Zorro, the Avenger (1959) User Reviews (7)

A step down from 'The Sign of Zorro', but

[r96sk · 7/10 · 16 June 2020]

A step down from 'The Sign of Zorro', but 'Zorro, the Avenger' still leaves a tonne to enjoy.

Guy Williams is again terrific in the titular role, while Henry Calvin also brings another solid performance as Sgt. Garcia. I don't think the villains are as strong this time around, but Charles Korvin's Varga is still menacing enough.

The plot is more stretched out and easier to tell it has been merged from television episodes, with Zorro this time on the backfoot more often than being the one plotting; I preferred it the other way, from the preceding film. It's more entertaining watching him craft things together, as opposed to reacting each time.

Interesting to watch this, unlike the other, in colour. The sets don't quite look as nice with colour, though it still all comes together relatively well.

A tweaked storyline and a shortened run time, then I would've liked this as much as the 1958 production. Still, a good film.

Like a fairytale

[DJE-fan · 28 October 2003]

To react to the comment "Horrible movie like the series" I'm sorry, but I do absolutely not agree with this. I don't know about the 'Duncan Regher' version of Zorro, so I can't say anything about that. I have, however, seen the Antonio Banderas version. It's true that he's is spectacular, but why write of the old? I think Guy Williams does a great job portraying Zorro and I really enjoy watching him and the others. The script and characters aren't as good as they could be maybe, but hey, look at all those soaps, they aren't doing better! I think this version of Zorro is great fun to watch. After all, spectacle doesn't make a good story.

A movie comprised of one of the best Disney shows

[greyeyegoddess · 9/10 · 5 January 2006]

The only reason I put a 9 out of 10 is that I haven't really SEEN the movie itself. If you have seen all of the Disney Zorro episodes, then you already have seen the movie for the movie is comprised of some of the TV episodes. The original Disney Zorro show is a classic show with heart, lots of fun, and great adventures. It's simplicity has been remembered by all who grew up with the show. Zorro was created in the Disney fashion; music, great writing, stunts, costumes and lessons to be learned. It really outshines family movies and shows today. If you enjoy great fun, without a lot of noisy explosions and outrageous stunts getting in the way of a story, Disney Zorro shows and movies are perfect for you.

Guy Williams was the perfect Don Diego/Zorro. He had charm, wit and intelligence. He was skilled with a sword, which made the fight scenes even more realistic (aside from the fact that Walt Disney had Zorro and other characters fight with real and sharp swords).

Disney needs to release the shows and movies on DVD for the fans!

Guy Williams was the best Zorro

[mcmugged · 10/10 · 30 December 2008]

I also am reacting to the first commenter who says the old Disney series of Zorro was bad and thinks the Duncan Regehr and Antonio Banderas Zorro portrayals were better. I have only seen YouTube videos of the Duncan R. Zorro and it is awful in my opinion. The sets are cheesy and the story lines are boring. I do like Antonio Banderas as Zorro, but there are only 2 of those movies. Not enough to satisfy a real Zorro fan. I think Guy Williams was the best Zorro ever. I have all the Disney DVDs of the show and wish that somehow they could be done in high definition. I don't know if it is possible since they were all filmed from 1957 to 1959.

The Zorro series from Disney had good swordsmanship, great story lines that usually lasted over several episodes. There was also a lot of humor. Some of the best humorous parts were cut out of the movies that were made from episodes unfortunately. You are better off watching the series episodes than the movies, but if you love the series, then you will probably also want to watch the movies anyway.

It is a shame that there weren't more Zorro episodes from Disney. I have a lot of friends who never saw the Disney Zorro series when it was first on TV in the late 50s, but it was shown in the 80s on the Disney channel and they became hooked.

I got hooked all over (I do remember the 50s show) but I got my interest revived after reading Zorro by Isabelle Allende who also was a huge fan of Guy Williams as Zorro.

Disney's "Zorro" fails to ignite on theatrical release overseas!

[JohnHowardReid · 4/10 · 25 November 2017]

Guy Williams (Zorro), Henry Calvin (Sergeant Garcia), Gene Sheldon (Bernardo), Charles Korvin ("The Eagle"), George J. Lewis (Alejandro), Jay Novello (Juan Greco), Henry Rowland (Count Kolinko), Don Diamond, Ralph Clanton, Michael Pate.

Director: CHARLES BARTON. Screenplay: Lowell S. Hawley, Bob Wehling. Based on the "Zorro" stories by Johnston McCulley. Photography: Gordon Avil. Film editors: Cotton Warburton, Roy Livingstone. Art director: Marvin Aubrey Davis. Music: William Lava. Sound: Robert O. Cook. Producer: William H. Anderson. A Walt Disney Buena Vista Production.

Copyright 1958 by Walt Disney Productions. No American theatrical release. U.K. release through Walt Disney: June 1960. Australian release through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: 1 September 1960. 8,272 feet. 92 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: New administrado Varga arrives at Los Angeles and takes possession of Alejandro's hacienda during the latter's absence. Alejandro's son, Diego, overcomes his natural impulse to defend his home and plays the pacifist towards Varga. It is Diego's plan to make use of certain secret passages to eavesdrop on Varga, whom he suspects to be associated with "The Eagle", known to be plotting to seize power in California. Before long, Diego discovers that Varga is himself "The Eagle".

Varga, on the other hand, not only underestimates the apparently effete Diego, but has no idea that Diego is in fact his greatest enemy, Zorro.

Diego eventually learns that Varga intends selling California to a foreign power, but with the aid of his deaf-mute servant Bernardo and of the fat and inept Sergeant Garcia, he successfully foils Varga.

COMMENT: Maybe because our expectations were so low, but there does seem to be a slight overall improvement in this cut-rate Disney "Zorro", made for exposure on American TV but theatrically released in England, New Zealand and Australia. It still rates no more than a three or four in entertainment, and even less in its cut-rate production values and sometimes less than acceptable in technical quality; but nonetheless big production values don't really impress kids. And as long as they can see what's happening, technical quality doesn't really interest them either.

P.S. If that's not the way to spell "administrado", I tend to agree, but I guess it's too late now to take our complaint to Walt Disney.

Wonderful!

[francisco533 · 10/10 · 4 September 2016]

This movie (tv series compilation) is another great example of the popularity of Disney's Zorro. It follows "The Sign of Zorro" and it's an exciting adventure from the beginning to the end! Zorro is one of my favorite shows ever! This is very well written and the swordplay is fantastic. They used real swords because Walt Disney wanted realism into the scenes. Guy Williams is the best Diego\Zorro ever and this was the role of his life. All the cast is wonderful, full of chemistry and magic!

All in all , this is great and even today is fantastic. A show (in this case a movie) for all ages!

Guy Williams is the best Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro Ever!

[Crescent2006chic · 26 July 2002]

This series depicts the fictional life of Don Diego de la Vega and other citizens of Spanish California. Guy Williams is, in my opinion, one of the greatest actors that ever was and his part in this series is crucial. That of Don Diego/El Zorro. This is what TV drama should be like. I only wish their were more of these made. It airs everyday of the week on the Disney Channel at 1:00 AM Eastern Standard Time and switches from the black and white version to the modified color version every other completion of the series. Dont let the black and white fool you! This is a great show.