AlthoughThe Mark of Zorrois not often considered to be a superhero movie, it is actually one of the best in the genre. The character of Zorro predates the rise of superheroes in pop culture and even served as a major inspiration forthe character of Batman. Over the years, Zorro has cemented his place in cinema history.
The last theatrical Zorro movie from Hollywood was 2005’sThe Legend of Zorro, starring Antonio Banderas. However,the best Zorro moviein the eyes of many is 1940’sThe Mark of Zorro,starring Tyrone Power. Despite being 85 years old at this point, it still makes for a terrific adventure and a precursor to the modern idea of what a superhero movie should be.
As A Superhero Movie, 1940’s The Mark Of Zorro Is The Complete Package
Taking even a brief glimpse at the premise ofThe Mark of Zorro, it’s apparent how similar it is to modern superhero stories. Tyrone Power stars as Don Diego Vega, a skilled swordsman who returns to his family in California only to find that the town is run by corrupt leaders who rob and abuse the defenseless citizens.
Deigo soon dons his disguise, with the iconic black cape and mask looking quite similar to a lot of superhero characters that follow. He also maintains his secret identity, playing to the role of the vain and lazy Diego, while serving the destitute people of California by robbing the corrupt leaders and giving the money back to the people.
It is another similarity to Batman in how his persona as Diego is more of a disguise than Zorro. Especially in theChristopher Nolan Batman movies, Bruce Wayne is presented to the world as a selfish billionaire, dismissed by many people as decidedly unheroic, but it is a persona meant to throw off suspicion of his true heroics.
Power’s performance sells Zorro as a larger-than-life hero similar to those beloved comic book superheroes. He is dashing and brave, like many inthe swashbuckling movie genre, but he is also a seemingly untouchable swordsman who makes no wrong moves and takes down his enemies with ease.
He is a terrific hero to cheer for a perhaps priming audiences for the superhero movie trend that would come decades later.
Mark Of Zorro Has A Truly Spectacular Final Showdown
Along with a main character who feels like he stepped out ofa superhero movie,The Mark of Zorro, the movie also delivers an action-packed finale that does the superhero genre proud.It all begins with a thrilling one-on-one swordfight between Diego and the deadly Esteban (Basil Rathbone).
With the limited technology of the time, it is clear that it is the two actors actually performing the duel, and it is an intense and fast-paced sequence that rivals any similar fight scene in more modern movies. The choreography is meticulous and makes for a heart-pounding showdown.
However,the movie only builds to a more epic conclusion from there as Diego is captured and thrown in prison. As he is about to be executed, Diego reveals himself as Zorro to the people, rallying them behind him to fight back against the corrupt army.
It is a massive and chaotic battle in which Zorro makes his way through the crowd, fighting multiple men at once. Once again, it’s the lack of CGI that makes the sequence stand out 85 years later. It is a mob of extras battling in the town square, and Tyrone Power plays action hero in the middle of it all.
Asbig as superhero movies have gotten, few of them have climaxes that are as grand and epic as whatThe Mark of Zorrodelivers.
