There's a special place in Heaven for Mexican extras - they have even less individuality than extras usually do, mostly because they all wear moustaches and sombreros. There are plenty of them in this swashbuckler, Fox's response to the Errol Flynn films at Warners, complete with Basil Rathbone as villain and Eugene Palette reprising his Friar Tuck act.
Tyrone Power is good in the title role, particularly the scenes were he plays the foppish Zorro - dad and Palette seem to think he's a pansy, but Gale Sondegaard seems to have no doubt about his hetero-ness. The setting of Spanish California is totally fresh and really works (haciendas, Churches, sleepy peasants, etc), the pace is fast, there is some good action (not enough but good).
J Edward Bromberg is the villain, basically a buffoon but there is Basil Rathbone to provide a genuine threat - he swishes his sword around like a little kid playing with his penis. The fight between Rathbone and Power is wonderful - they really go at it, with great clanging sounds and cutting of candles, and there's real stabbing (interestingly, its a stand alone fight, ie. not part of an overall attack).
The film still has a bit to go after Rathbone dies - you'd think this would be a bad idea but then Bromberg reveals he's not such a wimp after all and imprisons Power, forcing the others to come to his rescue, which is quite clever. It's lovely to see Gale Sondegaard in a role that emphasises her beauty rather than villainy, and Linda Darnell is stunning (she's 17 years old and there's a bit of a dodgy undercurrent in Power's attraction to her). I do think they'd figure out Power is Zorro - the two of them arrive at the same time a bit too obviously. It's also a bit stressful Power's dad (Montague Love) thinks so little of him after he pretends to be a fop - I mean, I know it would be disappointing to find your son is a whimp but he is your son, and dad shouldn't get too high and mighty, he's the one who's lost power. Would have been better if dad had been killed.
Beautiful black and white photography which totally suit the sleepy setting - this is a swashbuckler that doesn't have to be in colour. Very well directed - love all those swords and sombreros in the final battle
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