Douglas Fairbanks played two roles in his movie career, but in many ways, it seems he only really played one. The first act was in modern comedies, where he often played some ineffectual urban dweller who leaps (often literally) at an opportunity for some adventure or other transformative experience that is in harmony with his exuberance and charm, while winning the affections of the leading lady. The second act of his career began here, with "The Mark of Zorro"--the historical action adventure, costume swashbuckler. This one doesn't have quite the lavish productions values as in some of his later pictures, such as "Robin Hood" (1922) and "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924), but the premise is the same. Moreover, Edward M. Langley's sets seem historically appropriate and well done for the time, and Fairbanks is supported by a well-rounded cast (including a very hammy Noah Beery) and director Fred Niblo, who would continue after this as an expert in producing such historical spectacles.
Like the contemporary comedies, the swashbucklers similarly highlight Fairbanks's talents; both are suitable vehicles for his graceful athleticism, boyish masculinity and pep, his smile and light sense of humor. His acrobatics are on full display in this one's climax. Fairbanks does seem to relish the dual roles here, playing Don Diego as a goof, to contrast his noble, graceful Zorro. Fairbanks's role here can't be overstated. He controlled his persona and productions as much as any star back then, producing for his own production company and contributing to scenarios. Reportedly, the "Z" mark of Zorro was a visual motif invented here, and Fairbanks also improvised much of the foppish nature of the Don Diego secret identity, which, however, was quite similar to some of the characters he played in his earlier comedies (i.e. in the first part of "The Mollycoddle" (1920) and "The Lamb" (1915)). Moreover, Zorro was Doug's earlier comedy persona unleashed from the constraints of modern society, and his foppish Don Diego was him pretending to still be constrained—only inversions of his earlier roles. Additionally, Fairbanks spent considerable time being trained by experts for the swordplay and stunts, and the effort clearly paid off. "The Mark of Zorro" is a light, enjoyable vehicle for his talents, and it's also an important touchstone in film history—popularizing the pulp magazine creation of Zorro, establishing the American swashbuckler, action-adventure film and its archetypal hero, while doing so with Doug's characteristic grace, smile and contagious sense of fun.
