Zorro (1975 Italian film)
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Zorro | |
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Directed by | Duccio Tessari |
Written by | Giorgio Arlorio[1] |
Based on | Zorro by Johnston McCulley |
Produced by | Luciano Martino |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Giulio Albonico[1] |
Edited by | Mario Morra[1] |
Music by |
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Production companies |
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Distributed by | Titanus (Italy) United Artists (France) |
Release date |
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Running time | 124 minutes |
Countries |
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Languages | English French Italian |
Zorro is a 1975
Plot
On the eve of his return to
As Colonel Huerta asks the local council to appoint him both military and civil governor of Nueva Aragón, Diego suddenly arrives, walking in disguised as de la Serna. While lulling Colonel Huerta's fears by pretending to be a useless fop, Diego learns that Huerta is a cruel despot, as well as a dangerous swordsman.
With Joaquín, Miguel's devoted mute servant, and aided by Assassin, the late Don Fernando's Great Dane, Diego goes among the people and learns how miserable and afraid they are: the innocent are punished for speaking the truth, while the guilty, who cheat unmercifully, are labelled as “respectable” citizens.
Inspired by street urchin Chico's tales of Zorro, a freedom-loving fox spirit, Diego creates his own black-garbed alter ego and launches a campaign for justice with a hilarious, action-packed marketplace brawl. Outwitting Huerta and his men time and again, Diego finally stages his own kidnapping (as the region's governor and as Zorro), both to free wrongfully held prisoners and to trick Colonel Huerta into thinking both are now dead.
Huerta, feeling himself safe at last, forces aristocrat Hortensia Polido to the marriage altar. He shoots Brother Francisco when the monk leads protesters to the church steps, just as Zorro reappears. Brother Francisco's murder finally absolves Diego of his vow to his dead friend Miguel, leaving Zorro free to engage Huerta in an action-packed swordplay duel-to-the-death, at which he is victorious following a lengthy battle.
Cast
- Don Diego de la Vega / Zorro
- Stanley Baker as Colonel Joaquin Huerta
- Ottavia Piccolo as Hortensia Pulido
- Enzo Cerusico as Joaquín
- Adriana Asti as Aunt Carmen
- Giampiero Albertini as Brother Francisco
- Moustache as Sergeant García
- Giacomo Rossi-Stuartas Kapitän Fritz von Markel
- Marino Maséas Don Miguel Vega de la Serna
- Raika Juri as Señora de la Serna
- Paulino Rito as Chico
- Vicente Roca as Ramiro Valdez
Production
The film was made in part because Alain Delon had enjoyed making the swashbuckler The Black Tulip in 1964 and wanted to do another one. Filming began in July 1974 in Spain, with most of the crew being from Italy. Some studio work was done in Rome. The film's lengthy sword duel at the end was inspired by Scaramouche (1952).[3]
Release
Zorro was released in France on 5 March 1975 and in Italy on 6 March.[1] It was released in the United States in June 1976 by United Artists.[1]
It was also one of the first Western-produced films to be screened in the
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kinnard & Crnkovich 2017, p. 194.
- ISBN 978-8804572770.
- ^ "The Making of Zorro" at Histoires de Tournages
Bibliography
- Kinnard, Roy; Crnkovich, Tony (2017). Italian Sword and Sandal Films, 1908-1990. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476662916.
External links
- Zorro at IMDb
- Review of film at Indiewire