ZORRO / Evivva

The Mark of Zorro (1940)

On most any Saturday, in 1954, myself and my 3 older brothers, would each be given a Quarter (25 cents!) and off we’d go to the Saturday Matinee at the local Movie Theatre (in Mission, British Columbia). A Quarter would get us in plus buy a bag of popcorn and a pop! Amazing!

In those days kids could walk around freely, with no fear. We never locked our doors. Never had to. Churches were open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

That was a different time. Not so long ago.

I was 6 years old

Then we’d breathlessly watch our Heroes of the day!

 14 years earlier, in 1940 – Tyrone Power had Starred in The Mark of Zorro.
I don’t recall seeing this movie until TCM showed it recently.
I loved it.

Tyrone Power – The Mark of Zorro (1940)

Obviously there is a Colorized version of The Mark of Zorro (1940).
Haven’t seen that one yet.

Basil Rathbone – The Mark of Zorro 1940

Linda Darnell was ‘Sweet 17’ when she Starred in The Mark of Zorro.

On the Screen, Gale Sondergaard was billed 4th. 

Reviews

Ratings were pretty high – for both Critics and the Public.

Upcoming:

Basil Rathbone ! Prince of FIends !

Tags: (Johnston McCulley, Basil Rathbone, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Linda Darnell, Reed Hadley, Swashbuckler, The Mark of Zorro, The Mask of Zorro, Tyrone Power, Zorro, Zorro's Fighting Legion

Fernando / Abba

The Mark of Zorro (1940)
Zorro Anomalies?

If I said to you that Zorro never used a gun, but only a Sword (rapier) and his Bullwhip,
would you challenge that?

Probably not.

And if I also said that Zorro only uses his famous black Eye Mask for his disguise,
would you disagree?

Likely not.

BUT …
… in The Mark of Zorro (1940) we see transgressions to both of these modern images of Zorro persona!

Observe:

Zorro pulls a pistol!

Zorro wearing a bandana!

Later Zorro uses a pistol again.

But at least he’s wearing the eye mask.

It seems that Zorro’s image has continuously changed and evolved over the years
– from creator (Johnston McCulley) original vision.

Zorro (Douglas Fairbanks Sr.) apparent master of disguise – silent movie (1920)

Guns? Bandanas? Masks? Bullwhips?

The Mark of Zorro (1920) – Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

“What’s all this nonsense about Zorro using a gun?”

Zorro (Fairbanks) using a gun.

Zorro’s Fighting Legion (1939) Movie Serial Starring Reed Hadley
(below)

Zorro using 2 guns.

Zorro using a machine gun !!!

The Mask of Zorro (1998) Starring Antonio Banderas
(below)

“You call that a gun?”

Zorro’s Dilemma

I also noticed that in the Mark of Zorro (1940) Zorro doesn’t use a bullwhip?

While Reed Hadley in Zorro’s Fighting Legionserial (1939) surely does.

Next:

Tyrone Power Westerns continued …
The Mark of Zorro (1940) Part 4

Tags: (Johnston McCulley, Basil Rathbone, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Linda Darnell, Reed Hadley, Swashbuckler, The Mark of Zorro, The Mask of Zorro, Tyrone Power, Zorro, Zorro's Fighting Legion