Rating: 
Summary: Douglas Fairbanks decides to try swashbuckling in a film
Review: Before the 1920 silent classic "The Mark of Zorro," Douglas Fairbanks had made a series of comedy-dramas like "Flirting With Fate" and "A Modern Musketeer" where he could show off his athletic abilities as a cheerful All-American hero. But in "The Mark of Zorro" he tried his hand at swashbuckling for the first time and quickly became the premier action hero of his day in films such as "The Three Musketeers," "Robin Hood" and "The Thief of Bagdad." The character of Zorro had only appeared the year before in "All-Story Weekly" with Johnston McCulley's five-part serial "The Curse of Capistrano." Fairbanks adapted the story himself for the screen (under the name Elton Thomas), telling the story of the foppish Don Diego Vega and his dashing masked alter-ego, Senor Zorro. The story is set in the California of the 1820's, where Don Diego has no success in courting the beautiful Lolita (Marguerite de la Motte), who only has eyes for that vigorous Zorro fellow. When Lolita and her family are imprisoned by the corrupt Governor Alvarado (George Periolat) and his evil henchman, Captain Ramon (Robert McKim), Zorro rallies the caballeros to join him in saving the day, the girl and the rest of California in the bargain. This is one of the finest adventure films of the silent era, with plenty of "swording" for those of us who like such things. Zorro owes something to the Scarlet Pimpernel in creating the superhero stereotype of the ineffectual secret identity who turns into a crusader for justice such as Clark Kent/Superman, Bruce Wayne/Batman, Peter Parker/Spider-Man, etc. If you are a fan of either the silent era or swashbuckling, then sooner or later you have to ride the path of justice with Fairbank's Zorro.
Rating:
Summary: Douglas Fairbanks decides to try swashbuckling in a film
Review: Before the 1920 silent classic "The Mark of Zorro," Douglas Fairbanks had made a series of comedy-dramas like "Flirting With Fate" and "A Modern Musketeer" where he could show off his athletic abilities as a cheerful All-American hero. But in "The Mark of Zorro" he tried his hand at swashbuckling for the first time and quickly became the premier action hero of his day in films such as "The Three Musketeers," "Robin Hood" and "The Thief of Bagdad." The character of Zorro had only appeared the year before in "All-Story Weekly" with Johnston McCulley's five-part serial "The Curse of Capistrano." Fairbanks adapted the story himself for the screen (under the name Elton Thomas), telling the story of the foppish Don Diego Vega and his dashing masked alter-ego, Senor Zorro. The story is set in the California of the 1820's, where Don Diego has no success in courting the beautiful Lolita (Marguerite de la Motte), who only has eyes for that vigorous Zorro fellow. When Lolita and her family are imprisoned by the corrupt Governor Alvarado (George Periolat) and his evil henchman, Captain Ramon (Robert McKim), Zorro rallies the caballeros to join him in saving the day, the girl and the rest of California in the bargain. This is one of the finest adventure films of the silent era, with plenty of "swording" for those of us who like such things. Zorro owes something to the Scarlet Pimpernel in creating the superhero stereotype of the ineffectual secret identity who turns into a crusader for justice such as Clark Kent/Superman, Bruce Wayne/Batman, Peter Parker/Spider-Man, etc. If you are a fan of either the silent era or swashbuckling, then sooner or later you have to ride the path of justice with Fairbank's Zorro.
Rating: 
Summary: BUYER BEWARE
Review: Don't get me wrong, "The Mark of Zorro" is a classic of the silent era. My rating is for this particular video version which I got when I thought I was ordering a restored version of same. Despite the skillful design of package, the video it contains is a different story. First off THERE IS NO MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT...This is a truly silent film, so unless you would like to experiment with adding your own soundtrack I'd pass. But even if you chose that option, it brings us to the other big problem which is the horrble quality of the video transfer.It looks as though it were video camera filming a projection. This is NOT the tape with the restored tints, and the print is inferior at best. Still, the box IS nice...
Rating:
Summary: The first, and in many ways finest, of the Zorro series.
Review: Douglas Fairbanks brings a verve and joy to this movie. He does many if not all his own stunts and makes the dashing swashbuckler a believable guy. I have always enjoyed this rendition, and as the years go by the actors playing Zorro only got worse. Although Ty Power and Guy Williams did well, the rest don't come close. You see what a good silent film actor can do with body language and facial expressons.
Rating:
Summary: Douglas Fairbanks is soooo hot
Review: Fairbanks made this movie around 1920 when he was just starting out. He did all his own stunts, and knowing this made it that much cooler watching him go go go. Fairbanks plays painfully awkward nobleman Don Diego and his alter-ego Zorro - the champion of the downtrodden. In both disguises he courts the lovely Lolita.
This movie has the blend of action and humor that will be familiar from more modern Zorro movies. The very very geeky Don Diego provides some comic relief, especially when courting Lolita. And of course Zorro plays plenty of tricks on the Spanish Governor and his guards. But the real draw here are the stunts. There is lots of swinging on ropes and chandaliers and lots of sword fighting.
This is very watchable now and the stunts were frequent and impressive. It is an excellent and enjoyable movie. It is also silent, so be aware cause if you aren't expecting it that could be weird.
Rating:
Summary: Silent movie viewer's guide
Review: I am afraid that silent movies are not for every taste. But complaining about a silent movie being bad because it is, well, silent is like complaining that a talking movie is bad because it, well, talks.As with any entertainment from a different era, silent films require patience and an open mind to get the proper feel of. Some people can do this, some people can't, that does not make either side an inferior species. After having just rewatched this film, I must say that I still find it quite enjoyable. (I have seen every readily available version of Zorro) This is still the best of the lot in my opinion for several reasons. First, no pretentions. Second, very good action. Third, wildly imaginative stunts for the time. I do hope you will give this movie a fair chance, silent films are a fascinating intellectual challenge to a modern filmgoer and will widen your film appreciation. Set your mind back to 1920 and savour the taste of the era.
Rating:
Summary: Clueless
Review: I dont mean to offend people when I say this but HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR FREAKEN MINDS!!!!THIS IS A SILENT MOVIE, A WORK MADE LONG BEFORE FILMMAKING CAME INTO ITS PRIME (2001 with the introduction of Lord of the Rings) YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE BEST ZORRO FILM EVER,WANNA A KNOW A FEW REASONS?
okay first this film has absolutely no action that is entertaining,all the fighting sequences consist mainly of the "actors"(by the way they dont have to speak so they are not really acting) beating on each others swords until one decides to let the other hit him, you can easily tell that no swordmaster existed for this film,especially if you have seen highlander or the 1998 mask of Zorro with Antonio Banderas(which is the best zorro film).Secondly the story line is illogical and lacks consistancy, at least 20,000 times the words "after ten minutes have elapsed" pop up on the screen (that number is an exaggeration, the actual number was 10,000).Anyway the biggest reason why this cannot be the best Zorro film, or even a credible work of mankind(my personel belief is aliens from another galaxy made this film) is IT DOESNT EVEN HAVE ANY FREAKEN MUSIC TO MAKE THE EXPEIRIENCE EVEN BEARABLE.
Rating: 
Summary: Wierd
Review: I saw this film last night on TCM. Silent movies are very odd. Douglas Fairbanks is impressive in his acrobatics and swordplay but does not look like Don Diego, who is said to be handsome in the original story. It is the basic traditional Zorro story, based directly on the original novel by Johnston McCulley. For my first silent movie, it was OK, but without sound it is hard to follow. All the original characters are here, all not as attractive as their parts suggest. The remake starring Tyrone Power is much more impressive.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this movie!
Review: Last Thursday, I got "The Mark of Zorro", starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and I have already seen it. I loved it! I especially loved the way Fairbanks played the dual role of Don Diego Vega/Zorro. Don Diego's lifelessness was oftentimes amusing, and so were those magic tricks of his. And I loved seeing the practical jokes Zorro played on Sergeant Gonzales. Oh, and could Zorro ever woo Senorita Lolita Pulido! The acting was probably very good for a 1920s movie (though quite frankly, this is the first time I really saw a silent film, so I don't have much to compare it to), though the performance of Marguerite de la Motte as Lolita, in particular, is slightly melodramatic at times. Still, it's a minor complaint, and it didn't keep me from loving the movie and from wanting to watch it often. END
Rating:
Summary: I loved this movie!
Review: Last Thursday, I got "The Mark of Zorro", starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and I have already seen it. I loved it! I especially loved the way Fairbanks played the dual role of Don Diego Vega/Zorro. Don Diego's lifelessness was oftentimes amusing, and so were those magic tricks of his. And I loved seeing the practical jokes Zorro played on Sergeant Gonzales. Oh, and could Zorro ever woo Senorita Lolita Pulido! The acting was probably very good for a 1920s movie (though quite frankly, this is the first time I really saw a silent film, so I don't have much to compare it to), though the performance of Marguerite de la Motte as Lolita, in particular, is slightly melodramatic at times. Still, it's a minor complaint, and it didn't keep me from loving the movie and from wanting to watch it often. END
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