The Mark of Zorro (1920)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

. . . can only be defeated by really fast young skinny guys with great comic timing and super-human gymnastic skills. Of course, future film legend Douglas Fairbanks turns in his best performance in THE MARK OF ZORRO, since he WAS still relatively young, unknown, and poor in 1920. But as in ANIMAL FARM (or as with today's "upcoming" political "leaders," or as with many of today's Powerball and Mega-Millions big winners, or as in the plot of THE MARK OF ZORRO itself) both those born into wealth and those who have riches thrust upon them (or serve as Big Money's Henchpeople) soon grow into the very sort of piggish Enemies of the People whom they themselves had despised when poor. Only the threat of losing their wealth can sometimes temporarily bring these folks back on the side of angels, as happens here with Zorro (and, in an ancillary sense, with his main squeeze, Lolita Pulido). By the end of the 1920s, Hollywood's Fat Cats--including the aging Fairbanks himself--had banded together to form the elitist guilds, free-thought censorship codes, and pattern of persecuting the young & poor & creative classes (in other words, everything Zorro fought AGAINST!).

A must see for Douglas Fairbanks fans, one of his classics and certainly does make its mark(pun intended). The film looks absolutely beautiful with crisp photography that has aged really well and evocatively rendered costumes and sets. The music in rhythm very Spanish-sounding, the sort that you'd hear dancing to a tango, and also has a tender romance sound without ever feeling syrupy. The Mark of Zorro is written in a witty and infectious way, sometimes like the above quote seductive. The story has action-adventure written all over it, and it is rollicking excitement from start to finish. There is never a dull moment and it is always easy to understand what's going on. If you want action and stunts, as you'd expect from an action-adventure or anything with Fairbanks, you'll not be disappointed whatsoever here, there's a good amount of it and it is choreographed beautifully. Fairbanks is a joy, he is still charismatic, heroic and is clearly enjoying every minute he is on screen. The stunts play to his strengths and he performs them with dazzling precision and athleticism, not just technically but you are put at ease watching him because he doesn't forget to act at the same time. All the cast are fine, Margarite De La Motte being fiery and affecting and sharing great chemistry with Fairbanks. Overall, a classic, from the 20s and of any decade and actually one of the greats of the action-adventure film genre, and one of Fairbanks'(while he is the star because everything else is done so well the film doesn't rely on star power alone, which is a further reason for Mark of Zorro's greatness) best. 10/10 Bethany Cox

The amazingly athletic Douglas Fairbanks was the first man to play Zorro on the silver screen in this legitimate silent-era masterpiece. Fairbanks does his best to win the girl (Marguerite De La Motte) and keep the people of California safe from evil military officials Noah Beery and Robert McKim. Eventually Fairbanks learns that the only way he can stop the evil tyranny is to rally the rich landowners to join him and take back the land that is rightfully theirs. The exciting chase sequence near the film's finale is still a sight to behold over 80 years later as Fairbanks does death-defying stunts to elude the bad guys. Followed by a slightly better remake in 1940 and several other versions in more modern years. For some reason Zorro films just work so well on the silver screen. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

A classic!!Fairbanks'stunt work is superb with excellent action scenes,Marguerite De La Motte is very good as the lovelly Lolita. The plot follows the book and I think that is an important thing in an adaptation. "The Mark of Zorro" was the first movie that Douglas Fairbanks did in his own studios after he married Mary Pickford. For me,Douglas Fairbanks is one of the greatest heros in the history of the cinema,he was brilliant in all his works. 10/10