Revisiting the Movies of the 1920's (Flashback Fridays #4)

1920’s

The Mark of Zorro (1920)

 

How could I not venture into the wonderful collection of swashbuckling films of the 1920’s? I am ashamed to admit that I have not seen many films from this era, but this one would stand out regardless. Many people have come to love this iconic protagonist, carving “Z” with his sword into various objects and faces. Remember, this was before Robin Hood was revitalized in the public’s imagination through animation. But now to turn to the film.

Douglas Fairbanks plays the heroic Don Diego Vega, a rich Spanish noble of California during the early 1800’s. This silent film shows his adventure as he creates the alter ego of Señor Zorro and proceeds to fight the corrupt leadership of Spanish California. One of my favorite things about this movie is how it can stay interesting despite its lack of sound, and how it popularized the rich man / crime-fighting alias in cinema, influencing many films, such as Batman, Iron Man, Robin Hood, and so on. “Mr. Fox”, as his name translates to, woos his Lolita Pulido with his brash swordfighting and athleticism, while his enemy, Sergeant Pedro Gonzales, does the same, all while Don Diego attempts to woo her as his normal self (which fails, of course). This love triangle/square (depending on how you look at it) has been used countless times since the great Zorro mastered it, and I’m sure we will continue to see reiterations of it for years to come.

Fun Fact #1: This was the film the the Waynes took Bruce to see before they were murdered in the original Batman comics.

Fun Fact #2: Walt Whitman plays a friendly priest named Felipe in this film.

P.S. - Want to watch it? You know I always got you covered. Here’s a link to the first of an 8-part series that contains the entire 90-minute film.