Zorron merkki (1920)

Zorron merkki (1920). 1h 19m | Passed

“Besides being entertaining in itself, u0026quot;The Mark of Zorrou0026quot; also provides Douglas Fairbanks with a nice showcase, in a dual role that gives him plenty of good material to work with. While other versions of the Zorro legends are now more familiar to present-day audiences, this one is probably still better than any of the others except for the 1940 version with Tyrone Power.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe 1998 update had big names and a big budget, but it was of much lower quality, glossy and over-played at a number of points, and with too much material of comic-book quality at other times.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFairbanks works nicely both as Don Diego and as Zorro, and he gets opportunities to display many different talents. He gets to display his swash-buckling yet easy-going persona, and then at other times is able to show a more refined, sometimes vulnerable side. Not only does he make both personalities work, but he melds them together into a believable whole, not so much by means of artifice as by the vigor and sincerity of his screen presence.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story, likewise, presents an interesting situation that works Fairbanks in well with the other characters. Though they are less interesting in themselves, the secondary characters each play a useful role in the story and in the ideas that it suggests. This old version of the Zorro tale holds up well – at least for those who enjoy silent movies – and it presents a nicely paced and entertaining story.”