The Mark of Zorro

Rating:
Summary: One of the best of the silents.
Review: The only silent film I have enjoyed as much as I enjoy the best of modern film is Buster Keaton's The General, but Douglas Fiarbanks' The Mark of Zorro holds up better than most silents. The original music by Jon C. Mirsalis adds a lot. The sequal, Don Q., Son of Zorro, is even better than "Mark", so be sure to buy the two films on one DVD from King Video.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best of the silents.
Review: The only silent film I have enjoyed as much as I enjoy the best of modern film is Buster Keaton's The General, but Douglas Fiarbanks' The Mark of Zorro holds up better than most silents. The original music by Jon C. Mirsalis adds a lot. The sequal, Don Q., Son of Zorro, is even better than "Mark", so be sure to buy the two films on one DVD from King Video.

Rating:
Summary: Loved it!!!
Review: This is a great silent film and my first with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. (I love his son - he's cool and looks a lot like Cary Elwes in Princess Bride). He is great in the part-daring and dashing about here and there as Zorro while yawning into his hankercheif like a 'fish' while a rich gentleman. (You'll note the story is very remniscent of the Scarlet Pimpernel.) The 'lines' are great, the acting very well done and a number of parts will have you chuckling (like when the girl slaps him not once, not twice, not thrice - and with both hands on either cheek!) I'll have to say that this is one of the most enjoyable silent films i've seen in a while. When I put it on, even my little sister came to watch it.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed it.
Review: This is one of the most favorite movies from 1920. Most of the movies that Douglas Fairbanks Sr. wrote were wonderful. The one I like the most is "The Black Pirate" also written by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. from 1926. For the time, the acting was great but I think these days it would be melodramatic. END

Rating:
Summary: Very Good Movie!
Review: This is the best fencing movie that I have ever seen. And it's one of the greatest Douglas Fairbanks Movies ever made. It has lots of Swordplay, And for only $17.49 This is a wonderful movie for you. END

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Zorro of them all
Review: This is the definitive Fairbanks vehicle and quite possibly the finest silent action movie ever made. Of course, Fairbanks is known for his imaginative stunts but the duels and chases in this movie are incredible even by Fairbanks standards.

The plot is a familiar one, Don Diego is a seemingly foppish landowner who dons a black mask and fights evil as Zorro. Fairbanks's talent for comedy is well exploited here. His juevenile antics as Don Diego drive everyone, including his leading lady, nuts. (A running gag is for Don Diego to take out a hanky, ask his audience if they have seen this one, and will proceed to do a very silly trick with it.)

Of course, once he's Zorro the fighting is furious. The duels easily rival the action sequences of modern movies. And the grand finale, a chase across the rooftops, in and out of windows, up walls, over fences, etc. etc. was so amazing that I had to see it again to believe it.

Just one last note, if you have never seen a silent movie before keep in mind that the acting style is totally different from talkies. Movements are exagerated for affect. The soundtrack can be overwhelming at first. But once you get used to them, they are a very refreshing breather from modern movies. Let this movie be your introduction to the unrivalled swashbuckler, Douglas Fairbanks sr.