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The
Mark of Zorro
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 Captain Pasquale meets Don Diego |
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 Pasquale and Quintero react to Don Diego's talk of choosing scents and lotion. |
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"High spot of the picture is a duel between Power and Rathbone, with plenty of swordplay, riding, pursuit and escape, fore and aft of that scene." —Roscoe Williams, Motion Picture Daily, November 6, 1940
"Mr. Rathbone is a man you love to hate, and his bloody demise, following a honey of a duel with Mr. Power, is better than he deserved." —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 11, 1940
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The Mark of Zorro The script recaptures much of the beauty and atmosphere of old California. Against this background, Director Mamoulian highlights the stirring swordplay, the swift riding, and the tender intervals of romance. Tyrone Power, in Zorro, has one of the best roles of his career. The exploits of the daring bandit seem admirably suited to his talents, and he makes full use of his opportunities. Linda Darnell makes a most attractive heroine. Basil Rathbone scores heavily as Captain Esteban. —The Movies and the People who Make Them, 1940 |
"The sinister role played by Basil Rathbone is well enacted." —Motion Picture Reviews, December 1940
"Basil Rathbone is the meanie again, and he does the polished villain so smoothly it is really too bad when he gets his just desserts. ... The duel between Basil and Tyrone is marvelous." —Dorothy Manners, Los Angeles Examiner, November 2, 1940
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 Sgt. Gonzalez has disappeared. I'll collect the mission taxes myself. |
"The duel between Rathbone and Power is one of the best ever screened." —Photoplay, February 1941
"Basil Rathbone is excellently cast as the vain swordsman who finally meets his blade match in the active Zorro." —Jimmy Starr, Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express, November 2, 1940
| The Mark of Zorro Director Rouben Mamoulian has kept the picture in the spirit of romantic make believe, with a lot of elegant trifling, some highly fantastic fights and flights, and one jim-dandy duel between Mr. Power and the villainous Basil Rathbone, which ends about as juicily as any one could wish. Once or twice, it is true, there creeps in a note of seriousness, as though Mr. Mamoulian or some one were sincerely concerned about the poor oppressed peons. But mostly it bounds along at a lively, exciting clip, the way all extravagant fictions should. It is played by an excellent cast of expansive actors, including J. Edward Bromberg, Gale Sondergaard, and, of course, Mr. Rathbone. —Bosley Crowther, The New York Times, November 4, 1940 |
"Fine screen fare ...High point is Power's bloody duel with Basil Rathbone." —The Tribune Sun (San Diego, CA), November 2, 1940
"The film is excellent entertainment for audiences everywhere. J. Edward Bromberg gives a picture-stealing portrayal of the ruthless but cowardly alcalde, while others in the cast, notably Basil Rathbone, Linda Darnell, Gale Sondergaard and Eugene Pallette, are uniformly good." —Showmen's Trade Review, November 9, 1940
 "I'll cut your throat!" |
 "His Excellency objects to talk of throat cutting." |
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 Diego deals the fatal blow. |
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"Mr. Rathbone, suave and capable, handles his role with zest and a
twinkle." —Mae Tinee, Chicago Tribune, November 24, 1940 "Rathbone makes an excellent villain." —Corbin Patrick, The Indianapolis Star, November 8, 1940 "Especially exciting is the handsomely staged fencing duel between Don Diego (Zorro) and the captain, and so realistic does it become that the audience expressed its shock audibly when the young hero runs his sword through Pasquale as if he were skewering a chicken." —The Boston Globe, November 18, 1940
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CANDID PHOTOS:
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 Tyrone Power, Basil Rathbone, Rouben Mamoulian, J. Edward Bromberg |
Watch more video clips from The Mark of Zorro at Turner Classic Movies .
See Page Three for posters, lobby cards, and promo photos
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