Basil Rathbone, Chris-Pin Martin, Eugene Pallette

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75% liked it

7,393 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

9 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Rouben Mamoulian

Release Date: November 8, 1940

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DVD Release Date: October 7, 2003

Stats: 267 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (267)


  • February 1, 2008
    the 40s "the mark of zorro" is a remake of the 20s original starring douglas fairbanks sr., casting tyrone power as the hooden swashbuckling hero to serve justice for ill-fated common people in california.

    it has right elements of swashbuckler gendre, and tyrpone power's inte...( read more)rpretation would be more versatilely understated since the script requires him to impersonate dual characters: the spineless dandy vs. the gallant dark-knight...power's performance differentiates from errol flynn's flamboyant wisecrackers against the evil authority, but power carries his chivalry in a more straitforward manner, with his ebullient vigor inhabited under the seemingly indifference. of course, you cannot help but be hypnotized by his million-watt brilliant wide-smile.

    linda darnell plays the first-love burgeoning lad, zorro's love interest. darnell has the perfect garment, her rosy beauty, to infiltrate this juliet-alike belle. observe the scene her facecheek lingers over the white rose given by zorro, such scenario of puberty chasteness would be considered preposterously campy by today's standard. courting lines like "you're more radiant, more lovely than the mornings in june" could only exist in ancient fairy tales. why swashbuckler beauties always show great favors to roses from the heros? instead of diamonds or lease of real estate? ha. you would probably be mocked for love due to an un-costy rose in reality.

    basil rathbone, again, is the immoral buzzard with warsome appetite for swordplay gore, ignoring the dillemma of the commoners. rathbone's lofty figure and hooked astrocratic nose are the adequate gears to emit crooked snobbery. perfect casting for villainy, even his talent is diverse enough to cross gendres.

    tyrone power, errol flynn and basil rathebone were the mere three actors capable of the art for sword-swaying in old hollywood. it's always pleasant to see any two of these trio dueling each other in the highlight of masculine grace. "the mark of zorro" is another well-made swashbuckler flick with escapistic innocence.
  • May 7, 2007
    Classic swashbuckler that shows Tyrone Power can stand shoulder to shoulder with Flynn and Fairbanks jr And Basil Rathbone always made a brilliantly hissable villain!
  • November 15, 2006
    For a movie as old as this, the action is great. This is truly a classic movie.
  • September 28, 2009
    I like this zorro! He was gangsta
  • September 1, 2009
    This is simply one of the greatest action adventure films and, hands down, the definitive incarnation of Zorro in cinema history. The film really sets the standard, with great costumes, staging, and wonderful cast.
  • August 24, 2009
    This ver. of zorro looks really gay. but i liked the other ones
  • July 26, 2009
    Tyrone Power seems to enjoy the Don Diego stuff a little too much if you know what I mean>yeeh!<
  • March 3, 2009
    the first great Zorro
  • January 29, 2009
    ....................
  • September 7, 2008
    great action adventure

Comments


  • SaintFrancisofAssisi
    April 16, 2007
    Tyrone Power was brilliant in this movie and made a fantastic Zorro! The best of them all, not too old, as in the one of the newer Zorro movies. Tis' a pity he died so young.

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