Due to the success of "The Mark of Zorro", Douglas Fairbanks returned to the screen for this sequel—a film about the brave son of Zorro. Instead of taking place in California, however, the narration explains that all first-born sons in the Vega family travel to Spain for an education. So, we see the whip-wielding Don Q making friends and having a heck of a good time in the mother country. After meeting the Archduke of the Austria-Hungarian Empire (I guess he, too, was there for an education or to meet some senoritas), the two become fast friends. However, when Don Q begins to woo a lady (Mary Astor), the evil Don Sebastian (Donald Crisp) concocts a plan. He kills the poor Archduke and frames Don Q! So, during much of the film, the son of Zorro is a wanted man. Only after some cool action and help from his Daddy (how did he get from California to Spain---I mean, it's literally half a world away!)—and you then get to see two Douglas Fairbanks in a rousing finale.
While this is a derivative film, it is fun. Plus, how can the film help but be wonderful—it IS a Fairbanks film during his heyday in Hollywood. Excellent action, acting and script combine to make this one as good as the original Fairbanks film.
By the way, look at the runaway bull scene where Don Q supposedly stops a bull from the bullring on a wild stampede through the streets. It's clearly NOT one of the Spanish cows bred for the ring but some old dairy cow! I can see why they didn't want Fairbanks to risk his life in such a scene, but they used a dairy cow—and that gave me a bit of a laugh.
While this is a derivative film, it is fun. Plus, how can the film help but be wonderful—it IS a Fairbanks film during his heyday in Hollywood. Excellent action, acting and script combine to make this one as good as the original Fairbanks film.
By the way, look at the runaway bull scene where Don Q supposedly stops a bull from the bullring on a wild stampede through the streets. It's clearly NOT one of the Spanish cows bred for the ring but some old dairy cow! I can see why they didn't want Fairbanks to risk his life in such a scene, but they used a dairy cow—and that gave me a bit of a laugh.