Set in the 1840s, in the salty flavour of Old California , in which the inimitable Frank Langella is Don Diego De la Vega , a foppish young who returns to California from Madrid , Spain . In his local home he finds his mother (Yvonne De Carlo) and father Alejandro de la Vega (Gilbert Roland) who has been replaced as ruler of the region by the cruel Don Luis Quintero. The look-alike gay Don Diego poses as a fleebe man , but he dons a black outfit and becomes the Zorro , the legendary masked , hero of oppressed . Zorro riding in the hoof-prints , relishes his secret identity in cape and blade and help the good people who are mistreated , thwarting the ambitious plans of the meanie official , Captain Esteban , (Ricardo Montalban) only to find the people overrun and overtaxed by a corrupt Mayor (Robert Middleton) , as Don Diego he takes matters into his own hands as the masked crusader Zorro. As Zorro fights to return justice to the country and his people .
Derring-do , feats , romance , adventures , humor , and action find this agreeable swashbuckler . Interesting and moving teleplay by Brian Taggert , based on the story "The Curse of Capistrano" by Johnston McCully about the unforgettable Don Diego , the foppish dandy by day and the masked swordsman Zorro who slashes "Z"s everywhere by night. . Here Zorro-Langella is a skilled swordsman , fights evildoers and an greedy oppressor captain , while saving damsel in distress from a fate worse than death . Frank Langella runs , jumps , and leaping all over the images and overacting outrageously when plays the queer Don Diego . A nice cast keeps the picture moving at a rapid clip . Frank Langella gives a cool acting as the foppish Don Diego de la Vega who goes back returns Spain to his family in California and secretly picks up the sword of justice as the masked hero Zorro. He's finely accompanied by a good cast such as : Gilbert Roland , Louise Sorel , Robert Middleton, Anne Archer , Tom Lacy , Yvonne DeCarlo. And special mention for Ricardo Montalbán as the cunning villain captain Estebán .This fairly light Zorro was well-mounted and fast paced by Don McDougall .
Other versions about this known personage , as television series, Zorro , starred by Guy Williams during the 60s and the 90s starred by Duncan Regher , as cinema : the classic silent version (1920) by Douglas Fairbanks and 'The mark of Zorro' (1940) starred by Tyrone Power , Linda Darnell and directed by Robert Mamoulian . European version about famous character Zorro (1975) well played by Alain Delon ,Stanley Baker , Ottavia Piccolo, Giacomo Rossi Stuart and Moustache . And , of course , modern rendition titled 'The mark and legend of Zorro' starred by Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones and directed by Martin Campbell .
