El Zorro

Disposable Italian-made adventure of the popular swashbuckling hero which actually plays like a Spaghetti Western (these were all the rage at the time) – not, in itself, a bad thing but the treatment is strictly uninspired! For what it's worth, bland (and blonde) leading man Giorgio Ardisson had already played the character in THE MASQUED CONQUEROR aka ZORRO AT THE Spanish COURT (1962); the heroine, then, is played by Femi Benussi (though she's given very little to do) and the villain by Giacomo Rossi-Stuart.

The tone is typically light-hearted – but the comic relief supplied by Sergeant Gomez (this must have looked at the Disney TV series for inspiration rather than the 1940 Hollywood classic!) and a couple of peones, one of whom is perennially coming up with crackpot idioms to make a point, who always seem to get in the way somehow! For once, rather than have the common people rise up against the tyrants, here it's the noblemen targeted by the ambitious Rossi-Stuart and the Alcalde of a neighboring town, who join Zorro in the good cause; with this in mind, the climax is O.K. as a multitude of Zorros appear on the scene to confuse the villains. If anything, the swordfights throughout are handled with reasonable energy…though it all ends on an extremely silly note – with Zorro's pet carrier pigeon promising us further exploits of the Californian avenger (which, needless to say, never came to pass, at least in this company)!

Entertaining but mediocre Italian/Spanish co-production about the legendary and brave personage . Zorro, the masked outlaw, fights against the plans of the powerful Don Pedro (Giacomo Rossi Stuart) . Here the masked man is actually a seducer who conquers a lot of women while undertakes several adventures and feats . He is the implacable hero of the oppresed people , as Zorro relishing his secret identity in cape and blade and this time helping the unfortunate villagers against troops of the commandant of Mexican garrison , Giacomo Rossi Stuart, and his botcher sergeant Ignazio Spalla or Pedro Sanchez as Sergeant Gomez , whose role bears remarkable resemblance to Sergeant Garcia/Henry Calvin in the classic series ¨Zorro¨ starred by Guy Williams . Along the way Zorro saves the damsel in distress : Femi Benussi and falls for her

Average , so-so Zorro rendition in Spaghetti Western style that nothing to do with the the classic personage written by Johnston McCulley . Derring-do , feats , adventures , action and romance find this acceptable swashbuckler. Most of the crew was from Italy and the shooting took place in Spain, though studio studio work was done in Rome , Italy . Stars George Ardisson (1931-2014) who often used to play Spaghetti Westerns , Peplum and Euro-spy sub-genre known for Agente S3(1965), As de pic , operation Contraespionage , Hércules in the haunted world , Django defies Sartana, Erik the Conqueror , Gold of the Bravados , he was a second-class actor here enjoying as the dashing masked avenger by fencing, and kicking-ass enemies , as well as leaps and bounds. Being a n Italian production here shows up some regular actors in B-series such as : Pedro Sanchez who often played similar roles to Fernando Sancho, Andrea Fantasia, Riccardo Pizzuti and gorgeous Femi Benussi who was ordinary in sex Italian comedy , among others. It displays a moving and thrilling musical score by Gino Peguri .The yarn was regularly directed by Guido Zurli who managed to make a fluid , witty and passable SW . He was a director and writer, who made all kinds of genres , being especially known for Polizia selvaggia (1977), È mezzanotte... butta giù il cadavere (1966), Bersaglio altezza uomo (1978) , Zorro the Fox , Gansters 70 , The mad butcher , among others . Rating : 5/10.

Other retellings about this known role are the following ones : Silent version 1920 with Douglas Fairbanks . The Mark of Zorro 1940 by Robert Mamoulian with Tyrone Power, Basil Rathbone , Linda Darnel .And The Mark of Zorro and Legend of Zorro by Martin Campbell with Antonio Banderas , Catherine Zeta Jones, Rufus Sewell, Pedro Armendariz . And TV series starred by Guy Williams in the 60s and the 90s played by Duncan Regher . And a lot of Italian/Spanish Zorros, such as : Zorro in the Court of Spain 1963 by Luigi Capuano. Zorro versus Maciste by Umberto Lenzi with Pierre Brice, Alan Steel, Moira Orfei. Zorro versus Three Musketeers by Umberto Lenzi with Pierre Brice, Giacomo Rossi Stuart. The three Swords of Zorro by Ricardo Blasco with Guy Stockwell, Mikaela. Zorro of Monterrey by Jose Luis Merino with Charles Quiney, Maria Pia Conte. Zorro rider of vengeance by J. L. Merino with Charles Quiney, Pascuale Basile, Maria Pia Conte. Shadow of Zorro by Jose Luis Romero Marchent with Frank Latimore, Paul Piaget, Maria Luz Galicia and sequel : Revenge of Zorro by Marchent with Latimore, Paul Piaget, Robert Hundar, Fernando Sancho and several others.

Certain scenes of this movies borders hardcore stuff. Maybe it's just me, maybe Zorro was really meant to feel like it did in that legendary Disney series from the 80s or the Antonio Banderas movies.

Of course, every era and country will have its own taste when adapting the immortal concept. And seeing blood, tears of orphans etc. Fit the bill when we're talking Italian cinema of the 1960s.

Borrowing also the notorious scene as "We are all Zorro" from Kirk Douglas' Spartacus, this one is lighter than Django when it comes to gore, but quite edgy compared to the more popular tellings of the story.

Costumes and the decor look good especially in close-ups.

Not remarkable maybe, but watchable.