20 April, 2008

The Lies of Zorro


The 1962 French-Spanish version co-scripted by Jess Franco.




One of the things I like about Zorro is that he gets to make fools of corrupt authority figures. Moral relativity? Here's Tyrone Power chatting up Basil Rathbone in my favorite film version of the popular legend, THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940) Rouben Mamoulian's stylishly mounted period adventure. Franco would present a female Zorro (Lina Romay) in his own LES NONNES EN FOLIE. There will be a review of the related EL LLANERO, Franco's 1963 Venezuelan Western, which is very much worth seeing.

A Jess Franco scripted version featured Frank Latimore (PATTON) and Howard Vernon (GRITOS EN LA NOCHE) in those famous roles. A review of that Joaquin Romero Marchent 1962 version (coproduced by Eurocine!) is now up on my DVD REVIEW FORUM on CINEMADROME. Just click on the link at the top of the left sidebar.







4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your review. I haven't seen the film but I'm curious about it. My own favorite Zorro film is the one with Alain Delon, only because I enjoy seeing Delon wearing the sexy Zorro costume (Very superficial of me, but I can't help myself!)). Plus it has a really silly theme song called "Zorro's Back" that always manages to get stuck in my head at the most random times.

Robert Monell said...

Thanks for the feedback, Cinebeats. You know I've always wanted to see that version. Delon really seems to be perfect for the character, he has that LOOK, even moreso than Tyrone Power or Banderas.
And it's directed by the always interesting Duccio Tessari. I know there are both cut and uncut versions on DVD and I can't figure which one is which.
Hopefully, I'll have the time sometime soon to do my long delayed Alain Delon appreciation blog.

Vivian said...

There's also supposed to be a Zorro film with Monica Swinn in it titled "Le Marque De Zorro", made in 1975 with director James Gardner. I've been trying to get my hands on it, but it's impossible to find. I did eventually find it on Amazon's France site, but the seller told me they don't ship internationally.
Does anyone know of a store (online or retail) that has this film in stock?

Robert Monell said...

...film in stock?

Try ETC, Vivian. Or email me @
monell579@hotmail.com