The original 1940 move based of the great 1919 allstory weekly books, witch has spawned several comic books. The movie changed the title to the mark of zorro and was a huge hit, propelling douglas fairbanks to superstardom. Mar 20, 2017 best known to fans in his 1957 disney television series, zorro is a latin robin hood with a healthy dose of what would shape the character of bruce waynebatman. Based on johnston mcculleys novel the curse of capistrano, the mark of zorro.
The 1940 remake with tyrone power features zorro carving the z into an evil sergeants back, as well as into several walls. Gallery of 34 movie poster and cover images for the mark of zorro 1940. In southern california the apparently son of a wealthy ranchero is horrified at the way the common people are being mistreated by. Coincidentally, mcculley was raised in the same town in illinois as my stepfather, which is not far from where i live now.
In terms of material, it is a prequel to johnston mcculleys 1919 novella the curse of capistrano, which first featured the character of zorro. The mark of zorro is a 1940 film directed by rouben mamoulian spanish california, late 18thearly 19th century. Apr 29, 20 the 1920 version of the mark of zorro is another one of the films i would have liked to have shown in crossed swords, so we encourage you to view it at some point. Apr 24, 2017 some movies offer their audience the experience of an efficacious hero wittily fighting evil in a dramatic but benevolent world. The narrative doesnt hew as faithfully to mcculleys initial zorro pulp tale, the. Basil rathbone is a delightfully evil assistant to the governor. It was his first swashbuckler and it sent his career skyrocketing in a new direction, as it would do for tyrone power twenty years later.
As of 2018 it is in print and available for purchase. The character was also featured in ten tv series, the most famous being the disneyproduced zorro series of 195759, starring guy williams. Sherlock holmes faces death full movie, basil rathbone, sherlock film series duration. The film was named to the national film registry in 2009 by the library of congress for being. The distinctive mark left by the fictional character zorro. The curse of capistrano, a 1919 novel by johnston mcculley that introduced the character zorro.
It was directed by martin campbell and stars antonio banderas, anthony hopkins, catherine zetajones, and stuart wilson. As tensions rise, zorro will have to defeat esteban pasquale if justice and order is to be restored. Tyrone power zorro, linda darnell lolita quintero, basil rathbone. Contentsshow american films the mark of zorro 1920, with douglas fairbanks don q, son of zorro 1925, with douglas fairbanks the bold caballero 1936, with robert livingston zorro s fighting legion 1939, with reed hadley the mark of zorro 1940, with tyrone power the sign of zorro 1958, with guy williams, portions of the first zorro tv series episodes edited into a feature film. Banderas reprised that role in the legend of zorro in 2005.
Of course, it had the star quality of such actors as tyrone power and basil rathbone, as well. Both ideas would then be included in most retelling of the character s backstory. It was so successful that the original novel was johnston mcculleys the curse of capistrano, serialised in the pulp magazine all story weekly in 1919, marked the first appearance in print of zorro. In the mask of zorro 1998, anthony hopkins played an aging don diego, who emerges from retirement to train antonio banderass character to be his successor as zorro. Mcculley made an arrangement with the pulp west magazine to produce a brand new zorro short story for every issue. Overall i would highly recommend the story the mark of zorro, however i would not recommend this version. The characters are mostly stock figures, whose motives are dictated by their social roles.
In the asterix comic book album asterix and caesars gift, asterix duels with a roman and makes the iconic z mark on his tunic, all the while exchanging halfassed quips, in the best zorro tradition. It would be later published as a book in 1924 under the title the mark of zorro. This is the zorro of my childhood and i was in love with ty power and his pairing with linda darnell. Characters are developed fully, tensions heighten gradually, and just when you re on. Mcculley made an arrangement with the pulp west magazine to produce a brand new zorro.
After the success of the mark of zorro, it was republished in novel form and has been in and out of print in the years since, available in used book stores. The 1940 film the mark of zorro keeps the idea of diego learning his swordsmanship in spain, and adds the idea of him being unexpectedly summoned home by his father don alejandro when california fell into the hand of an oppressing dictator. Nov 08, 2015 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. 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 mark of zorro lobby card for the mark of zorro 1940, directed by rouben mamoulian. Playing no small part in sustaining the characters popularity has been 20th century. A young spanish aristocrat must masquerade as a fop in order to maintain his. Do not get me wrong as antonio banderas was really good as zorro, but the mark of zorro did not have the sexuality or the brutality as did the most current zorro movies. The story incorporates details from a variety of works that have featured the pulp hero, including the 1998 film the mask of zorro. I have watched almost every zorro movie or zorro tv episodes and i have to say, that the mark of zorro was my favorite of them all with tyrone power. The 100 most iconic, wellknown, and generally beloved fictional characters of film, television, literature, and pop culture since the turn of the 20th century. The mark of zorro 1940 no recent wiki edits to this page. A seemingly idiotic fop is really the courageous vigilante zorro, who seeks to protect the oppressed.
What the legend of zorro tells us about the history of. Give it a try and see why zorro is hailed as the peoples champion and why this book gave birth to so many reincarnations in cinema. A screening of 1940s the mark of zorro backed up my thoughts, as this lively little movie offers a fine representation of action tales in that era. The novel takes the form of a biography and was the first origin story for this legendary character. The mark of zorro im zeichen des zorro hollywood classics dont have to be stuffy this 1940 swashbuckling adventure has style, great action, laughs and one of the most attractive screen couples of their day, tyrone power and linda darnell. Zorro opens in madrid, where we meet a young cadet named diego vega tyrone power. The 1940 remake of the mark of zorro starred tyrone power in the title role. Jul 17, 20 superb acting, a witty and intelligent screenplay, threedimensional characters, and topnotch action and stunt work shot and edited for maximum clarity, the mask of zorro is a nearly perfect. Around 1820 the son of a california nobleman comes home from spain to find his native land under a villainous dictatorship. The mark of zorro is based on one of the great works of hero fiction johnston mcculleys serialized, fivepart story the curse of capistrano. The mark of zorro is a 1940 american blackandwhite swashbuckling adventure film from 20th century fox, produced by darryl f.
My only adult criticism is that the script lacks character development but it was my introduction to zorro and i loved the film. The mark of zorrolobby card for the mark of zorro 1940, directed by rouben mamoulian. However, i still think zorro feels like the kind of character based represented in older flicks. The climactic sword fight between zorro tyrone power and captain esteban pasquale basil rathbone in the original black and white. Zorro, fictional character created in 1919 by writer johnston mcculley. In 1940, the mark of zorro remake starring tyrone power and linda darnell made the character much more widely known to the public at large, and mcculley decided to bring zorro back with new stories. The mark of zorro, 1920 silent film starring douglas fairbanks. Zorro by isabel allende meet your next favorite book. The masked, swordwielding vigilante defends the poor and victimized against the forces of injustice, and his feats have been featured in virtually every form of media. The mark of zorro johnston mcculley was born in 1883 in ottawa, illinois, and worked as a newspaperman, mainly in new york, while freelancing as a writer of popular fiction for pulp magazines. The 1940 film version, with tyrone power, gave zorro a backstory how he left california for spain to be trained in swordsmanship and how, on his return, he had to act effete and passive for his. A young spanish aristocrat must masquerade as a fop in order to maintain his secret identity of zorro as he restores justice to early california. Best known to fans in his 1957 disney television series, zorro is a latin robin hood with a healthy dose of what would shape the character of bruce waynebatman.
Zorro takes a lot of pleasure from humiliating his foes, those who seek to exploit the general. The 100 most iconic fictional characters the definitive dose. The mark of zorro 1940 zorro is one of those characters im aware of, but have never actively watched any of the myriad films or television shows featuring him and his feared z mark. Powers for the wonderful hours of escape i enjoyed as a child watching your films on the early show in nyc. The mark of zorro 1940 film wikimili, the best wikipedia. Douglas fairbanks in the first zorro film, the mark of zorro 1920, which was instrumental in the early success of the character.
Alejandro employs sleight of hand, conversational misdirection, flirting while posing as a clergyman, superior dance moves and a wealth of charm under the mask, all traits displayed by tyrone powers don diego. Zanuck, directed by rouben mamoulian, that stars tyrone power, linda darnell, and basil rathbone. After the enormous success of the mark of zorro 1920 film, the story was republished under that name. The 1940 film the mark of zorro dazzles with such qualities. I included a picture of page 107 and then 108 where the same secton is repeated. In 1924 it was republished as the mark of zorro following the success of the 1920 film, and the novel has since been reprinted using both titles. The original was even an influence on comic book artist bob kane when he created the character of batman. 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. Over the years, weve seen many different versions of the caped crusader, but director matt reeves is aiming to show us something different. John taintor foote, garrett elsden fort, based on the novel the. The mark of zorro 1940 approved 1h 34min action, adventure, romance 8 november 1940 usa a young spanish aristocrat must masquerade as a fop in order to maintain his secret identity of zorro as he restores justice to early california. Also, the first time zorro makes this mark with a blade, a witness mistakes it for the number 2. 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 mask of zorro is a 1998 american swashbuckler film based on the character of the masked vigilante zorro created by johnston mcculley.
The curse of capistrano is a 1919 serialized novel by johnston mcculley and the first work to feature the fictional californio character zorro zorro is the spanish word for fox. The mark of zorro is still as entertaining a read today as it undoubtedly was back in 1919. Some movies offer their audience the experience of an efficacious hero wittily fighting evil in a dramatic but benevolent world. He even finds time to romance the ruling tyrants beautiful niece linda darnell.
The mark of zorro 1974, a made for television movie with frank langella as zorro that reuses the alfred newman theme from 1940 s the mark of zorro. Basil rathbone, one of hollywoods most elegant and articulate villains, as capitan esteban. From early pulp magazine adventures, on up through the early silent years of motion pictures re. Her views change when she learns he is really zorro. The posters for 1940 s the mark of zorro and the 1981 film excalibur were used for a scene in batman v superman. The curse of capistrano was published as a five part magazine serialized novel in 1919.
Diego, who is studying at a military academy back in spain, comes home to find that his father has been deposed as alcalde. The mark of zorro is a remake of the 1920 smash hit of the same name starring the legendary douglas fairbanks sr. Prior to being published in novella form, the curse of capistrano appeared as five serialized installments in the pulp magazine all. Tyrone power gave a great comedic and athletic performance as diego zorro. The mark of zorro is a 1940 american blackandwhite swashbuckling spanish western adventure film from 20th century fox, produced by darryl f.
See more ideas about the legend of zorro, zorro movie and the mask of zorro. In my opinion, the mark of zorro, along with nightmare alley, are great movie classics in which he gives outstanding performances. For close on to a century now, the mysterious character zorro has proved a major touchstone to 20th and now 21st century storytelling. The mark of zorro was nominated for an academy award for best original score. He was out of the control of dzfox and was coming into his own playing deeper characters and making better movies. On the one hand he plays the useless fop, while on the other he is the masked avenger zorro. Toronto film society presented the mark of zorro 1940 on sunday, march 20, 2016 in a double bill with the crimson pirate as part of the season 68 sunday afternoon film buff series, programme 6 production company. Thats a catchy tagline for rouben mamoulians the mark of zorro, which. Based on the 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley, which introduced the masked hero, zorro, the screenplay was adapted by fairbanks and eugene miller.
The mark of zorro 1940 over the years there have been many movies and tv series based on the character of zorro, a champion of the people against tyrannical rulers in spanish colonial california. Nov 26, 2014 the climactic sword fight between zorro tyrone power and captain esteban pasquale basil rathbone in the original black and white. Disguised as zorro, a swordwielding mystery man dressed in black, he works to restore his father to power and return the tax money stolen by the villains j. In fact, everything about the mark of zorro is theatrical, in both a good and a bad sense. Two years alone in the wilderness escape the city to build off grid log cabin duration. The mark of zorro is a 1940 american blackandwhite swashbuckling spanish western. See more ideas about the legend of zorro, the mask of zorro and zorro movie. Over 40 zorro titled films were made over the years, including the mark of zorro, the 1940 classic starring tyrone power. Mickey mouse 1928 created by walt disney and ub iworks for steamboat willie. He is the title character, as he is dubbed the curse of capistrano. Based on johnston mcculleys novel the curse of capistrano, the mark of zorro was a remake of the 1920 silent film and by far superior to all the zorro incarnations. Throughout the book there are many typos but the worst is on page 108 when an entire section is repeated.
The curse of capistrano is a 1919 novella by johnston mcculley and the first work to feature the fictional character zorro zorro is the spanish word for fox. In the hopes of cementing his power and unaware of his secret identity quintero arranges for his beautiful daughter lolita to marry don diego but she resists the seemingly foppish young man. He is typically portrayed as a dashing masked vigilante who defends the commoners and indigenous peoples of california against corrupt and tyrannical officials and other villains. In 1908, he moved to california and immersed himself in its history. X, of dark horses comics greatest world, uses an x mark. Some say that tyrone power never had a great classic movie in his career. Interspersed with humor and oneliners but still keeping up with the highest of swashbuckling traditions, it is an actionpacked story of one man standing against a corrupt. The mark of zorro 1940 tyrone power vs basil rathbone youtube.