Zorro: The Gay Blade (1981) User Reviews

Zorro to the extreme

[lastliberal · 7/10 · 6 April 2007]

Tyrone Power in The Mark of Zorro plays a foppish character designed to throw off suspicion that he is, in fact, the legendary Zorro. George Hamilton in an Oscar-worthy performance (if they gave an award for comedy - which they don't!) plays Zorro who is injured and has to rely on his twin brother to stand in. George Hamilton as Bunny Wigglesworth is a riot. He is flamboyantly gay and wears lemon, plum, and scarlet instead of Zorro Black. He also likes to use a whip, which is not entirely out of character for Zorro, as he is as adept with the tail as he is with the foil. This is an entertaining farce that Zorro fans, Hamilton fans and others will enjoy. An excellent supporting cast includes Lauren Hutton, Brenda Vaccaro, and Ron Leibman.

Flamboyant, and a lot of fun

[Tom-447 · 7/10 · 28 November 1999]

George Hamilton is very funny, both as the "serious" twin and his outrageous brother. The script is witty and no more idiotic than any other Zorro movie. The score is excellent, stirring in the chase and fight scenes, appropriately dreamy in the tender moments. I believe that the main theme is lifted from a classical composition and adapted for the movie. This is one of those movies where a lot of the pleasure comes from the second rank of actors, like Ron Liebman and Brenda Vacarro as the alcalde and his dissatisfied wife. No one movie is going to appeal to everyone or at every time, but this is a good way to spend a couple of hours in light entertainment without having your intelligence or your taste insulted.

Cult Movies 31

[TYLERdurden74 · 7/10 · 8 November 1998]

31. ZORRO: The Gay Blade (comedy, 1981) When Major Don Diego dies his evil police commissioner Esteban (Ron Liebman) assumes his post. Before his death, Don Diego sent his son a casket containing the costume of 'El Zorro', a role he invented to fight injustice. Following in his father's 'boots' the new Zorro (George Hamilton) takes over. Injured whilst fighting Estebans' men, Zorro sends for his twin brother Ramon (George Hamilton again). There is just one problem, this new 'Zorro' is gay.

Critique: Send-up spoof of the legendary Zorro character was George Hamilton's follow-up to his delirious Count Dracula in 'Love at First Bite' (1979). A performance that revealed a hidden comic talent. Playing another fictional role, his Zorro is a treat to watch. When we first see Zorro he is the dashing, demeanor figure we've all come to know. But when 'Ramon' takes over, the fun starts.

It's fun to see him don a whip instead of the famous sword, mixing his heavy Spanish-accent with a gay lisp, and dress in an assortment of colorful get-ups ("he was dressed like a big banana"). Though Ron Liebman's 'Esteban' is sometimes off-putting with his overacting, its still fun for the whole family.

QUOTE: Zorro: "That's right, Zorro is back! To defend the defenseless! Befriend the friendless! And to defeat. . .the 'defeatless'."

Zorro.....As We Have Never Seen Him Before.

[tfrizzell · 4 July 2002]

Another great "Zorro" movie that has George Hamilton playing dual roles. The first role, being the suave Don Diego and the second role being the ummmmm.......not so straight Bunny (Diego's twin brother). After a leg injury to Diego it is up to Bunny to keep the peace. A hilarious parody/action-adventure/comedy that works because of quite possibly George Hamilton's greatest performance and a super supporting cast which includes the priceless Ron Leibman, Brenda Vaccaro and Lauren Hutton. Definitely unique to other "Zorro" films. 4 stars out of 5.

Goofy, light-hearted send-up of the Zorro legend.

[ffwcsec · 7/10 · 19 June 2000]

I've never been a big fan of the Zorro films, or the TV series for that matter, but I loved this movie. Zorro, the masked avenger, takes up for the downtrodden peasantry being exploited by the evil alcalde (played with delicious maliciousness by Ron Leibman). When the Zorro character injures his ankle and is unable to wreak havoc on the oppressors, his twin brother Ramon appears on the scene to take over where Zorro has left off, with a couple of slight differences. Ramon has joined the British Navy and changed his name to Bunny Wigglesworth (and all that the name implies), and he uses a whip instead of a sword to smite his enemies. Oh, and he's a snappy dresser as well--instead of a boring black cape and hat, he wears color coordinated outfits--purple, green, yellow, orange. A wonderful supporting cast (Brenda Vaccaro and Lauren Hutton) and witty dialogue make this a very enjoyable romp. It is pure fluff, but very funny and worth watching. George Hamilton is wonderful as he skewers the Zorro legend and his own lady-killer persona as well.

One Swishy Swashbuckler

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 9 October 2010]

Following up his comic triumph in Love At First Bite, George Hamilton took on the dual role of Zorro in Zorro The Gay Blade. Although the man handles a sword well, Douglas Fairbanks, Tyrone Power, and Guy Williams would not recognize both the Hamiltons who take their turn at championing the peasants of Spanish California.

George Hamilton returns to California from Spain and discovers his father is no longer the Alcalde of Los Angeles and in fact is now dead. His friend Ron Leibman, captain of His Majesty's guards is now the Alcalde combining both civil and military authority and he is having a great old time taxing the peasants to pay for the expensive lifestyle that Leibman and wife Brenda Vaccaro now enjoy. Of course Leibman isn't taking care of some of Vaccaro's other needs and she's giving Hamilton the same eye she gave John Voight in Midnight Cowboy.

When Don Diego Hamilton injures himself doing his Zorro thing, by chance he's visited by his twin brother Ramon who is now going by the name of Bunny Wigglesworth. Dad sent him off to the British Navy to get the gay out of him, but as Bunny puts it he was reared in the British Navy, I'm betting he was a most popular cabin boy on long voyages.

Anyway when Bunny takes over the Zorro role he brings a sense of style to the part, having a rainbow flavor of costumes instead of the basic black Zorro was known for. And stereotypical gay that Bunny is, that is precisely what is driving Leibman crazy, Bunny's a better swordsman in every conceivable way.

Lauren Hutton is also in the cast playing a part that her contemporary during the era, Abigail Adams would envy. She is making sure that the ladies are indeed remembered when as a suffragette some fifty years ahead of her time Lauren is spreading the gospel of the American Revolution being fought at that time on the other side of the continent.

George Hamilton plays both Diego and Bunny with a flair and twinkle, the best one in the cast, the one who seems to be having the most fun in his role is Ron Leibman. Leibman is having one whale of a good time overacting outrageously as his part calls for, getting a chance to do what he could normally do only in slasher flicks. He has a great flair himself for comedy, I'm not sure why Ron Leibman doesn't do more of it.

I think Fairbanks and Power who had been long gone by the time Zorro, The Gay Blade was released would have really enjoyed this terrific satire on a part that was special to both of them.

Fun film, although some of the jokes fall flat.

[grendelkhan · 6/10 · 29 April 2006]

I remember when this film first came out. I was a huge Zorro fan and wanted to see it, nut was unable to. I did have the novelization, which was hilarious. I eventually got to see it on cable, but was a bit disappointed. Oh, there was plenty of fun to be had, but many of the jokes fell flat, including some of my favorites from the book. Tming is everything in comedy, and t wasn't always there on screen. Still, enough of the comedy works that you can forgive the parts that don't.

George Hamilton is great in the dual (quadruple?) role of Diego and Bunny/Ramon. He had a deft touch for comedy, as proved in Love At First Bite, and it's displayed well here. he is also charming and handsome enough to pull off the swashbuckling, although that mole and his permanent tan are a bit mesmerizing. Ron Leibman is a little too over-the-top, and most of his jokes are the ones that fall flat. Lauren Hutton is rather bland and miscast. Brenda Vacaro is a hoot! The film plays up stereotype, to be sure, but no worse than La Cage Aux Folles/The Birdcage. It's camp, which is meant in fun, rather than venom. Geogre Hamilton must have been pretty secure in his ego to swish about as much as he does.

This is a great bit of fun and should be taken as the lightweight entertainment that it is. It could have used a little more swash than swish, for my tastes; but, it has plenty of excitement to go along with the laughs.

This Is No 'Love At First Bite'

[ccthemovieman-1 · 5/10 · 26 September 2006]

All the reviews I read said this was "hilarious" and just as entertaining as George Hamilton's earlier hit, "Love At First Bite" in which he played Dracula.

I found it not even remotely close: "Love At First Bite" was far, far better than "Zorro" here. In fact, thanks to Ron Leibman's constant shouting, this film was more annoying than it was funny.

Hamilton does provide laughs, no doubt about it, many of them simply with his accent ("pipples" instead of "peoples") but overall, this isn't what it's cracked up to be, especially when compared to "Love At First Bite."

A Classic that never dies

[fmc3 · 10/10 · 8 January 2006]

It is surprising to me that more people don't know about this picture, since Zorro the Gay Blade is one of the great funny movies of all time. It is certainly George Hamilton's most memorable movie, an over-the-top spoof that never takes itself too seriously. This is NOT Jerry Lewis or the Three Stooges, but an entertaining social commentary written and performed as slapstick. Of course they do all of it firmly tongue-in-cheek.

It does seem that a few people just don't get it. Well, to each his own. But if you liked Hamilton's Love at First Bite or most of the work of Mel Brooks, then this movie is for you. Personally, it reminds me of Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day and the Austin Powers movies. The writing is witty and the one liners are things you will remember and repeat for years. If you haven't seen this one, then you don't know what you are missing.

No need for the gay stuff

[ericstevenson · 6/10 · 19 August 2016]

When I first came across this film, I thought it would be a retelling of Zorro, but I was disappointed to find that it was instead about this guy who took on the persona of Zorro. Well more accurately, two people who took on the persona. This still isn't by any means a bad movie. It's just so so. I really was afraid that judging from the title, this was just going to be a bunch of gay jokes. I'm fairly certain they were not referring to gay as in the classic notion of "happy". One of the Zorro people did seem pretty feminine. My complaint is that the pacing is a bit off.

I'm not that big of a Zorro fan. I was expecting more humor, like this was a parody of Zorro. It was mostly just a straight retelling. There were in fact some pretty funny moments, especially with how the one guy didn't recognize the "Z" as being scary or the other guy thinking it was the number "2". I guess the main problem I had was that this didn't really add anything to the Zorro mythology. It's watchable, just nothing to write home about. I really do appreciate the costumes and sets in this film. It creates good atmosphere, just not something I would recommend. **1/2

a lot of work for few laughs

[manpnw · 1/10 · 20 December 2008]

One commenter said if you like Austin Powers you will like this movie. I liked Autin Powers and was disappointed with this movie. The film works hard, maybe too hard for laughs. Maybe it was that all the villains in this movie were shouting as if the shouting in itself is suppose to be funny. I get where they were trying to go with this flick. A cross between Zorro and the Scarlet Pimpernel but it just doesn't work. Austin Powers if silly but intelligent, Zorro the Gay Blade lacks the savvy of Austin Powers, The Big Lebowski or Kingpin.

I kept waiting for a laugh and while waiting found myself amazed that someone actually got paid for the script. My 15 year daughter also thought the movie was flat. My 17 year old who selected this flick on it's title, walked out after 20 minutes.

It seems many people on IMDb liked this film, but for me it lacked the good timing or jokes of a good comedy.

Call It a "Swishbuckler"

[EmperorNortonII · 8/10 · 18 July 2001]

Say what you will about "Zorro, the Gay Blade." It's a silly send-up to the old cinematic standard of Zorro, made before our politically correct times. Sissy jokes aside, it is enjoyable. Granted, a lot of performances are over the top, particularly Ron Liebman's top-volume Alcalde, but quite a bit of the dialogue can still get a smile. It's worth a look and a laugh or two!

Zany for sure. Zucessful? Ehh....

[KingProjector93 · 6/10 · 29 April 2016]

A spoof of one of fiction's most beloved masked men, 'Gay Blade' is what it sounds like: Don Diego (George Hamilton) inherits the mantle of the black garbed champion of the people, only to be injured and now relies on his effeminate twin brother (also played by Hamilton), Bunny Wigglesworth, to thwart evil.

Thankfully free of lame pop-culture references, this straight forward jab at the Zorro mythos still doesn't quite become a legend of its own. Despite a charismatic cast, with Hamilton displaying both comic as well as action chops in both lead roles, and some decent production values that create the appropriate feel of an old Hollywood Zorro picture, the film lacks many hearty belly laughs. Big slapstick setpieces deliver more titters than yucks, and the wordplay isn't especially snappy. Indeed, outside of mocking the theatrics of Zorro, the film has only one other joke in its repertoire: Bunny being gay. This element becomes hit or miss, with a gag about his flamboyant costuming possibly being that side's highlight.

Add to that, the film is slow paced, and this mean whenever there's not a fight or a gag, the film does become a tad dreary as its actual plot is not especially compelling and is clearly more a platform for said fights and gags. It's essentially a boiled down version of the future 'Mask' and the prior 'Mark' films smooshed together.

'Gay Blade' is by no means a terrible parody, with a consistent enough chuckle rate to never be boring, but it never exploits its swashbuckling antics like its distant nephew, 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights', would over a decade later.

TOO MUCH SCREAMING!

[jace_the_film_guy · 1/10 · 28 September 2021]

For a parody, this film is exactly what you would expect. Full of over-the-top acting, a predictable plot and interesting accents, this film dances back and forth between offensive and senseless. While there were a few moments that produced genuine laughs, the majority of the time watching the film was spent turning the volume down due to the yelling (or screeching) from the antagonist. Seriously, the amount of screaming by Esteban made me consider turning the film off more than once. Unappealing and unoriginal, Zorro, The Gay Blade is fun for some and futile for most.

Ode to a bandit

[airdrumming · 1 February 2002]

This was one of the first movies we rented right after we got our VHS player back in 1983, and to this day it is still a family favorite. I will never tire of watching this movie. George Hamilton does an outstanding job as the smooth-talking Don Diego Vega and as the flighty Bunny Wigglesworth, and the rest of the cast is just priceless. This movie is fun from beginning to end. For anyone who wants a great laugh, this is definitely a must see.

Childish, occasionally amusing.

[gridoon · 6/10 · 28 October 2000]

It begins as a spirited, freewheeling farce, but somewhere along the line it runs out of script and goes flat; this is the kind of comedy that will occasionally have you grinning but rarely truly laughing. George Hamilton is equally zesty and self-spoofing in both his roles, but Leibman, as Zorro's merciless enemy, gets increasingly annoying as the film goes along. (**1/2)

If not the worst movie of the 80's, darn close

[Kreme · 1/10 · 28 October 2003]

This is a movie that is trying. Very trying. OK, now that that is out of the way, there are attempts of humor here, but never is the attempt successful. George Hamilton, in the dual role of Don Diego and his long lost brother, Bunny is a not funny joke. Even the few attempts at some racy adult-oriented sex jokes fall completely flat.

How bad is it? Do you remember the pathetic Smokey and the Bandit rip-off/spinoff "Smokey Bites the Dust" also from 1981? that's a better movie in all ways except for the quality of the production itself. Z, tGB certainly had some money thrown at it, and even some talented actors. Too bad they didn't spend any money on writers.

George Hamilton at his absurd best

[shrine-2 · 9/10 · 10 November 2000]

You have to have a gift for the kind of cocksure buffoonery that's unleashed in "Zorro, the Gay Blade." But you also have to have a special kind of gift to enjoy how wild and cockeyed it can be. Hal Dresner and the rest of the writing team let loose with every conceivable bit of absurdity surrounding the Zorro legend, and succeeded in giving what looks to be George Hamilton's most engaging work. It was Hamilton's talk show with his ex-wife Alana that made me trust his essential good will. He may have been a cheating, good-time charlie to Alana, but it's just this willingness to let her at him over his own personal foibles that won me over. It's there in spades in "Zorro the Gay Blade." Hamilton's not afraid to go all out, playing the fool. He grins, and you can't help but grin back. His tan may be legendary, but it's that blinding-pearl-white smile that equals it. It's what carries his performance; I haven't seen a smirk this sardonic, since John William Sublett flashed his in the number "Shine" from "The Cabin In The Sky." And Hamilton's mugging and playfulness is as masterful as Cary Grant's was in "Gunga Din." It isn't only talented actresses who get wasted in Hollywood. Hamilton is an example of the actors who watched opportunities dry up, their best years flit away, and obscurity meet them head-on in their old age. It was nice seeing him on the Halloween edition of "Talk Soup;" the face may be a little jowly, and his hair grayer, but that tan is still there, and so is that trademark wantonness. I hope it never dies.

It would not have been very good for Hamilton to be playing at the height of his comic talents without a supporting cast meeting him jab for jab. There are some who think Ron Leibman's performance is too much, but I'm not among them. Leibman knew he would have to chew a lot of scenery to make the humor built into his role work; it takes a very astute actor to know when overacting, overdoing is the right pitch at which to carry a scene or a part. And I don't think Leibman ever misjudges the moment. I can remember myself enthralled over Nehemiah Persoff's El Presidente on one episode of "Gilligan's Island," and Leibman's performance matches it, accent for accent, outburst for outburst. It'll be a long time before I forget either.

I've always thought Brenda Vaccaro a very funny actress. It's hard to find actresses whose vibe puts you in a happy mood. She's always reminded me of a primmer Susan Tyrell with her button eyes, sharp profile (the prim part), and extra husky voice (the Tyrell part). As the Alcalde's wife, Vaccaro has some smart lines, and you wish director Peter Medak had let her go as far as Leibman had in his role. And she seems wrong for the part that requires her to be vain, self-absorbed, and sex-starved. With Vaccaro, you get the feeling that the woman she plays would be aware of how empty her existence was; how to resolve her sexual frustrations (She's accorded her husband's favor twelve times a year; not once every month, but twelve times in one night, and then nothing for the rest of the year.); how to pool her resources and become a foxy champion of the downtrodden herself.

The movie is full of little surprises from the gap in Lauren Hutton's front teeth (It's like an emblem of the absurdity this movie loves.) to Donovan Scott's shaggy-dog costume (or was he a bear?) to Hamilton's alter-ego, Don Diego's brother Ramon who throws off his Spanish heritage for a freer, more suitable, more "English" estate as Bunny Wiglesworth (A name with a built-in come-on, if ever there were one). The fact that Ramon is better at wielding a whip than a sword points to how knowing the writers are; it's things like this that make you beam at what Dresner and Bob Randall and others had cooked up. Their efforts returned the word "gay" to what it used to mean, and gave its new meaning, well, new meaning. It's undiluted joviality, and even that doesn't cover it.

It Won't Make You Gay

[bigverybadtom · 4/10 · 1 November 2023]

As in the old-fashioned definition meaning "happy" obviously. And the term "gay blade" in olden times meant a dashing young man. This is not the case here, but instead resorts to homosexual jokes. Which is ironic because the original Zorro was a rich womanizer who was a secret revolutionary hero. (No, he did not exist in real life.)

So, what does homosexuality have to do with this? The original Zorro has since passed his mantle to one of his sons, only for him to get injured, so he is forced to have his gay twin brother Bunny Wigglesworth, a British naval officer, take his place. That is evidently the movie's big gimmick, which is not really funny. There are some other jokes, both about homosexuality and otherwise, but few of them work, and the constantly-bellowing villain doesn't help. Though the costumes and action scenes are good, as a parody this is hardly laugh-inducing. Best to find a straight (pun intended) Zorro movie instead.

Jon Monsarrat review: Hilarious comedy -- hasn't aged -- like "Austin Powers"

[johnnymonsarrat · 9/10 · 16 April 2002]

On the assumption that you are considering renting Zorro, I think ratings and reviews should reflect the current day, not nostalgia or memory. I've seen "Zorro: The Gay Blade recently" and was totally floored. It's flat-out hilarious and hasn't aged a day.

The film is a parody of Zorro and makes fun of some of the over-seriousness of that long ago age when Zorro was invented. But at the same time, like a good parody should ("Austin Powers") it has its own theme, its own compelling characters and plot. Nothing blows up, but swordfighting doesn't need a $100m budget to be fascinating. Nor does a parody. It's wacky but accessible to people who don't like "cult films". Don't expect a romance.

If you liked Austin Powers, definitely get this film. It's an intelligent and hilarious parody of the Zorro concept that yet is serious enough that we care what happens to the character. In getting this balance right, it's much like the first Austin Powers film.

Who should see this movie:

-- Everyone who's heard of Zorro and won't mind a little dose

(not a large dose) of wacky.

-- Arty film types who won't find any compelling film drama here,

but you owe it to yourself to explore the Zorro mystique.

I'll give "Zorro, the Gay Blade" a surprisingly timeless 9 out of 10.

Fair

[Apollo15AnnoPianoCatDogSnailAnt · 4/10 · 24 August 2020]

There are funny laughs, actual comical instances, that are actually funny.

A classic that ranks with Blazing Saddles and the Pink Panther

[fuzzycow · 8/10 · 18 September 2000]

This was hysterical. I only just saw it for the first time the other day. I never heard of it until a friend of mine spoke about it. It's slapstick comedy at it's best. You can't find comedies like this anymore. I think the name says it all about it's humorous nature. Picture Zorro shouting one-liners and then picture him being gay. It's worth the $1.99 it costs to rent it at Blockbuster. It goes all out with stereotypes as well. The crowd listening to Esteban speaking to them, all wearing sombreros. Esteban saying he is a man of the "Peeples". It's great for a Sunday afternoon viewing.

Best comedy i've ever seen

[mcgoldfinger · 10/10 · 25 April 2006]

i saw this when i was 11 yrs old and it was one of the first videos i had ever watched.it has remained one of the funniest comedies i have ever seen, every scene is funny on so many levels. George Hamilton is most definitely a genius in it, Brenda Vaccaro and Rob Leibman are the funniest comedy actors i have ever seen. if you get the opportunity, please watch it, for all the family and worth a Saturday or Sunday afternoon watch. Guaranteed to cheer you up if your feeling low. The fact that it is so over the top makes it all the more enjoyable. I cannot wait for the day that i can show this to my kids and have them laugh as hard as i did when i was there age.

I have watched this many times and it still makes me laugh.

[Fred-38 · 10/10 · 1 August 2000]

When I saw it in 1982 I thought it was one of the worst movies ever made. Over the years it has become one of my favorites. Its dialogue and Hamilton's one liners. It is a Z not a two, the peeples, it is better to be poor than to dress poorly, etc. There are so many subtle comments and in jokes you need to watch it many times to pick them all up.

Hamilton

[natw · 8/10 · 11 February 2009]

The highly underrated "Zorro, the Gay Blade" does what, unfortunately, a lot of comedies don't: It entertains. George Hamilton is perfect in his duel roles as the long-absent son of the legendary Zorro and his identical twin, who has joined the British navy and flaunts his effeminate lifestyle. I don't understand why this movie gets such a low rating on IMDb. It may not be classic cinema destined for a spot in the Smithsonian, but it delivers what it promises: Lots of laughs. Sure, the characters are stereotypes, many of the scenes are over the top and the plot is perhaps a bit uneven. But in a farce, there's nothing wrong with that, and that is what this movie is. Ron Leibman as the corrupt alcalte and Brenda Vaccaro as his long-suffering wife add to the film with their wonderful over-acting. The movie has a good comic pace and even manages to finish on a warm note. Sure, it isn't perfect, but not many movie comedies can manage to accomplish what it should: This one does.