Zorro Rides Again (1937)
The California-Yucatan Railroad, being built for the good of Mexico, is under siege by a gang of terrorists hoping to force its sale; no one can prove their connection to profiteer Marsden. Manuel Vega, aged co-owner, calls in the aid of his nephew James, great-grandson of the original Zorro. Alas, James seems more adept at golf than derring-do; but after he arrives, Zorro rides again! Can one black-clad man on horseback defeat a gang supplied with airplanes and machine guns?
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If you don't like this, we can't be friends.
A lot of fun.
This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
First Zorro serial is one of the best. It's a modern story with planes and trains and cars and horses all being used to great effect to tell the story of Zorro (James Vega) trying to stop the villain from blowing up the railroad he own stock in. Its one of the large scale serials that Republic did in the late 30's and early 40's before budgets got tighter thanks to wartime austerity. The large cast of characters is nicely handled and it doesn't have the round and round feeling that later Zorro serials engendered. This has spectacular effects that help elevate things a couple of notches- Where else are you going to see a train try to out run a plane that is trying to bomb it?. If there is a flaw it's that there is a few musical numbers that don't really fit (Most musical numbers don't fit in serials since they slow the serial down too much)
The first of the many serials based on the Zorro character released by Republic during the 30s and 40s.In this one John Carroll (before going on to bigger and better things) plays the hero and his mild-mannered alter ego James Vega. Noah Beery Sr. is wasted as the Marsden, the head bad guy trying to take over the California/Yukatan Railroad. He basically never leaves his office and only appears to radio instructions to his henchman led by Richard Alexander and Robert Kortman.As usual in Republic serials, the stunt work in this one is great. Yakima Canutt visibly doubles the hero and performs some dangerous horse to train transfers among others.All in all it isn't bad. The only problem I had with it was the inclusion of a couple of songs for Zorro to warble as he galloped across the range. A tip of the hat to the singing cowboys of the day, I suppose.
Good early Republic actioner. Only one cheat at a chapter ending, where you see Zorro fall from a building, but the next chapter shows him still hanging there. Carroll is best, Renaldo is fun, and Yakima Cannutt's stunt work is first rate. If only they didn't have Zorro SING!
This was one of the best early serials filled with action furnished by Yakima Canutt on the horse. Although later serials would improve the mask it was also unique in it's scripting. It was well written as serials go. It was mentioned somewhere that a serial was silly. True perhaps but we didn't get that serious with them and enjoyed anyway. This Zorro was entertaining and interesting. One of the best cliffhangers endings was with the train, early in the serial.