User Reviews

"The Masked Avenger" has been a staple of movie and TV fare ever since the 1920 Douglas Fairbanks classic THE MARK OF ZORRO; inevitably, his popularity led to the character being picked by other countries as well, often in low-brow productions, with perhaps the most successful of these being the 1974 film entitled simply ZORRO (starring Alain Delon). Anyway, this is one of those dime-a-dozen efforts (I missed out on a couple of others not too long ago but, since this got shown over last year's Christmas period, I opted to have it taped for later viewing); as is often the case with such undemanding (and modest) pictures, it proves instantly forgettable but reasonably entertaining nevertheless. Opening with a stagecoach robbery, the film does feel like a Western most of the time, which is not in itself a bad thing; another palpable incongruity is the fact that Zorro's alter-ego is not that of a foppish aristocrat but rather a vaguely sycophantic valet (apart from which, in the guise of one Tony Russell, he sports graying hair albeit retaining the trademark dashing features)! Again, predictably, he is made to rout a usurping governor and the girl who idolizes him (and whom he secretly loves) not only despises the valet for his apparent treason but is even engaged to marry an eminent town member who resents her affection for Zorro and, naturally, ultimately sacrifices himself for the good of the cause; his sidekick, then, is a young inventor (that is, not very adept at derring-do) – while the villain's burly lieutenant provides the obligatory comic relief. It is futile to give more details about the plot since, to be honest, I cannot recall more than I have already described – I do know, however, that the title is a reference to nothing in particular – nor are any of the action set-pieces throughout exactly outstanding; I will just say that the film supplies the right ingredients for an evening's relaxation and leave it at that

Passable albeit average and acceptable Zorro outing in Spaghetti/Chorizo style. It results to be a mediocre adaptation inspired from Johnston McCulley character , traditionally named Don Diego , here starred by Tony Russell as the dashing masked avenger secretly loving a maid who is unfortunately engaged to a wealthy citizen . In 1830, the years of Mexico's independence , opening with a stagecoach's (as passenger is governor's daughter : Maria José Alfonso) robbing carried out by two botcher assailants (Agustin Gonzalez , Jesús Puente) , but then Zorro (Tony Russell) impedes it , being mercilessly pursued . Later on , the official governor is overthrown by a despotic usurper called Esteban Garcia supported by his underlings (Agustin Gonzalez , Jesús Puente again) and he decides to impose their brutal rule over the population of recently freed citizens . Many men of honor will rise up to fight this impostor , but one man will stand out among them , the man called Zorro , here posing as a polished butler . There appears Manuela (Maria José Alfonso) whom her father desires marry her to Juan (Sancho Gracia) , though she despises the butler for his allegedly betrayal ; however , idiolizing the bravity of the impaccable Zorro . Meantime , Zorro saves his friend entomologist Marcel (as José Rubio) from a firing squad and protects the damsel in distress and both of whom fall in love . When Zorro's friends become targets in this struggle , the full revenge of Zorrow will be unveiled. At the end appears the old governor replacing the usurping and tyrannical one .

This Tortilla/Pasta Zorro is filled with action , thrills , intrigue , spectacular horse pursuits by Zorro and amusing sword-play . This so-so , tolerable, Swashbuckling entry in the Zorro series is decently starred by Tony Russell . He took a chance and jumped from Sword and sandals sub-genre and Spaghetti Western genre to costumed Italian/Spanish adventure , promoted as a dashing Errol Flynn type in this swordplay swashbuckling ; he steals the show as foppish Zorro relishing his secret identity as a valet ; executing leaps , twists and climbs and throughly enjoys himself . Initially he starred outdoor mini-epics, adventures and the studio had him star in this adventure , retaining the trademark swasbuckling features as a sympathetic Zorro , sporting graying hair and educated manners . This is the sequel to ¨The sword of Zorro¨ also directed by Ricardo Blasco with Guy Stockell , Alfonso Rojas , Luis Marin , Antonio Jimenez Escribano , Juan Luis Galiardo , Jose Truchado , Franco Fantasia , and Giuseppe Addobbati or John McDouglas and Agustin Gonzalez repeating role in this follow-up . Badly photographed by Mario Vulpiani , an alright remastering being really necessary and filmed on location in Colmenar De Oreja , Madrid . As well as atmospheric and thrilling musical score by Angel Arteaga . The motion picture was middlingly directed in his ordinary style by Ricardo Blasco . This Spanish filmmaker was an assistant director and director, known for Gringo (1963), Suspiros De Triana (1955) and Armas Contra Ley (1961) and TV series as Diego Acevedo .

This mini-swahsbuckler motion picture was produced by Sergio Newman who produced all kind of genres as Western : "Sheriff Won't Shoot¨ , ¨Oro Maldito¨ , Drama : ¨"Romeo e Giulietta" , Wartime : "Hell Commandos" , ¨When Heroes Die" and Adventure : ¨Il magnifico Aventuriero" , "Mission in Morocco¨ and two ¨Zorro¨ movies : ¨The sword of Zorro¨ and its sequel titled ¨Oath of the Zorro¨ also by Ricardo Blasco with Tony Russel , Maria Jose Alfonso , Sancho Gracia , Rosita Yarza , José María Seoane and again Agustin Gonzalez . The first Spanish/Italian Zorros were ¨Vengeance of Zorro¨ and ¨L'Ombra di Zorro¨ (1962) by Joaquin Marchent with Frank Latimore , Paul Piaget and Robert Hundar . Zorros's producer , Eduardo Manzanos , built a Western town in Hoyo De Manzanares (Madrid) , today disappeared , called ¨Golden City¨ where filmed several Western and various Zorros . Other Zorro filmed by that time are ¨Zorro all Corte di Spaña¨ (1963) by Luigi Capuano , ¨Zorro versus Maciste¨ by Umberto Lenzi with Pierre Brice Alan Steel , Moira Orfei ; ¨El Jiuramento Di Zorro¨ by Ricardo Blasco with Guy Stockwell and Mikaela ; ¨Zorro Il Ribelle¨ by Piero Pirotti with Howard Ross ; ¨Il Figlio Di Zorro¨ (1973) by Gianfranco Baldanello and two directed by Jose Luis Merino with Charles Quiney and Maria Pia Conte as ¨Zorro the rider of vendetta¨ and ¨Zorro of Monterrey ¨ .

The best Zorro are the following ones : The mute classic adaptation ¨Mark of Zorro¨ 1920, Fred Niblo, with Douglas Fairbanks, the classic ¨Mark of Zorro¨, 1940, Robert Mamoulian with Tyrone Power, Basil Rathbone and Linda Darnell), and followed by ¨The legend of Zorro¨ 2005, Martin Campbell again with Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones, Tony Amendola,Pedro Armendariz and Rufus Sewell . European version in similar style as ¨Le Tulipe Noie¨ (1964) with Alain Delon and Virna Lisi and ¨Zorro¨(1975, Duccio Tessari with Alain Delon, Octavia Piccolo and Stanley Baker .

Since the early Zorro's American productions and mainly the successful Zorro series produced by Disney, the others Latin countries boosted their interest in this homelike character, due him be linked of Spanish culture afterward, then come up several pictures over this fabulous hero, always on low budget and driven to Latin marketplace as main target, this one is a true pleasant picture, surviving from a comic approaching, instead on a reliable plot, the leading casting Tony Russell was too old for the role, nearby 40 years old, also the storyline wasn't any connection with the American classics, introducing the character on changeable way against the conceptive idea, the plot is absolutely weak and poor, however the clever humor applied in the course of the movie established an undeniable upgrade, otherwise will be a flop, gorgeous female presence helps a little bit, this picture never come out officially, maybe never will, I bought it from internet download very similar with VHS, needs a upmost restoration!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD-RIP / Rating: 5

In all the movie and TV iterations I've seen on this legendary figure, the audience is in on the ruse from the get-go. We know who's behind the mask long before most of the cast finds out. This time, two likely prospects are dangled early, without certainty as to which one is the hero behind his decidedly non-threatening facade. It's even possible that there's a third party yet to be disclosed. Apart from that refreshing novelty, and scattered bits of comic relief, the plot and performances are totally unremarkable. Admittedly, my viewing was on a streaming source with poor visual clarity, but I don't think the print quality tipped the scale of judgment heavily to the downside of what its score might have been.