Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)

Directors:

John English
William Witney

Writers:

Ronald Davidson (original screenplay) and
Franklin Adreon (original screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 December 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

Whips crack! Swords flash! Bullets fly!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Mexico | Bridge | Avalanche | Dungeon | Cave

Cast

Reed Hadley	...	Don Diego Vega / Zorro
Sheila Darcy	...	Volita
William Corson	...	Ramon
Leander De Cordova	...	Governor Felipe
Edmund Cobb	...	Manuel Gonzalez
John Merton	...	Commandante Manuel [Ch. 1-9]
C. Montague Shaw	...	Chief Justice Pablo
Budd Buster	...	Juan
Carleton Young	...	Benito Juarez [ch 1-2, 12]
Guy D'Ennery	...	Don Francisco [Ch. 1]
Paul Marion	...	Kala [Ch. 10-12] (as Paul Marian)
Joe Molina	...	Tarmac (Yaqui chief)
James Pierce	...	Henchnam Moreno (as Jim Pierce)
Helen Mitchel	...	Doña Maria
Curley Dresden	...	Henchman Tomás

Runtime:

212 min (12 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #5691-5695, 5697-5699, 5767-5770) | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Burro Flats, Simi Hills, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

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.

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!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs (2000) (TV)

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.