The Mark of Zorro (1940)

-


Director: Rouben Mamoulian

Writers: John Taintor Foote, Garrett Fort, Bess Meredyth

Stars: Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Basil Rathbone, Gale Sondergaard, Eugene Pallette, J. Edward Bromberg, Montagu Love



Upon returning to California from military training in Spain, Don Diego Vega (Tyrone Power) is shocked to see the wretched condition of the peasants and assumes the guise of Zorro to strike terror into the heart of the greedy alcalde (J. Edward Bromberg) who has usurped the position of Don Diego's own father (Montagu Love).




This is Hollywood swashbuckling at its finest.



Power is excellent not only as the dashing, heroic Zorro, but also very amusing when he puts on foppish airs to make everyone believe that Don Diego is an insignificant dandy. 



Basil Rathbone makes a strong impression as the alcalde's chief henchman.

 



His swordfight with Power is a highlight of this exciting film.




 

















Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hamilton (2020)

-
Image
Director: Thomas Kail Writers: Lin-Manuel Miranda, based on the book by Ron Chernow Stars: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom, Jr., Phillipa Soo, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Daveed Diggs, Anthony Ramos This powerful Broadway musical provides an exciting, explosive account of Alexander Hamilton’s battle to transcend his outsider status as a low born bastard from the West Indies and gain the respect and power in America that will ultimately grant him access to “the room where it happens,” the place where policy is made and the course of the nation is set.  This filmed record of the stage production, assembled from two performances, showcases the energy of the performers.  In addition to the quality of the play, it is astonishing just to witness the complex interplay of music, rap, and choreography in long unbroken takes.  Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and the book and made the bold choice to cast it almost exclusively with people of color.  This...
Read more

The Dragon Reborn (The Wheel of Time #3) (1991)

-
Image
by Robert Jordan This novel draws Robert Jordan's large cast of characters, scattered during the events of the previous book, together once again for a confrontation with evil in the city of Tear, where Rand al'Thor, now becoming widely acknowledged as the much anticipated and dreaded Dragon Reborn, must claim a legendary sword in accordance with prophecy. Robert Jordan  Jordan has quite a few balls in the air already in a series that numbers fourteen fat novels.  Judging from the opinions of readers of the later books, it looks as though this profusion of heroes, villains, and schemes may ultimately serve to diffuse the drama of Jordan's story; however, this novel maintains its narrative momentum by showing us how our cast of characters converge for an action-packed climax.  Rand is oddly missing from most of this tale, but we gain some intriguing insights into other characters. "The Dragon Reborn" (Spanish) "The Dragon Reborn" (Italian)
Read more

Gwen Stacy Is Alive…and, Well…?! (The Amazing Spider-Man #145) (1975)

-
Image
Author: Gerry Conway Artist: Riots Andru Inkers: Frank Giacoia & Dave Hunt Peter is confronted by what seems to be a ghost from his past. The devoted nephew heads for the hospital to see Aunt May, who has been hospitalized (again) due to the shock of seeing “Gwen” on her perpetually weak heart. Another of our players enters the story. In no time at all, he’s up to his old tricks… …which provides just the right diversion for Peter, who has been sleeping on hospital benches as Aunt May recovers. After their battle ends inconclusively and the Scorpion escapes, Peter returns to the hospital, only to be met with some devastating news. I'm pretty lukewarm on this one; Conway seems to be coasting on old ideas.
Read more