As a kid in the 80s, i watched his series every damn fucking day they replayed an episode every day at 6 p. The jagged mark of his sword struck terror to every heart but one around 1820 the son of a. 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. Rent the mark of zorro 1920 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. 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. Arguably one of the highnotes amongst his sensational ripping yarns is 1924s the thief of bagdad. 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. The mark of zorro is a remake of the 1920 smash hit of the same name starring the legendary douglas fairbanks sr. 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. The mark of zorro is a 1920 film starring douglas fairbanks. 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. This dvd is a delightful look back at the magic and romance of early hollywood.
Based on the 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley, which introduced the masked hero, zorro. With this new souvenir dvd edition, the mark of zorro film is reunited for the first time in 88 years with its authentic musical score, performed live by rick benjamins paragon orchestra, and recorded and reproduced in spectacular highdefinition digital audio. Young boys all around the world donned homemade capes and masks in imitation of their daring hero. March 19 the mark of zorro 1920 april 9 the peach girl 1931. 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. 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. The mark of zorro 1920 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The screenplay was adapted from the book by fairbanks as elton thomas and eugene miller. Niblo had been successfully directing films before the mark of zorro, and had married an. Douglas fairbanks is the famous masked bandit, balancing a nice sense of humor and.
The character of zorro is really the first cinematic superhero. San juan capistrano to be exact, douglas fairbanks as zorro opposes the corrupt colonial government, defends the weak and downtrodden, and gets the girl. Enjoyable silent film provided with a musical soundtrack by tcm. 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. The narrative doesnt hew as faithfully to mcculleys initial zorro pulp tale, the curse of capistrano, as does the 1920 fairbanks silent, but the core remains intact. 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.
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. 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. 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. Im moving this section to the entry about the 1940 movie. This film depiction includes don diegos mother, isabella, but it omits bernardo don diegos mute servant. From this moment on, fencing was associated with swashbuckling adventure.
The mark of zorro featuring the original 1920 score. 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. Other articles where the mark of zorro is discussed. He was the first action hero and though he was already middleaged the man was amazingly fit and agile as this movie proves. The most significant change is that the story now opens with don diego at military school in madrid.
Douglas fairbanks stars as the spanish hero zorro, saving california from don diego. 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. With frank langella, ricardo montalban, gilbert roland, louise sorel. But while that film ends tragically, the mark of zorro is pure fun, the type of entertainment that coined the phrase saturday matinee. M, just as i got home from school, i was more than a fan. Gallery of 14 movie poster and cover images for the mark of zorro 1920. Mar 05, 2012 the 1940 film has much less humour than was there in the 1920 one, but its a sleeker, better scripted film. Before zorro, movie fencing consisted of some fairly primitive blade whacking. A mexican robin hood harasses corrupt spanish invaders. Fairbanks nimble antics in the action scenes add zest and humor to the nowfamiliar formula. Unlike some restored silent movies with sound effects punctuated into the score.
Film preservation associates, distributed by image entertainment, id4727dsdvd, upc 014381472721. In 1925, fairbanks starred in a sequel, don q, son of zorro. In conclusion this is a great old silent movie, with fine acting and plenty of. In the early 1920s, douglas fairbanks was transformed from comedy star into swashbuckling heartthrob via the mark of zorro 1920, the three musketeers 1921 and robin hood 1922. The version of the mark of zorro that bruce wayne saw as a boy was 1940 version, starring tyrone power. 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. The mark of zorro 1920 1920 marked a major turning point in the career of movie matinee idol douglas fairbanks. This is another link that goes into great detail sony pictures v fireworks. Like buster keaton, douglas fairbanks did his own stunts. Znak zorroa je americki crnobijeli nijemi pustolovni film snimljen 1920. 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.
Fairbankss zorro is well known to his enemies as a defender of priests and natives. But, as an argentinian, the only zorro ever for me will be guy williams from disneys take on it. Catherine williamson recently completed her doctorate in english at louisiana state uni. The 1920 silent film classic is projected on the big screen while organist dennis james provides the unforgettable soundtrack. The mark of zorro 1920 wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. This is clearly stated in the dark knight returns and other batman comics. This swashbuckler adventure was the first movie version of the mark of zorro. A seemingly idiotic fop is really the courageous vigilante zorro, who. 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. Mailes don carlos pulido, claire mcdowell dona catalina pulido, his wife, george periolat governor. 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 made douglas fairbanks a superstar.
The mark of zorro alternates between light romance and thrills more than 80 years on, fairbanks stunts and physical exuberance continue to surprise audiences. Fairbanks is don diego vega, a lazy, effete nobleman in the days of spanish california. 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. 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. He also did all of his own stunts, including riding and fencing. Zorro also once again has a band of caballeros assisting him, just like in the original story and 1920 film. 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. 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. American silent film the mark of zorro 1920 directed by fred niblo. Based on the 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley, which introduced the masked hero, zorro, the screenplay was adapted by. It was based on the 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley. With a wink and a nod, a swipe of the sword, bright dialogue, and flashy stunts, zorro will delight movielovers of all ages. A seemingly idiotic fop is really the courageous vigilante zorro, who seeks to protect the oppressed.
Coincidentally, mcculley was raised in the same town in illinois as my stepfather, which is not far from where i live now. The black pirate san francisco silent film festival. The mark of zorro 1920 letterboxd social film discovery. Lolita pulido, his fiancee in an arranged marriage, finds him dull and uninspiring. Like buster keaton, douglas fairbanks did his own stunts the. Written by eugene miller and douglas fairbanks, based on the 1919 story the curse of capistrano by johnston mcculley. The 1920 silentfilm classic is projected on the big screen while organist dennis james provides the unforgettable soundtrack. The mark of zorro 1920 stream and watch online moviefone. The mark of zorro 1920 movie simple english wikipedia. 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. 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 1940 film has much less humour than was there in the 1920 one, but its a sleeker, better scripted film. The mark of zorro is a 1920 silent adventure romance film starring douglas fairbanks and noah beery sr this genredefining swashbuckler adventure was the.
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