The Mark of Zorro

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The Legend of Zorro (100%)
The Mask of Zorro (89%)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (100%)
The Mark of Zorro (100%)

Plot: When they say they don't make 'em like they used to, they're talking about 20th Century Fox's exhilarating The Mark of Zorro, starring Tyrone Power as the caped one, Linda Darnell as his love ...( read more read more... )interest, and Basil Rathbone at his scurrilous best as Zorro's nemesis. More textured than the 1920 original with Douglas Fairbanks, this 1940 version has Don Diego/Zorro (Powers) returning from Madrid to defend his father and rally the caballeros (noblemen) against Los Angeles's corrupt new governor (J. Edward Bromberg), intent on taxing the peons to death.

If this all sounds like an Old California redo of the classic Adventures of Robin Hood, that's because it is. Powers has a field day as Don Diego, the "fancy clown" betrothed to the governor's niece, Lolita (Darnell). Don Diego the effete snob performs silly parlor tricks, peers through pince-nez, and yawns disdainfully at one and all. Power's cowardly alter ego is so believable, his transformation to masked superhero becomes all the more thrilling. Imagine Captain Pasquale's (Rathbone) shock when, in the film's brilliantly choreographed showdown, this annoying fop turns out to be a world-class swordsman.

Director Rouben Mamoulian, known for great period melodramas, does a skillful job of alternating garrison intrigue with big action scenes, including a nighttime ride that climaxes with Zorro on horseback leaping off a bridge. In the romantic highlight, Lolita confides her innermost desires to a suspiciously worldly friar. The first-rate supporting cast includes Gale Sondergaard as the governor's treacherous wife and the frog-voiced Eugene Pallette (Friar Tuck in The Adventures of Robin Hood) as a padre in cahoots with the masked one. Technically, this retelling rates an unqualified "Wow!" The cinematography, obviously influenced by Goya, makes full use of chiaroscuro shadows, and Alfred Newman's Latin-flavored score is irresistibly rousing and romantic. --Glenn Lovell

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  • lucasaq
    lucasaq
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 10, 2008
    The best Zorro film is every bit as fun as a Zorro film should be. Tyrone Power is perfect in the title role, and faces off with the ultimate sword fighting villain Basil Rathbone. The score here is also very good as is the new one by James Horner, but the man behind this one is equally if not more acclaimed, Alfred Newman, recently unseated by John Williams for the most nominations at the Oscars. Of course, one of my favorite character actors portrays the robust Fray Felipe, Eugen Pallette.
  • groaningbitch
    groaningbitch
    3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    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 interpretation 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.
  • sneakypetegb
    sneakypetegb
    4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 14, 2008
    Another of the early swashbucklers that so hooked me as a kid, enamored of Tyrone Power and, again, the evil Rathbone, quite in love with Linda Darnell. Wow!
  • sanityis0verrated
    sanityis0verrated
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 14, 2008
    This is THE Zorro movie. Tyrone Power is the definitive Zorro, and Basil Rathbone does his usual villainous bit with ease.
  • mattmartinez11
    mattmartinez11
    3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    October 1, 2007
    Perhaps if this had been the first Zorro film I'd ever seen, I might have enjoyed it more. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get past the fact that Diego spends about ten minutes of total screen time in costume as Zorro. This is especially frustrating when the entire climactic fight scenes feature Diego Vega and not Zorro. Aside from that, he seems a bit too eager to reveal his secret identity at a couple points. Still, this is an entertaining film with some good performances and great sword fights, especially the one between Diego and Pasquale.
  • crackedpot2000
    crackedpot2000
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 28, 2007
    See it squarely for one of the finest swordfights ever commited to film between Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone. The film's not too shabby either.
  • ershero
    ershero
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 29, 2007
    this is the best version ever. the sword fight between Diego and the Capitan is amazing, it is the reason I started fencing in college
  • Jackassfanumber1
    Jackassfanumber1
    0.5 Stars
    MCT:
    May 14, 2007
    I will cut off the balls of Zorro and put them in his anus...like that when he gonna shit he gonna shit all over his balls!
  • garyX
    garyX
    3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    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!
  • jennalynde
    jennalynde
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    March 4, 2007
    What more do you have to say other han that it's a Tyrone Power's picture? It could be horrible but he's so good who cares. God took him home early to give other men a chance. If you don't believe me watch The Razor's Edge or The Black Swan.
  • kimmason65
    kimmason65
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    February 18, 2007
    A seemingly whimpy noble man's son courts his love by day while she dreams of his nightime alter ego, the masked avenger sworn to protect his people from the evil governor.
    All the adventure and romance you could ask for make this an enduring classic.
  • ramiraff
    ramiraff
    4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 1, 2007
    Wonderful sword fights and stunts courtesy of Tyrone Power and the always underrated direction of Rouben Mamoulian.
  • banana032
    banana032
    4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    July 30, 2006
    This movie is soooo good. I can't even remember where I saw it, but I was like "This movie is ten times better than both of the Antonio Banderas ones. Yay for the 1940's film industry!
  • tk7and7is
    tk7and7is
    4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 6, 2006
    Irresistibly wonderful old-school swashbuckler. Tyrone Power is frickin' phenomenal, and Rathbone, as always, the perfect villainous foil.
  • attagirl1117
    attagirl1117
    4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    March 21, 2006
    Good, Good, I liked the Legend better, but I thought this was good, I bit more.. blood then needed, but good!

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  • KingElindiel
    KingElindiel
    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.
    posted 543 days ago
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