THE MARK OF ZORRO (1920) "silent" B/W 90m dir: Fred Niblo

w/Douglas Fairbanks, Marguerite de la Motte, Claire McDowell, Noah Beery, Robert McKim, Walt Whitman

From Georges Sadoul's Dictionary of Films: "In Spanish-controlled California, Zorro (Fairbanks) combats the evil Sergeant Pedro (Beery) and Captain Ranson (McKim), courts a beautiful woman (de la Motte), and wins in the end, after we have learned that the mysterious masked avenger, Zorro, is also a mannered and effeminate aristocrat.

"This delightful tongue-in-cheek spoof marked a major change in the Fairbanks character from the all-American boy to action-costume roles. 'Douglas' vigorous healthiness' (Moussinac) is perhaps best seen in this work. Fred Niblo, a mediocre craftsman, is credited as director but Fairbanks is largely responsible for all his films."

THE MARK OF ZORRO was remade by Rouben Mamoulian with Tyrone Power in the title role in 1940.