Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
The Mark of Zorro (1920 film)
The Mark of Zorro is a silent film released in 1920. This genre-defining swashbuckler adventure was the first film version of The Mark of Zorro. Based on the 1919 story "The Curse of Capistrano" by Johnston McCulley , which introduced the masked hero, Zorro, the screenplay was adapted by Fairbanks (as "Elton Thomas") and Eugene Miller .
The film was produced by Fairbanks for his own production company, Douglas Fairbanks Pictures Corporation, and was the first film released through United Artists, the company formed by Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith.
Primary cast:
- Douglas Fairbanks : Don Diego Vega/Señor Zorro
- Marguerite de la Motte : Lolita Pulido
- Noah Beery, Sr. : Sgt. Pedro Gonzales
- Charles Hill Mailes : Don Carlos Pulido
- Claire McDowell : Dona Catalina Pulido
- Robert McKim : Capt. Juan Ramon
- George Periolat : Gov. Alvarado
- Walt Whitman : Fray Felipe
- Sidney De Gray : Don Alejandro
- Tote Du Crow : Bernardo
- Noah Beery, Jr. : Boy
The Mask of Zorro tells the story of Don Diego de la Vega, the outwardly foppish son of a wealthy ranchero Don Alejandro in the old Spanish California of the early 19th century. Seeing the mistreatment of the peons by rich landowners and the oppressive colonial government, Don Diego, who is not as effete as he pretends, has taken the identity of the masked Robin Hood-like rogue Señor Zorro ("Mr. Fox"), champion of the people, who appears out of nowhere to protect them from the corrupt administration of Governor Alvarado, his henchman the villainous Captain Juan Ramon and the brutish Sergeant Pedro Gonzales. With his sword flashing and an athletic sense of humor, Zorro scars the faces of evildoers with his mark, "Z."
When not in the disguise of Zorro, dueling and rescuing peons, Don Diego courts the beautiful Lolita Pulido with bad magic tricks and worse manners and she cannot stand him. Lolita is also courted by Captain Ramon; and by the dashing Zorro, who she likes.
The Mark of Zorro is full of plot twists and secret passageways. It has an appealing blend of romance, comedy and swordplay, as Zorro evades pursuit while fighting all oppressors. In the end, when Lolita's family is jailed, Don Diego throws off his masquerade, whips out his sword, wins over the soldiers to his side, forces Governor Alvarado to abdicate, and wins the hand of Lolita, who is delighted to discover that her effeminate fiancé, Diego, is actually the dashing hero.
Although some prefer the 1940 sound version starring Tyrone Power, Fairbanks' prodigious athletic prowess and tremendous enthusiasm made the original movie a great success, leading to a whole series of similar swashbuckler roles for Fairbanks, including The Three Musketeers (1921), Robin Hood (1922) and The Thief of Bagdad (1924). A sequel, Don Q, Son of Zorro , with Fairbanks reprising his role as Don Diego and also playing Don Diego's son, Don Cesar de la Vega, was released in 1925.
External links
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