Zorro (TV series)

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This article is about the first Zorro television series. For other Zorro topics, see Zorro.
Zorro

Zorro (Guy Williams) and Bernardo (Gene Sheldon)
Genre Action-adventure
Starring Guy Williams
George J. Lewis
Country of origin Flag of United States United States
No. of episodes 78
Production
Executive producer(s) Bill Anderson
Walt Disney
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Picture format Black-and-white
Original run October 10, 1957 – September 24, 1959
Links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Zorro, a half-hour Walt Disney Productions TV series based on the well-known Zorro character, premiered October 10, 1957 on ABC. The final network broadcast was September 24, 1959. 78 episodes were produced, and 4 hour-long specials were aired on the Walt Disney anthology series between October 30, 1960 and April 2, 1961.

The show was very popular, especially with children, and its theme song (written by Norman Foster and George Bruns and first recorded by the Mellomen) was a hit recording for The Chordettes, peaking at #17 on the Hit Parade. It also created an epidemic of "Z" graffitiing on school desks across the United States.[1] The series ended after two seasons due to a financial dispute between Disney and the network, but the franchise continued for a few years in the form of occasional new Zorro adventures aired in color on the Disney anthology television series, newly transplanted to NBC as part of the same dispute, and renamed Walt Disney's The Wonderful World of Color.

Contents

[edit] Major Characters

  • Don Diego de la Vega (played by Guy Williams) is a former University student, newly recalled from Spain to his home outside the Pueblo of Los Angeles by his father, in the hope that Diego will help to end the tyranny of Captain Monastario. Although he won medals for his fencing back in Spain, Diego decides just before reaching California that his best course of action is to conceal his ability with a sword, and to affect the demeanor of a milquetoast intellectual rather than a decisive man of action. His alter ego, Zorro, operates primarily at night, taking the direct action that Diego cannot. This deception does not always sit well with Diego, especially as it affects his relationship with his disappointed father. In reality, Diego relies heavily on his wits, both with and without the mask on. Later in the series, Diego emerges as a respected figure in his own right, a clever thinker and loyal friend who just happens to be hopeless at swordplay.
  • Don Alejandro de la Vega (played by George J. Lewis) is a hot-tempered cattle baron (or ranchero) with a strong sense of morality and fair play. His cattle and land holdings are among the richest in California, which helps to make Don Alejandro an influential community leader. His impetuous nature often gets him into trouble, however, as he seeks to do battle himself, sometimes getting fooled and manipulated along the way. Don Alejandro eventually learns of his son's identity, and is strongly in favor of Zorro's work continuing.
  • Bernardo (played by Gene Sheldon) is Diego's manservant, confidant and co-conspirator, the only person at first to know Diego's secret. Unable to speak, Bernardo uses gestures to communicate. Bernardo pretends to be deaf as well as dumb, the better to overhear the plans of Zorro's enemies. He also plays the fool, adopting clownish behavior so as to seem harmless. Although Bernardo is sometimes portrayed as a little silly even when no pretense is required, he is also a capable and invaluable sidekick for Zorro/Diego, even wearing the mask himself occasionally when the need arises.
  • Sgt. Demetrio Lopez Garcia (played by Henry Calvin) is fat, stupid, superstitious and overfond of drink, but also kind-hearted, brave and loyal. Sergeant Garcia believes that he must obey orders from his commanding officers, however cruel or unjust they may be. He tries to soften the blow with his friendly manner, often saying "Please?" as he issues an unpalatable order to a civilian. Although Garcia seldom departs from his sworn duty, he develops considerable respect for Zorro and later in the series is openly glad when Zorro escapes capture. Nevertheless, Garcia dreams of catching Zorro himself to collect the reward money, a dream that Diego encourages from time to time. Garcia also has an excellent singing voice.

(These four characters reappear in the melodramatic 2007 Spanish-language series, Zorro: The Sword and The Rose)

[edit] Other Recurring Cast

  • Don Diamond as Corporal Reyes (Magistrado storyline onward)
  • Britt Lomond as Captain Monasterio (season 1)
  • Jan Arvan as Don Ignacio "Nacho" Torres (season 1)
  • Romney Brent as Padre Felipe (season 1)
  • Vinton Hayworth as Magistrate Carlos Galindo (season 1)
  • Charles Korvin as José Sebastian Varga (season 1)
  • Steve Stevens as Don Rudolfo (season 1)
  • Jolene Brand as Anna Maria Verdugo (season 2)
  • Eduard Franz as Señor Gregorio Verdugo (season 2)
  • Richard Anderson as Ricardo del Amo (season 2)
  • Annette Funicello as Anita Cabrillo (season 2)

[edit] Plot summary

Zorro
Zorro

For most of its brief run, Zorro's episodes were part of continuing story arcs, each about thirteen episodes long. The first of these chronicles the arrival of Zorro / Diego and his battle of wits with the greedy and cruel local Commandante, Captain Monastario. After Monastario's final defeat, in the second storyline, Zorro must uncover and counter the machinations of the evil Magistrado Galindo, who is part of a plot to take over California. The third story arc concerns the man Galindo was working for, the shadowy figure of the Eagle, revealed as vain and insecure José Sebastian Varga. Season one concludes with Varga's death.

Season two opens with Diego in Monterey, the colonial capital, where privately collected money to bring a supply ship to California is consistently diverted to a gang of bandits. Diego stays to investigate, both as himself and as Zorro, and becomes interested in Anna Maria Verdugo, the daughter of the man organizing the effort. Once Zorro defeats the thieves, he enters into a rivalry with his old friend Ricardo del Amo, a practical joker who is also interested in Anna Maria. Anna Maria in turn is in love with Zorro. Diego is on the verge of giving up his mask to marry Anna Maria, but Don Alejandro talks him out of it. Zorro (and Diego) says goodbye to Anna Maria and returns to Los Angeles, where he gets involved in a series of shorter adventures. In one three episode story arc, guest starring Annette Funicello, Zorro must solve the mystery of Anita Cabrillo's father, a man who does not seem to exist. Other storylines late in the series involve Diego's ne'er-do-well uncle, a plot against the governor of California, an encounter with an American "mountain man" (Jeff York, reprising a role from The Saga of Andy Burnett), and outwitting a greedy emissary from Spain.

[edit] Quotation

"I have no quarrel with history, but I am often appalled by the people who make it." - Diego, in the episode "Zorro Fights His Father."

[edit] Other Appearances

Guy Williams was introduced to the Disney audience as Zorro in a segment of the Disney anthology television series, "The Fourth Anniversary Show".[2] During this episode, which starred the Mouseketeers and featured upcoming shows, Moochie (Kevin Corcoran) repeatedly asks Walt Disney, "What about Zorro?" Finally Zorro appears, but not in the same shot with the Mouseketeers. Zorro explains who he is, and coyly answers the question of whether he's "real."

Guy Williams and other key cast members also made a number of live appearances at Disneyland in 1958. Some of their shows involved Zorro and Monastario battling each other on the rooftops of Frontierland.[1]

[edit] Video

[edit] VHS

Several compilations from the series were issued on VHS over the years, but are now out of print. They are as follows:

Theatrical films compiled from episodes

  • The Sign of Zorro (overseas, 1958, U.S. 1960; Monastario storyline)
  • Zorro the Avenger (overseas, 1959; based on the end of the Eagle storyline)

VHS television episodes

[edit] DVD

Two volumes from season one of Zorro were released on DVD in the United States in 2006, representing the entire Monastario storyline and the beginning of Majistrado Galindo storyline. Three more volumes soon followed, completing the season, which was then reissued as a boxed set entitled Zorro, the Compete First Season. All of the above DVDs are only available from the Disney Movie Club. Each volume contains the 1992 colorized versions of about eight episodes. No special features are included.

The complete season was previously available in France, in Region 2 format.[3]

  • Zorro, Saison 1 (French box set) ASIN B0000VKLP8
  • Zorro, Seizoen 1 (Dutch box set) EAN 8717418063412

[edit] Sequel

  • Zorro and Son, a comedy follow-up to the series, shot in color on many of the same studio lots where the original was filmed, aired on CBS in 1983. Featuring none of the original cast (Guy Williams walked out after a script dispute), the show performed poorly in the ratings.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Cotter, Bill (1998-2004). Zorro - A History of the Series. Walt Disney's Zorro tribute site. Retrieved on 25 August, 2006.
  2. ^ Disneyland: The Fourth Anniversary Show at the Internet Movie Database
  3. ^ Cotter, Bill (2004-2005). Zorro on DVD. Walt Disney's Zorro tribute site. Retrieved on 25 August, 2006.

[edit] External links

Zorro
Notable Books
The Curse of Capistrano | Zorro
Notable Films
Douglas Fairbanks: The Mark of Zorro | Don Q, Son of Zorro
Robert Livingstone: The Bold Caballero
John Carroll: Zorro Rides Again
Reed Hadley: Zorro's Fighting Legion
Tyrone Power: The Mark of Zorro
Linda Stirling: Zorro's Black Whip
George Turner: Son of Zorro
Clayton Moore: Ghost of Zorro
Guy Williams: Zorro, the Avenger | The Sign of Zorro
Rodolfo de Anda: La Gran Aventura Del Zorro
Frank Langella: The Mark of Zorro
Alain Delon: Zorro
George Hamilton: Zorro, The Gay Blade
Anthony Hopkins / Antonio Banderas: The Mask of Zorro
Antonio Banderas: The Legend of Zorro
Television
"Zorro" | "The New Adventures of Zorro" | "Zorro and Son" | "Zorro" | "The Legend of Zorro" | "The New Adventures of Zorro" | Zorro: La Espada y La Rosa |"Zorro: Generation Z"
Notable Stage Productions
"Zorro in Hell" [1] | "Untitled Zorro Musical" [2]
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