Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)

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 (original screenplay), Franklin Adreon (original screenplay),

Stars:

Reed Hadley, Sheila Darcy, William Corson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Reed Hadley	...	Don Diego Vega aka 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

Storyline

The legendary masked swordsman Zorro dodges a variety of deathtraps, including exploding barns, runaway elevators and avalanches, in his effort to thwart the insidious plan of armored bad guy Don Del Oro to rule Mexico.

---

Plot Keywords:

mexico | avalanche | yaqui indian | bridge | suit of armor | 

---

Taglines:

WHIPS CRACK! SWORDS FLASH! BULLETS FLY! (original print ad-all caps)

---

Genres:

Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 December 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Zorros Rache

Filming Locations:

Burro Flats, Simi Hills, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

212 min 212 min (12 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

CHAPTER TITLES: 1. The Golden God; 2. The Flaming "Z"; 3. Descending Doom; 4. The Bridge of Peril; 5. The Decoy; 6. Zorro to the Rescue; 7. The Fugitive; 8. Flowing Death; 9. The Golden Arrow; 10. Mystery Wagon; 11. Face to Face; 12. Unmasked.

---

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

Referenced in Tsonta (2010)

User Reviews

Great music, great stunt work

Reed Hadley makes a better foppish Don Diego than he does a dashing and daring Zorro, but that's almost beside the point because this serial features the bar-none best theme song of any serial, ever -- and the best version of Yakima Canutt's famous stagecoach stunt. There are other good stunts, and lots of action, and plenty of hair-raising cliff-hanger chapter endings, but if for no other reason, you must see this film to watch the stagecoach stunt, then re-watch it in slow motion. It is incredible, and, despite the lower budget for this chapter play, Yak turns in a better take on the stunt here than he did in the far more celebrated film "Stagecoach." Indiana Jones, eat your heart out: This is the real deal!