How appropriate that 20th Century Fox provided this version (since Zorro means "fox") of the tale about an anonymous hero of the common people set in early California. The story might be considered part Robin Hood and part Scarlet Pimpernel.
Tyone Power plays Diego Vega, who returns home to California on the request of his father. He finds that much has changed. A despot has taken his father's role as political leader of the region. With an army behind him, Don Luis Quintero (J. Edward Bromberg) is taxing the locals into poverty. His right hand man is Captain Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone), an expert swordsman who is the real brains behind the operation.
Diego quickly comprehends the situation and adopts a foppish manner, to assist in his plan to remedy the situation. Then he assumes the role of Zorro, a daring swordsman, who seems to appear out of nowhere and thwart Quintero's plans. There is a complication when Diego meets the niece of Quintero, Lolita (Linda Darnell), and falls under her charms.
The quality of swordplay and horsemanship are integral to this genre of film. Here, both are tremendously portrayed. This Zorro is one of the best swashbucklers in film. The heroic persona depends on the disparity between the actual and assumed personalities of the hero. Power does not come close to Leslie Howard's portrayal of an effeminate wastrel (note that he uses an identical lorgnette), but he exceeds in his portrayal of the daring chevalier.
Rathbone i.
Tyone Power plays Diego Vega, who returns home to California on the request of his father. He finds that much has changed. A despot has taken his father's role as political leader of the region. With an army behind him, Don Luis Quintero (J. Edward Bromberg) is taxing the locals into poverty. His right hand man is Captain Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone), an expert swordsman who is the real brains behind the operation.
Diego quickly comprehends the situation and adopts a foppish manner, to assist in his plan to remedy the situation. Then he assumes the role of Zorro, a daring swordsman, who seems to appear out of nowhere and thwart Quintero's plans. There is a complication when Diego meets the niece of Quintero, Lolita (Linda Darnell), and falls under her charms.
The quality of swordplay and horsemanship are integral to this genre of film. Here, both are tremendously portrayed. This Zorro is one of the best swashbucklers in film. The heroic persona depends on the disparity between the actual and assumed personalities of the hero. Power does not come close to Leslie Howard's portrayal of an effeminate wastrel (note that he uses an identical lorgnette), but he exceeds in his portrayal of the daring chevalier.
Rathbone i.