Zorro's Fighting Legion

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Zorro's Fighting Legion
Directed by William Witney
John English
Produced by Hiram S. Brown Jr
Written by Ronald Davidson
Franklin Adreon
Morgan Cox
Sol Shor
Barney A. Sarecky
Johnston McCulley (Original Zorro Novel)
Starring Reed Hadley
Sheila Darcy
William Corson
Leander De Codova
Edmund Cobb
John Merton
C. Montague Shaw
Cinematography Reggie Lanning
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release date(s) 1939
Running time 12 chapters (212 min)
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
Budget $137,826 (negative cost: $144,419)
Preceded by Zorro Rides Again (1937)
Followed by Zorro's Black Whip (1944)
IMDb profile

Zorro's Fighting Legion was a 1939 Republic Pictures serial consisting of 12 chapters. It featured Reed Hadley as Zorro and his alter-ego Don Diego's fight against the evil Don Del Oro. It was noted for its exciting stunts and thrilling cliffhanger chapter endings as well as a better-than-average plot.

A trademark of the serial's production is the sudden demise of at least one native informant each episode. The direction, being unsophisticated, was identical for each informant's death, and thus became a source of unintentional humor. Each informant, upon uttering the phrase, "Don del Oro is..." would be shot by a golden arrow (wielded by Don del Oro himself, hidden behind a curtain) and die with a grunt before being able to name the villain's alter ego.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The mysterious Don Del Oro ("Lord of Gold"), an idol of the Yaqui Indians, has emerged and attacks the gold trade of the Republic of Mexico, with plans to take over the land and become Emperor. A man named Francisco was put in charge of a fighting legion to combat the Yaqui tribe and protect the gold, but he was attacked by a few men working under Don Del Oro-- Zorro came to his rescue but it was too late for him. Francisco's partner recognized Zorro as the hidalgo Don Diego Vega. Francisco asked Diego to take over the fighting legion as his alter-ego Zorro and defeat Don Del Oro.

[edit] Cast

Don Diego Vega / Zorro Reed Hadley
Volita Sheila Darcy
Ramon William Corson
Governor Felipe Leander De Cordova
Manuel Gonzalez Edmund Cobb
Commandante Manuel John Merton
Chief Justice Pablo C. Montague Shaw
Juan Budd Buster
Benito Juarez Carleton Young

[edit] Chapter titles

  1. The Golden God (27 min 38s)
  2. The Flaming "Z" (16 min 41s)
  3. Descending Doom (16 min 41s)
  4. The Bridge of Peril (16 min 40s)
  5. The Decoy (16 min 39s)
  6. Zorro to the Rescue (16 min 40s)
  7. The Fugitive (16 min 41s)
  8. Flowing Death (16 min 41s)
  9. The Golden Arrow (16 min 39s) -- Re-Cap Chapter
  10. Mystery Wagon (16 min 40s)
  11. Face to Face (16 min 40s)
  12. Unmasked (16 min 41s)

[edit] Differences

The story takes a few liberties with Zorro's official timeline:

  • Takes place in Mexico instead of Alta California.
  • Lolita's name was changed to Volita.
  • Zorro wears a masquerade mask rather than the traditional bandana.
  • Characters such as Bernardo are absent.
  • Zorro's horse, Tornado, was changed to white (much like Kaiketsu Zorro).

But it should be noted that this story is presented as a further adventure of Zorro. Or a sequel to the traditional "Mark of Zorro" origin story.

  • Don Diego is said to be visiting from Los Angeles
  • The people of Mexico immediately recognize Zorro when he first appears in this story, Strongly suggesting that Zorro is a well known hero.
  • So Lolita's name was not changed, this is a separate group of characters. Presumably he just did not take Tornado with him to Mexico.
  • This serial very intentionally did not remake the Zorro story. But shows Zorro briefly visiting Mexico because his help is needed there.

[edit] Stunts

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Download or view online

Preceded by
Dick Tracy's G-Men (1939)
Republic Serial
Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)
Succeeded by
Drums of Fu Manchu (1940)
Preceded by
Zorro Rides Again (1937)
Zorro Serial
Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)
Succeeded by
Zorro's Black Whip (1944)
Preceded by
Dick Tracy's G-Men (1939)
Witney-English Serial
Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)
Succeeded by
Drums of Fu Manchu (1940)
Languages