Thursday Television Reviews: Zorro

Zorro the Fox (Guy Williams)

Zorro (1957-1961)

Starring: Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, Henry Calvin, George J. Lewis, and Don Diamond

Summary

Wealthy Spanish Caballero, Don Diego de la Vega (Guy Williams), returns to his California home from Spain, where he finds corruption of all kinds by the Spanish ruling government there. In an attempt to put an end to the corruption, he masquerades as a weak and fluffy gentleman who could care less for action of any kind. But, by night, he is Zorro, the fox, who fights all evil. Taking down corrupt rulers, one after the other, along with the help of his faithful servant Bernardo (Gene Sheldon) and his exceptional horse, Tornado!

Guy Williams as Zorro fights one of his first foes, Captain Monasterio (Britt Lomond)

Review

Zorro captures the adventure that is just enough for anyone. Placed in old California, with the missions and the old Haciendas, it brings a romanticism to the viewer. Parts of the set are simple stages and backgrounds on a Hollywood Disney set, but the fun of each episode makes up for the lack of set quality. The music, a theme for each character, allows you to enjoy the series with your ears as well as with your eyes. Some of the characters have silly quarks, which adds to the pleasure of the series.

Don Diego is always clad in classic Spanish garb – ever the gentleman. As Zorro, he is dapper as ever in all black, with a fantastic cape that flies along with him as he rides down the El Camino Real at high speeds! There is nail-biting moments when one thinks Zorro’s identity will be revealed, which makes one want to watch the next episode!

The series is broken up between different villains, allowing you to enjoy a mini-series within the series. Of course, Sergeant Garcia brings enough comic relief to each episode and Don Diego enough common sense, balancing out each episode. In the spirit of the original Zorro adventures, Disney’s Zorro is a fun treasure for the collection!

Guy Williams as Don Diego de la Vega and Gene Sheldon as Bernardo 

Ellen Nolan

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