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Friday night movie: The Mark of Zorro (1940)

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Here’s tonight’s movie:

IMDB mean rating: [7.7/10]

IMDB median rating: [8/10]

Description:

The film is based on the story The Curse of Capistrano written by Johnston McCulley, originally published in 1919, which introduced the masked hero Zorro. The story is set in Southern California during the early 19th century. The plot deals with Don Diego Vega (Tyrone Power), the apparently foppish son of wealthy ranchero Don Alejandro Vega (Montagu Love), who returns to California after his education in Spain. He is horrified at the way the common people are mistreated by alcalde Luis Quintero (J. Edward Bromberg). Don Diego adopts the guise of El Zorro (“the fox”), a masked outlaw who becomes the defender of the common people.

Now I don’t want to give anything away, but the phrase “the finest swordfight in cinema” is often applied to this movie. Don’t miss it!

Happy Friday!

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8 thoughts on “Friday night movie: The Mark of Zorro (1940)”

      1. I like anything with swordplay. But Zorro are movies some of my favorites. I think this one is one of the best.

        Wintery, you’ll appreciate this. As a young adult, I bought a sword to give as a gift to my future husband. I got the idea from the Viking wedding ceremony where the bride gives her husband a sword or knife to symbolize that he is her protector. I gave the sword to my husband for a wedding gift and told him what it symbolized. Oh, and by the way, this isn’t a little sword. It’s a battle-ready (i.e. real, not display piece) 54″ two-hand broadsword. My husband really likes it and keeps it by his side of the bed (along with his .44 magnum).

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        1. YES! Swords are very important to boys and men. When I was young, my Dad made me a wooden sword. Later on in high school, a friend gave me his medieval sword. (He eventually converted from Islam to atheism to Christianity and we are still in touch). Then when I moved out, I bought myself a Carlos V sword.

          And now I am coveting one of these:
          http://darksword-armory.com/products-page/medieval-swords/two-handed-norman-sword-1336/
          http://darksword-armory.com/products-page/medieval-swords/the-ranger-1310/

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          1. My husband’s sword is very much like the second one you linked to. It was patterned after the Ranger sword from Lord of the Rings, but is not an official replica.

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  3. I’m glad you posted this film. I have always thought it contained the best sword fight of that era of film, if not of all time. Rathbone was supposed to be a truly talented swordsman, and it really shows here. Great choice. I will be viewing it this weekend.

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