gavin6942
A young aristocrat must masquerade as a fop in order to maintain his secret identity of Zorro as he restores justice to early California.I did not really know much about Zorro. I was not aware his secret identity had his as sort of a buffoon and ladies man. But I like that about him. And I like that, just like Superman or other heroes, it creates the scenario where someone can be attracted to one personality and not the other... or sometimes both, without even knowing! Some people have compared this to the "Adventures of Robin Hood". Is that fair? I do not know. But the consensus is that this is the better of the two. With that, I would have to agree. It is a fun story with all sorts of political intrigue that Robin Hood just cannot match.
davidarai
The silent Douglas Fairbanks version is a classic, but this Tyrone Power edition is the the best of all. The proportions of action, romance and comedy are perfect and allow the story to simply flow with ease. The story is told quickly with no scene containing material not essential to the telling. Casting is also expertly done with Rathbone a wonderful villain to Power's hero. The sword fight between Esteban and Zorro is the best ever .. and makes subsequent remakes of the story a waste. Indeed, the TV show and other big screen attempts only make me want to watch this movie even more! Also, not always appreciated is the Alfred Newman score .... for which he was unbelievably "uncredited".
edwagreen
Enjoyable 1940 film with Tyrone Power masquerading as Zorro, and also as a fop so as to fool family and everyone else.Power returns home from Spain to find a corrupt government over-taxing the populace.Of course, there is romance with him and Linda Darnell, the niece of the corrupt governor, J.Edward Bromberg and his henchman, the always mean and nasty Basil Rathbone.As the governor's wife, I found Gale Sondergaard most interesting here. Jealous of her niece's love for Power, Sondergaard has that sinister way that she could only have in motion pictures.My main fault with the film is that the ending comes quickly as the problems of what is occurring are resolved. Power acting as a fop in key scenes are hysterical at best. Bromberg's fear of Zorro is also well realized.
Marcin Kukuczka
After almost seven decades THE MARK OF ZORRO by Rouben Mamoulian still thrills, delights, astonishes and mesmerizes a large audience. Such cinematic adaptations, indeed, deserve to be called 'incomparable' and superior versions where any attempt at a remake is destined to be a failure. Although the story of the Californian "Robin Hood" had been brought to screen in the silent era by Fred Niblo and was, years later transformed into THE MASK OF ZORRO, Rouben Mamoulian's movie with Tyrone Power in the lead remains a superior version that I call 'The Movie of Zest.' Why? Such a content as in Johnston McCulley's 1919 story THE CURSE OF CAPISTRANO (that is where the fictional character Zorro first appeared) does not require much effort to see, much psychology where its zestful aim would turn into a reflective one. Such a movie primarily offers to us, gives us tension and characters: goodies and baddies, of course, 'angels' and 'scorpions' so that blood can run faster in our veins as we are watching their clashes and cross our fingers for the heroes. There are better or worse films in that respect but truly seldom can we find an equally overwhelming film as THE MARK OF ZORRO which really does its best thanks to excellent cast and a terrific character development. Let me discuss this aspect in more details.While THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD was a 'tour De force' for Errol Flynn, THE MARK OF ZORRO is a true 'tour De force' for Tyrone Power. He gives the most heroic, the most sympathetic, the emotionally and skillfully flawless performance as foppish Don Diego/mysterious Zorro. Tyrone Power crafts the very gist of his role(s), of his disguises creating an unforgettable picture in us. He builds a perfect tension in the viewers that does not fade till the end. And the rest that are with or against Zorro ......with his spirit comes Fray Felipe beautifully and humorously portrayed by Eugene Palette. He is the one of the flaming wrath, holy wrath. He is the one whose fruit is neither an enemy nor a rival; the one who awaits an angel with a flaming sword to come and fight fire with fire. Consider, for instance, the scene when he talks to Don Diego about the violent and corrupt government....with his heart comes a delicious Lolita, 'more lovely and more radiant than a morning in June,' sensually portrayed by Ms Darnell. Her image with a sweet white kitten has a powerful visual effect. Although this was the heyday of the code in Hollywood (1941), Ms Darnell is extremely sexy but perfectly decent. Here's another evidence for one true fact: she can have all clothes on and still give the most erotic performance. The terrific on-screen chemistry between Ms Darnell and Mr Power is worth attention with their best two scenes: the 'Sombrero Blanco' dance and the chapel scene. No wonder the young swordsman and a mysterious vigilante does not hesitate to marry her, raise fat children with her and watch their vineyards grow......with his sentiments comes Don Alejandro Vega (Montagu Love), his father, the deposed Alcalde, more loyal, more delicate. He seems helpless when seeing the people starve and desperate when his beloved son just makes the first steps toward making him a grandfather......against his morals come the violent and corrupt government, in particular 'His Excellency' Don Luis Quintero (J. Edward Bromberg), the new Alcalde who is cowardly and blood drunk; and the cruel captain Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone), the true villain, a swordsman of evil for whom that poor fruit is not an enemy but merely a rival, who delights in terrorizing people by high taxation. The duel scene which has become, in a way, a symbol of this film is the climax of tension and the heights of thrill. While J. Edward Bromberg gives a memorable performance as Don Luis Quintenero, Basil Rathbone shines in the role, gives the clearest indication where evil lies, appears to portray a true evil's incarnate....with him, finally, come the people of Los Angeles, the people fighting for justice, and also the people who have great zest for his story and for the wonderful screen adaptation with masterful direction and acting. Highly recommended movie! 10/10
