The Sign of Zorro
Directed by Lewis R. Foster and Norman Foster
Written by Norman Foster, Louis F. Hawley et al
1958/USA
Walt Disney Productions
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] “Do you truly believe that life is fair, Senor de la Vega?
-No, maestro, but I plan to do everything in my power to make it so.” ― Isabel Allende, Zorro[/box]
This was a fun trip down memory lane.
The evil and greedy Capitan Monastario has Spanish colonial Los Angeles in his grip and is reeking havoc on the aristocracy. Don Alejandro de la Vega calls his son Diego (Guy Williams) home from Spain where he has been studying. Diego, an expert swordsman, wants to fight Monastario without involving his father and adopts an alter ego, Zorro. The masked man, with his faithful mute servant Bernardo, has many adventures before saving the day.
The Disney TV series is associated with some of my very early memories. This film is actually eight episodes from the series that have been edited together pretty well. It was fun being reintroduced to the characters, especially Bernardo and the incompetent Sgt. Garcia, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. If you are looking for the perfect Zorro film, however, I would go with The Mark of Zorro (1940) with Tyrone Power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CP3_5HPWA0
Main title from the TV series
