not horrible nor great

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

A very fun silent film. Full of action and excitement. Great sword fights and other feats of derring-do.The legendary Douglas Fairbanks stars as the charming and mischievous masked avenger Zorro. Like Batman and Robin Hood, Zorro operates outside the law to fight injustice. Zorro fights the oppression of an unjust government. Like Batman, Zorro lives a double life, acting the lazy rich boy to conceal his true hobbies.Fairbanks is impressive doing his own swashbuckling stunts. THE MARK OF ZORRO is truly one of the earliest action-adventure films, and it's still loads of fun to watch.This movie started it all for Zorro. The success of this film, based on a 1919 story by Johnston McCulley, led to more stories, more films, a TV series, etc.What's not to like about Zorro?This is a very entertaining watch. Even if you don't like silents, you might enjoy this. Recommended. 8/10

In the early 1800s, California had warmth, romance, and peaceful beauties; yet, the dreaded disease of oppression held a creeping hold over its people. And, so, the mysterious masked rider Douglas Fairbanks (as Zorro) appeared, punishing the oppressors, and protecting the people. After felling evildoers, Mr. Fairbanks carves "The Mark of Zorro" (a "Z") somewhere, as a calling card. Unbeknownst to most everyone, "Zorro" is, under his mask, dandy Douglas Fairbanks (in a duplicitous role, as Don Diego Vega).This was the first of Fairbanks' great swashbuckling adventures of the 1920s; it is not the grandest, most expensive of the productions; but, it does contain one of Fairbanks' best performances, which makes it look like a bigger production. His athletic ability is outstanding as the sword fighting "Zorro", and his foppish alter ego is equally charming. Fairbanks creates an interesting characterization. Note his contrasting introductions; as the delicate "Don Carlos", he emerges from under a protective umbrella; as "Zorro" he menacingly appears, in dark disguise. Overall, Fairbanks balances heroics and humor.Fairbanks' film persona appears to have influenced the "Super-Hero" comic books which began appearing in 1938, with "Superman" in "Action". The timidity displayed by "Don Diego" resembles that of Superman's "Clark Kent" character. Love interest Marguerite De La Motte (as Lolita) reacts to Fairbanks' characters like Superman's girlfriend "Lois Lane" reacts to his. "Zorro" is more like the masked "Batman", with a "Captain Marvel" cape. The manner in which "Zorro" enters his home seems very much like "Batman" entering Wayne Manor, and descending into the "Batcave". Those early super-hero creators certainly must have enjoyed watching Fairbanks leaping and bounding around.And, don't tune out before the final "curtain" for Fairbanks and his "Lolita"; it's a charming, unforgettable closing. ********* The Mark of Zorro (11/27/20) Fred Niblo ~ Douglas Fairbanks, Marguerite De La Motte, Robert McKim, Noah Berry

031: The Mark of Zorro (1920) - released 11/27/1920, viewed 1/20/06.The Wall Street Bombing occurs outside the JP Morgan building in New York, killing 39. The first domestic radio sets hit the shelves in the U.S. Adolph Hitler makes his first public political speech in Austria. Warren G. Harding wins the presidential election. Bloody Sunday goes down in Dublin, killing 31 football spectators.BIRTHS: Frank Herbert, Mario Puzo, Timothy Leary, Ricardo Montalban.KEVIN: Finally, a swashbuckler! I don't know what possessed me to skip this movie before, but I'm glad I caught it this time around. I was a little alarmed in the beginning when Zorro pulled out a gun, but since he doesn't even fire it, I got used to the idea, as Zorro's enemies all have swords and guns so it makes sense for him to keep up. As I was watching, I tried my best to read the inter-titles with a Mexican accent. I thought the pure stunt work in the film was more impressive than any of the sword fights, which were exciting in their own right. And I really liked that when our hero has his final duel with Capt. Ramon, it is not as Zorro but as Diego.DOUG: We would have watched Mark of Zorro in between Way Down East and The Kid, and let me say I really wish we had, because it was extremely good. I noticed a few things different about Douglas Fairbanks' Zorro than other later versions. For one, he smokes a cigar a lot. Second, more noticeably, he carries a gun. He never fires it, but still, he never had one before. As is customary with adventure stories, the action is over-the-top, the heroes are supercool, and the villains are larger-than-life. The swordfights were all very cool, as well. I also like watching Fairbanks move between Zorro and Diego; a running gag had Diego always feigning exhaustion at the slightest bit of work, so he could go to bed and then go out as Zorro. (Looking back, I'd say that of all the Douglas Fairbanks films we've watched, The Mark of Zorro was my favorite. Thief of Baghdad was a close second.)Last film viewed: Daddy Long-Legs (1920). Last film chronologically: Way Down East (1920). Next film viewed: Robin Hood (1922). Next film chronologically: The Kid (1921). The Movie Odyssey is an exhaustive, chronological project where we watch as many milestone films as possible, starting with D.W. Griffith's Intolerance in 1916 and working our way through, year by year, one film at a time. We also write a short review for each and every film. In this project, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of the time period, the films of the era, and each film in context, while at the same time just watching a lot of great movies, most of which we never would have watched otherwise.

A classic!!Fairbanks'stunt work is superb with excellent action scenes,Marguerite De La Motte is very good as the lovelly Lolita. The plot follows the book and I think that is an important thing in an adaptation. "The Mark of Zorro" was the first movie that Douglas Fairbanks did in his own studios after he married Mary Pickford. For me,Douglas Fairbanks is one of the greatest heros in the history of the cinema,he was brilliant in all his works. 10/10