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IMDbPro

Zorro's Fighting Legion

  • 1939
  • Approved
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
495
YOUR RATING
Reed Hadley in Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)
SuperheroActionAdventureDramaFamilyWestern

The masked hero leads a fighting force to fight a villian who plots the conquest of The Republic of Mexico.The masked hero leads a fighting force to fight a villian who plots the conquest of The Republic of Mexico.The masked hero leads a fighting force to fight a villian who plots the conquest of The Republic of Mexico.

  • Directors
    • John English
    • William Witney
  • Writers
    • Ronald Davidson
    • Franklin Adreon
    • Morgan Cox
  • Stars
    • Reed Hadley
    • Sheila Darcy
    • William Corson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    495
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • John English
      • William Witney
    • Writers
      • Ronald Davidson
      • Franklin Adreon
      • Morgan Cox
    • Stars
      • Reed Hadley
      • Sheila Darcy
      • William Corson
    • 15User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos39

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    Top cast64

    Edit
    Reed Hadley
    Reed Hadley
    • Don Diego Vega…
    Sheila Darcy
    • Volita
    William Corson
    • Ramon
    Leander De Cordova
    • Governor Felipe
    Edmund Cobb
    Edmund Cobb
    • Gonzalez
    John Merton
    John Merton
    • Manuel [Ch. 1-9]
    C. Montague Shaw
    C. Montague Shaw
    • Pablo
    Budd Buster
    Budd Buster
    • Juan
    Carleton Young
    Carleton Young
    • Benito Juarez [ch 1-2, 12]
    Guy D'Ennery
    Guy D'Ennery
    • Don Francisco [Ch. 1]
    Paul Marion
    Paul Marion
    • Kala [Ch. 10-12]
    • (as Paul Marian)
    Joe Molina
    • Tarmac
    James Pierce
    James Pierce
    • Moreno
    • (as Jim Pierce)
    Helen Mitchel
    • Doña Maria
    Curley Dresden
    • Tomás
    Charles King
    Charles King
    • Valdez
    Al Taylor
    Al Taylor
    • Rico
    Billy Bletcher
    Billy Bletcher
    • Don Del Oro
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • John English
      • William Witney
    • Writers
      • Ronald Davidson
      • Franklin Adreon
      • Morgan Cox
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    7.1495
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    Featured reviews

    10halvorh

    Zorro's Fighting Legion

    I loved this exiting republic serial! The story was one of the best I have ever seen! Even tough, the picture quality was not of the best, but OK. The fencing in this serial is also a bit bad, but not terrible. They only should have practised some more. As I said the story is GREAT! You're just sitting there and waiting to find out who Don Del Oro is! The theme music is excellent! It's the same guy who maid the music for Walt Disney's version of Zorro, who maid the Fightin Legion music. Costumes and buildings are very good. Zorro is really cool and so are the legioners! I highly recommend this serial. Buy it!

    I love that Reed Hadley plays Zorro! He is funny, smart and brave! Mark: 6.
    7esteban1747

    Zorro against Don del Oro

    There have been several films about Zorro, some even made in Europe, e.g. Alain Delon. This role has also been played by outstanding actors, such as Tyrone Power and Anthony Hopkins, but to me the best of all times has always been Reed Hadley. This serial gives you the opportunity to see an interesting western, where you will only discover the real villain, Don del Oro, at its end. The serial also has good performance of various actors of movies B like Ed Cobb, ex- Tarzan Jim Pierce, C. Montague Shaw, eternal villains like John Merton and Charles King, and a very good performance of Hadley as Zorro. He was quick, smart, used well his whip and sword, and his voice was the best for any Zorro.
    8imdb_comment

    Good Stuff

    Along with "King of the Rocket Men", this was still being repeated on BBC TV in the early to mid eighties. If I was loading up a time capsule of this period both these series would definitely go in.

    Someone watching it for the first time will think it is silly but this is one of the best examples of the "Serials". Don Del Oro will make you laugh (When I was little my nickname for him was Mr Dustbin head) and it was funny upon being shot at he says "Your bullets can't harm me" then he stumbles back, seemingly less than happy. I also like the way he dispenses with Sebastian in the first episode.

    I watched this again because I had good memories of it from years back, there are some good stunts and good music, it has the ingredients you expect including water,rockfalls,runaway carts... Apart from the first episode(with Ralph Faulkner)the swordplay wasn't nearly as good as I remembered it, and yes it features the inevitable "flashback" episode! It gets 8 out of 10 because it still suffers from slow pace, padding and the other tricks. If you are interested in these serials I recommend the book by William Witney, "In a Door, Into a Fight, Out a Door, Into a Chase" although there is only a small entry about this series in it.
    7tomwal

    review of Zorros Fighting Legion.

    I rank this the best of the Zorro chapterplays.The exciting musical score adds punch to an exciting screen play.There is an excellent supporting cast and mystery villain that will keep you guessing until the final chapter.Reed Hadley does a fine job as Don Diego and his alter ego Zorro.Last,but certainly not least,is the great directing team of Whitney and English.
    9dbborroughs

    One of the best serials ever made

    Best of the Zorro serials and one of my favorite serials, period. This is a period serial set right after the birth of Mexico. The new nation is counting on the gold produced by this one town to keep the republic solvent. However a gold god, Don del Oro is stirring up the Indians and stealing the gold for himself. Its Zorro and his band of men to the rescue. Reed Hadley is a winning Zorro and he cuts a dashing figure as he gets into a nice selection of scraps (most all of which were reused by the later Zorro serials as well as other serials as well).The story moves and its nicely not clear who the real bad guy is. There is a reason that I've seen this the most of any serial I've seen, its simply a great action adventure film. The only thing I can compare it to is the Mark of Zorro with Tyrone Power or one of the other swashbucklers of the period. Its super and highly recommended.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the only serial in which Zorro's character has been presented authentically; often said to be a prequel to Zorro Rides Again (1937) because the main character of that serial was the original Zorro's descendant, it is, in fact, a completely original story featuring the actual Zorro character.
    • Goofs
      Arrows shot make a cartoon twang sound.
    • Quotes

      Manuel Gonzalez: Gentlemen, this is becoming ridiculous! The next thing you know, someone will be accusing you of being Zorro.

      Don Diego Vega: Why, I believe I'd be flattered!

    • Connections
      Edited into Six Gun Theater: Six Gun Rhythm (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      We Ride!
      Music by William Lava

      Lyrics by Eddie Cherkose

      Sung by Zorro's Legionaires over the credits and throughtout the serial.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 16, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Return of Zorro
    • Filming locations
      • Burro Flats, Simi Hills, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Republic Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 54m(114 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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