With three slashes, the mark of the “Z” is made, freeing downtrodden Californians and exposing corrupt officials to the light of justice.  As the eighteen century Robin Hood, the dashing Zorro is the new world’s biggest folk hero.  With modern comic book heroes all the rage, it’s easy to forget that the swashbuckling Spaniard was one of the first popular superheroes.

Created in 1919 by pulp writer Johnston McCulley, Zorro has been incredibly popular in print and on film.  He’s been portrayed by several actors, starting with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and most recently by Antonio Banderas.  Zorro has never lost his appeal and the character actually served as inspiration for The Lone Ranger and Batman. 

Despite the fact that the last Zorro film was a bit of a disappointment, the character is relevant again as Disney has opened their vaults to release a pair of six-DVD sets featuring the character.

I shouldn’t have to explain the premise as most people are familiar with Don Diego de la Vega.  Hiding behind the persona of a weak and gentlemanly noble, de la Vega would also don a mask to defend the weak against tyranny.  Appealing to the proletariat is a sure-fire way to generate goodwill and Zorro held a special appeal for one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Walt Disney tried on two occasions to bring the character to life and he succeeded in 1957, creating an immensely popular television show which ran for two years.  It would have continued longer if a legal dispute between Disney and ABC television didn’t put the show on hiatus.  When the battle was over, Zorro got lost in the shuffle, but fans never forgot about his weekly television adventures.

Back then, a television season ran 39 weeks, and Disney employed a sizable staff of writers, composers and actors to deliver action, comedy and thrills from week to week.  Walt chose Guy Williams (Lost in Space) as his leading man.  Williams had been a contract player for Universal until a stunt accident left him unemployed. 

After struggling for a few years he was just about to give up on his acting career when Disney selected him to play Zorro.  Winning the role changed his life, making him an international superstar.

Disney was always a shrewd businessman and knew that you couldn’t take any short cuts with quality.  Quality in gets quality out and Disney spent a large amount of money to build a dedicated Zorro set.  Each episode employed a team of stunt men and featured swashbuckling action presented in the Disney style.  The risk paid off and the show was a top hit.

The action, storylines, and acting may seem a little quaint by today’s standards but this was pretty serious stuff back then.  It’s not hardcore like a lot of modern shows, but this was a well-produced show and the comedy and action are just as entertaining and satisfying at they were 50 years ago.

Disney has reached into their vaults and released both seasons in a limited-edition set.  Only around 40,000 copies were pressed for each season so grab them quickly (last year’s Dr. Syn collector’s set is already out of print).  Each set features six DVD’s containing 39 episodes each. 

In addition, the two season sets include the four Zorro one-hour specials.  The first disc on each set features an introduction by film critic and historian Leonard Maltin.  He gives a short introduction to the show and presents some interesting Zorro trivia for historical perspective.  Additional bonus features include profiles on the character, Guy Williams as well as a special look at the show’s historical props and memorabilia.

The episodes are presented in glorious black and white with standard/full-frame presentation; no HDTV required for this release.  The shows are old but look to be in pretty good shape.  At over 18 hours apiece, it’ll take a while for you to plow through all the material offered.  In fact, I’m probably still watching episodes as you read this review.

Despite being 50 years old, Zorro remains surprisingly entertaining, good for kids or adults.  The signature Disney humor and action are fully present and the shows were made with high production values.  If you’re a Zorro fan or a Disney aficionado then this should be an essential part of your collection.

The Program
4.5 out of 5

The DVD/Bonus Features
4 out of 5

Tony Robinson is a past host of KATU's Movie Guys film review segment and currently reviews movies exclusively for KATU.com. He lives in Portland with his wife, son and action figure collection. He can be reached at tonerobe@hotmail.com.