The Mark of Zorro

1920

1 hr. 30 min.

Adventure

List

91%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

When corrupt Governor Alvarado (George Periolat) crushes the poor people of Spanish California under his iron heel, wealthy fop Don Diego Vega (Douglas Fairbanks) sheds his silks, dons a mask and cape and becomes the legendary Zorro, defender of the people. Infuriated by Zorro's meddling, Alvarado dispatches his right-hand man, Captain Ramon (Robert McKim), who has a score to settle with Zorro for stealing away the object of his desire: the lovely Lolita Pulido (Marguerite De La Motte).

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acsdoug D

I enjoyed this one, although I doubt the story is sophisticated enough for modern audiences. There's no nuance or subtlety here, the villains are irredeemably and/or comically bad, the hero is invincible, and the heroine is in need of saving, all punctuated by the exaggerated gestures and facial expressions of the early silents. That doesn't bother me though, and Fairbanks' athleticism is truly impressive.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/10/24

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Dustin D

Zorro's screen debut is melodramatic and a bit too obvious, but is fast-paced and the stunts hold up 100+ years later.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/25/23

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Ethan S

Lots of fun to watch Douglas Fairbanks 'parkour' his way around the set. Easy to see how much fun and excitement he brought to the screen with the sheer physicality of his acting, literally diving into the role of Zorro with great aplomb.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/21

Full Review

david l

The Mark of Zorro is an incredibly influential movie, being basically the grandfather of all blockbuster cinema. In particular, it influenced the superhero subgenre that is of course extremely popular today, and Batman specifically is wholly inspired by Zorro in his dual character and the overall look. This film is way too frenetic, less plot-driven and way too fast paced, but the action is absolutely fantastic, perfectly executed and very memorable throughout. This iconic swashbuckler is technically superb, it has that unabashed sense of fun to it, and Douglas Fairbanks is unforgettable as the titular character with his great charisma and impressive acrobatics. He was a genuine movie star.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

The best thrilling and inspiring movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

kevin w

Apparently the plot device of having the lead act like a woman so that all can be surprised when we discover that he's the gallant hero as well is one hell of a lot older than I'd imagined (did Joe Campbell write about this trope?). Perhaps the best Zorro is just that for the acrobatics of its lead, the dashing Doug Fairbanks, who never saw a table he couldn't leap over/onto/or under. Its a silent film, yes, but the sheer dynamism of the man cannot be restrained by even the age of the film. The rest of the cast is serviceable, with De La Motte playing the love interest with equal parts demureness and spicy vixen-ity (?!). Its a fun film if unbelievable (as when he holds 20+ guys at bay with a single shot revolver!). Let yourself go.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Fred Niblo

Director

Douglas Fairbanks

Don Diego Vega

Marguerite De La Motte

Lolita Pulido

Noah Beery

Sgt. Pedro Gonzales

Robert McKim

Capitán Juan Ramon

Charles Hill Mailes

Don Carlos Pulido

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Fairbanks cuts a jolly and dashing figure as Zorro...

Aug 11, 2022

Full Review

Michael Sragow

New Yorker

Douglas Fairbanks's first great acrobatic epic, from 1920, set the standard for zesty swashbucklers.

Nov 16, 2015

Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

You haven’t seen Zorro until you’ve seen Douglas Fairbanks Sr. as Zorro in the 1920 silent swashbuckling classic The Mark of Zorro… It’s amazing how far we haven’t come.

Rated: A

Nov 1, 2002

Full Review

Carl Sandburg

Chicago Daily News

Doug's latest picture will be considered by thousands to be his best.

Dec 14, 2021

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Alan Ng

Film Threat

The Mark of Zorro... slowly sets the stage and effectively builds the tension and anger of Don Diego as he shifts from merely lurking in the shadows to save the innocent to inspiring a movement to take down the evil governor.

Rated: 7.5/10

Jun 10, 2021

Full Review

Austin Kennedy

Film Geek Central

It's exciting, thrilling, romantic, and thoroughly entertaining.. And it's all anchored by a rousing performance from Douglas Fairbanks. This is what going to the movies should be about: Pure escapism!

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 18, 2013

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Synopsis

When corrupt Governor Alvarado (George Periolat) crushes the poor people of Spanish California under his iron heel, wealthy fop Don Diego Vega (Douglas Fairbanks) sheds his silks, dons a mask and cape and becomes the legendary Zorro, defender of the people. Infuriated by Zorro's meddling, Alvarado dispatches his right-hand man, Captain Ramon (Robert McKim), who has a score to settle with Zorro for stealing away the object of his desire: the lovely Lolita Pulido (Marguerite De La Motte).

Director: Fred Niblo
Production Co: Douglas Fairbanks Pictures
Genre: Adventure
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 2, 2017

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