The Mark of Zorro (1940) "The Dashing Don of California Rides Again!"

"The Mark of Zoro" (1940) / 20th Centry FOX
Directed By: Rouben Mamoulian
Starring: Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Basil Rathbone & Gale Sondergaard

Taglines: "Ride With Zorro . . . The Dashing Don Of California's Most Adventurous Era !"

Nomianted for an Academy Award for Best Music.

Plot:
The classic movie gentleman loves this 20th Century FOX take on Zoro. The back story they shed light on and the cast of Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell is simply a perfect way to spend a day or evening of classic film watching. The black and white for this film is perfect rather than color.

Setting nineteenth century Madrid. The film opens with Don Diego de Vega (Power) a young dashing young man from a wealthy family in California rides amongst the commission abroad being raised in millitary school. The Don is a very well accomplished swordsman and horseman and is displeased upon receiving a letter from his father at home in California to come home at once. Diego does not like the idea of heading home since he loves his place in Madrid but travels home. The trip home finds a place at a new state and not a good change. Diego finds that his home that he grew-up in has been taken over by the millitary and is now the barracks led by the sinister Captain Esteban Pasquale (Rathbone). Don Luis Quintero (J Edward Bromberg) the Mayor whom serves the Alcalde has been forced to step down and stop serving the peons of California whom are the peasants and the commoners and now Esteban has taken over. The family home that Diego grew-up in now is the barracks and home to the new Captain and his money hungry/social climibing wife Inez (Sondergaard). Inez is immediately taken by the handsome Diego with the covnersation of living abroad and the finer things of life such a fine silks. Diego get's a glimpse of Luis Quintero’s beautiful niece Lolita (Darnell). Lolita is just turing 18 and is also taken back by Diego's dashing looks but is thwarted by her aunt Inez. Diego brings the mask of zoro alive and robs the evil local politicians of wealth by day on his horse in the name of the people and the land. Zoro always leaves his mark of the "Z" where he travels getting his vengence on Captain Esteban. The question is, will the famed Zorro be able to free the people of California from the evil acts of Captain Esteban? The people and Lolita hope so!! I love the the screen combination of Tyrone Power and his love Linda Darnell and then his battle all film with Basil Rathbone, love this classic film!