You are not an ordinary thief. I know that you stole to avenge the helpless, to punish cruel politicians, to help the oppressed. I know that you have given everything you have stolen to the poor.
I’ve been getting too excited about Disney lately. Naturally, this fact is reflected in what I choose to view. But, unfortunately, this does not mean that my usual unhealthy skepticism has disappeared somewhere. So, after learning that Disney in the deep 20th century launched a story about Zorro (and even a series, after all!), I mentally flipped. However, contrary to fate, or rather, my simultaneous dislike of Westerns, comics and long-players, this series appeared in my possession. There was just no mood, so coming to the logical conclusion that there will be nothing to spoil, I decided to quickly finish with such unreliable material.
After watching and laughing at the opening credits, I kept my attention on the direct actions for a couple of minutes, and began to deal with all sorts of small things that did not particularly concern either Zorro or my mind. After, I think, the third or fourth series in a row, it seemed to me that a little bit more, and this fox (in Spanish, kind of) “will climb out of my ears.” And after another series, I finally and irrevocably fell in love, both in the series and in the main characters.
It so happened that my knowledge in the field of sagacity is quite poor, but still try to say something about the plot. First of all, I want to emphasize that the creators did not begin their brainchild with the story “Curse of Capistrano”, which, involuntarily, gives an idea of the authenticity of the plot from the very beginning and allows the viewer to calmly perceive all the changes that are primarily associated with the characters.
My acquaintance with Diego-Zorro began not at the best of his movie time, but rather with the Mask of Zorro in 1998. Frankly speaking, this hero left me nothing in my soul then, but after learning about the movie itself and its primary sources, I had at least some hope for the best, however, it quickly disappeared after reading the book and watching the remake of “The Sign of Zorro” in 1940. And now I have come close to one of the main advantages of the series for me, the character appeared in it partially modified.
No, he's not the only one. With the light hand of the writers, Bernardo, a deaf mute servant of Don Diego, returned to the screens, who suddenly gained hearing and became one of the main characters. Dangerous in his drunken unpredictability, Sergeant Gonzales turned out to be a mediocre connoisseur of good wine, Sergeant Garcia. Well, the venerable Don Alejandro finally got a well-deserved screen time.
I think on this optimistic note we can move on to the actual execution. And, of course, first of all, I want to remember the acting.
Guy Williams, aka Zorro. Ah, this Guy Williams, for my brief acquaintance with him, I have been able to highlight his great virtue and slight defect, which is paradoxical, and the plus and minus is his almost phenomenally charm. Don't say that, but Williams with his amazing smile, mischievous light in his eyes and special humor is just the perfect Zorro. This, oddly enough, is the reference point in the transformation of the character, or rather, one of his personalities, Don Diego de la Vega. The only thing I can say about this as a minus, there was no striking contrast, even with all sorts of tricks such as showing fencing, etc. But how much better to think of Don Diego!
Henry Calvin. On the one hand, he was not faced with the difficult task of embodying a famous character on the screen, but it is thanks to him that the series has an antidepressant effect in many places. And it could not be otherwise, it was very memorable and bright Garcia. So stupid, pompous, arrogant, but so naive, devoted and unbearably kind. Of course, a fairly simple character, but this is no less amazing, one of the main decorations of the series.
Gina Sheldon, it would be interesting to see him in a silent movie. George J. Lewis as a model of an unshakable ideal. Forever absent Don Diamond. And James Hong, after all, one of his first roles, is quite funny.
You can not also forget about the chic scenery, they delight and please the eye. Another huge plus, I regret, because of the "Zorro Sign" I already mentioned above, I could not see at once, these are excellent fight scenes and beautiful fencing. After all, “Zorro” for a long time was the most expensive series in the world.
As for the music, at first it alarmed me a bit, scenes with "conversation" Bernardo is now compared to a cheap show, but if you look at the venerable, more than half a century, the age of the series, such tricks seem cute. As for the opening song, there is nothing to talk about, Disney movies simply cannot be deprived of a great soundtrack.
I can’t forget about such an important detail as the restoration of the series. Colorization is perfectly performed, I consider it an important detail, since it is quite difficult to watch dynamic moments in black and white, despite all the efforts of the operators. The Russian version of the film is a separate subject. “Zorro” is a sample of classical Soviet duplication, so there will be no screams, moans and the like, but the translation is literary and soulful.
The series is an insidious thing, on the one hand, it opens almost limitless time space, on the other hand, the risk of writing off halfway is too great. And Zorro with its 82 live series still looks phenomenal. If the mood is to hell and there are 4 free days to kindly fall out of life - you can safely start watching this, I am not afraid to say, film. Although I did not get acquainted with this creation quite as a child, I am indescribably delighted and hope that you will share it with me.
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