Where to begin praising The Mark of Zorro(1940)? An immensely fun film that never fails to put a smile on my face, and while the Douglas Fairbanks version is a classic and one of his best films and the Antonio Banderas film is entertaining it is this that comes across as the definitive version. The period detail has a great deal of charm and authenticity and the film is shot beautifully, serving the action scenes really well rather than cheapening them. The action sequences themselves are simply terrific, edge-of-your-seat quality and so entertaining to watch. The highlights are the chase sequences and especially the sword fight between Diego and Pasquale, the swordplay expertly choreographed and played without ever becoming clumsy. Alfred Newman's score adds a huge amount, very rousing with a main theme that gives off a once heard, never forgotten vibe. The dialogue is appropriately witty and the story is ceaselessly engaging, complete with emotional impact, exciting energy and tension. There is nothing obvious in the direction that comes across as a fault, and the acting is fine. Linda Darnell brings genuine beauty and pathos to the female lead, Eugene Palette is suitably craggy Gale Sondergaard is equally memorable. But the acting honours do go to Tyrone Power, whose dashing, charismatic performance is a career-best and Basil Rathbone on superbly evil form and in a way that is quite distinctive. Summing up, a classic, definitive version and a wonderful film in its own right. 10/10 Bethany Cox

True story, an old friend called to share with me his view that the best movies were the older Hollywood movies from the 30s and 40s (a view that becomes progressively more controversial in an inverse ratio to the age of the viewer) and I offered to go poking and prodding among my IMDb reviews to pick out 10 "must-see films" that have never been imitated, even in the endless make-a-buck modern remakes. After putting together the list, I noticed that, while I had referenced this specific film in other reviews (most especially my take on the modern Anthony Hopkins re-do where, mysteriously, younger viewers WHO HAD NEVER SEEN THIS VERSION became somewhat irritated at my calling the Hopkins version an abomination, even though I did provide detailed reasons..) I had neglected to actually review this film for IMDb. Mea culpa. I have seen the film a dozen times, I own two DVD copies, so here we go: 1. The Zorro legend commands respect, which means essentially don't monkey with it, as (for example) having two Zorros in the same film (not going to mention any names, you figure out what I am talking about). When A&E did a "biography" of Zorro, they opined that he was likely the first ever "superhero" because of his great skill and the secret identity. No argument from me. 2. This version is very faithful to the original story, with brilliant casting (some say Power's best film, period) and flawless direction by Rouben Mamoulian. Darnell is perfect as the shy young damsel who becomes progressively less shy when she has a chance to snag the man of her dreams. Rathbone (who, to be fair, did make a wonderful Holmes) is UNFORGETTABLE as the bad guy. 3. The climax represents the best of everything Hollywood stood for in the period. When Power decides to forgo the secret identity and challenge Rathbone outright, there ensues THE LONGEST AND MOST PERFECTLY FILMED SWORD FIGHT IN Hollywood HISTORY to that point in time. 4. As much as I would love to prattle on about this film, just writing this review compels me to go watch it again, so, kind reader, you will have finish the review without me...**POSTSCRIPT** The other 9 films in the list I prepared for my pal were, in no special order: Lady in the Lake (1947) The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941 Portrait of Jennie (1948) Sullivan's Travels (1941) The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) The Thief of Bagdad (1940) Death Takes a Holiday (1934) The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936) Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941).

I am a Zorro freak! I have watched all the old serial editions and one of my very favorite books is Isabelle Allende's Zorro, which takes place in Spain before he comes to California.Forget the Antonio Banderas versions. There is nothing that can match Tyrone Power's Mark of Zorro. He is Zorro. He plays the perfect fop - almost a gay caricature - discussing fabrics and dancing with the wife of the evil Alcante. But, in his double life, he is the Saviour of the people and fights to restore his father to the position.The duel at the end with Capitan Estaban (Basil Rathbone) is some of the best swordplay you will ever see. (In another life, I was a great fencing master). The musical score by Alfred Newman, well, it's Alfred Newman, and he is one of the very best.If you want to see how Zorro should be really played, you have to see Tyrone Power. That's just the way it is.

One thing this movie has is impressive horse riding chase scenes that make you grin at the ingenuity of the director and the cinematographer. The films pace is so exciting that you know that you just have to dip your hat to how it was captured on celluloid. Basil Rathbone (who is famous for playing Sherlock Holmes in the Rathbone/Bruce series that contained 14 movies between the years of 1939 – 1946) is a famous Hollywood swordsman, and I also read that Tyrone Power was also good with sword, and so I eagerly waited for the duel scene between the two.When the duel started, the idea that this was actually both the actors willing the swords and not just mere stunt men also added to the fun, as the duel is just wonderful and masterful, the grace and the speed the two masterful swordsmen displayed on screen is one that I will always remember, and one that I ask others to see, because I have not seen better fencing than that as of now.The movie had scenes that jumped at you, there was another chase scene where Zorro (Tyrone Power) made his horse jump off a bridge into a stream and made the horse ride/swam to shore, it was such a sight I raised my brow in amazement, wondering how many shots the director had to take to get that scene right.The Mark of Zorro is fun, although you can pick out plot holes and wonder how the hero was planning to achieve anything in the riot like ending, but the movie was fun to see all the way through, the story arc is taken from the story The Curse of Capistrano written by Johnston McCulley in 1919, the book introduced the masked hero Zorro, who was like Robin Hood in most sense. Set in Southern California during the early 19th century, the plot deals with Don Diego Vega/Zorro (Tyrone Power), who returned home to find that his town is being extorted by the Governor and his henchman Captain Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone).Diego then became the mask vigilante Zorro to be able to able to defend his people from the hand of the corrupt Governor.The Mark of Zorro is a true oldie; the score is so obvious and doesn't blend with the movie (from my own point of view) although the score did get an Academy Award nomination.The Mark of Zorro is one you can take the time to see even if it is just to see the duel between Power and Rathbone.www.lagsreviews.com