mark of zorro featuring the original 1920 score. In conclusion this is a great old silent movie, with fine acting and plenty of. The mark of zorro 1920 wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre.
Jan 31, 2018 he mark of zorro is a 1920 silent adventure romance film starring douglas fairbanks and noah beery, sr this genredefining swashbuckler adventure was the first movie version of the mark of zorro. The mark of zorro passed 1h 47min adventure, romance, western 5 december 1920 usa a seemingly idiotic fop is really the courageous vigilante zorro, who seeks to protect the oppressed. Written by eugene miller and douglas fairbanks, based on the 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley. For example, instead of telling us why zorro emerged as a crusader which is how the 1920 film begins, the 1940 films begins by showing how diego came home from spain, and what he saw and heard that made him decide to become zorro. Niblo had been successfully directing films before the mark of zorro, and had married an. The mark of zorro is based on the curse of capistrano, a short story by johnston mcculley that appeared as a serialized novel in the pulp magazine allstory weekly in 1919. A seemingly idiotic fop is really the courageous vigilante zorro, who. This golden era of the 1920s was also the best decade for douglas fairbanks, having started his. Fairbankss zorro is well known to his enemies as a defender of priests and natives. The mark of zorro made douglas fairbanks a superstar. The mark of zorro 1920 letterboxd social film discovery.
Like buster keaton, douglas fairbanks did his own stunts the. When he sallies forth a masked black figure on a black horse, the terrible zorro, he rescues the oppressed and leaves the mark of zorro. The owner of this website is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon properties including, but not limited to,,, or. In 1925, fairbanks starred in a sequel, don q, son of zorro. Like buster keaton, douglas fairbanks did his own stunts. Unlike some restored silent movies with sound effects punctuated into the score. Rent the mark of zorro 1920 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. But while that film ends tragically, the mark of zorro is pure fun, the type of entertainment that coined the phrase saturday matinee. I grew up watching guy williams play zorro in the disney television series and never thought i could enjoy anyone else in the role, but tyrone power succeeds in this swashbuckling role. With a wink and a nod, a swipe of the sword, bright dialogue, and flashy stunts, zorro will delight movielovers of all ages. He also did all of his own stunts, including riding and fencing. The screenplay was adapted from the book by fairbanks as elton thomas and eugene miller.
Based on the 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley, which introduced the masked hero, zorro, the screenplay was adapted by. A seemingly idiotic fop is really the courageous vigilante zorro, who seeks to protect the oppressed. Gallery of 14 movie poster and cover images for the mark of zorro 1920. This film depiction includes don diegos mother, isabella, but it omits bernardo don diegos mute servant. He was the first action hero and though he was already middleaged the man was amazingly fit and agile as this movie proves. Not only did he tie the matrimony knot with mary pickford, the most popular actress in silent film, he also embarked on a new screen career. When he sallies forth a masked black figure on a black horse, the terrible zorro, he rescues the oppressed and leaves the mark of zorro, a z made with his rapier, on the oppressor of the weak. Im moving this section to the entry about the 1940 movie. Both versions are based on the serialized 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley, who wrote four zorro novels and many short stories. The jagged mark of his sword struck terror to every heart but one around 1820 the son of a. Douglas fairbanks is the famous masked bandit, balancing a nice sense of humor and. March 19 the mark of zorro 1920 april 9 the peach girl 1931. The mark of zorro is a 1920 film starring douglas fairbanks.
The black pirate san francisco silent film festival. Enjoyable silent film provided with a musical soundtrack by tcm. As a kid in the 80s, i watched his series every damn fucking day they replayed an episode every day at 6 p. But, as an argentinian, the only zorro ever for me will be guy williams from disneys take on it. He hoped that zorro would be an interesting temporary change of pace for him, never dreaming that the film s popularity would lock him into the swashbuckling mode for the rest of the silent career. After the success of the storys silent film adaptation in 1920, the novel was rereleased under the name the mark of zorro to begin the adventures of one of. The mark of zorro 1920 stream and watch online moviefone. American silent film the mark of zorro 1920 directed by fred niblo.
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