Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

A Brilliant Conflict

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Somebody didn't like this under Review/Comments (evidently incorrectly thinking it violated correcting cast errors in this space.) I wasn't correcting cast errors when I wrote it originally and I'm still not. I'm pointing out the facts regarding the unique way the credits were presented on the first chapter. The name of actor John Carroll is not shown on the original-release, Chapter 1 film credits until it appears on a sixth-page of actor credits; the first page is a full-body image of ZORRO. The second page is split between head-shots of HELEN Christian and REED HOWES; the third-fourth-fifth actor credits page features singular shots of DUNCAN RENALDO, NOAH BEERY and RICHARD Alexander. That is followed by an "And" page that lists: John Carroll, Nigel de Brulier, Robert Kortman, Jack Ingram, Roger Williams, Edmund Cobb, Mona Rico, Tom London, Harry Strang and Jerry Frank. None of the role names are shown. Additionally, a feature version, running 68 minutes and with an-intended title of "Mysterious Don Miguel", was edited from this serial and released theatrically on September 22, 1938, and this feature version was re-released theatrically again on January 16, 1959 in order to take advantage of and cash in on the popularity of the Zorro television series produced by Disney and starring Guy Williams. . The 1950s syndicated television version of the serial consisted of six twenty-six and one half-minutes chapters running exactly 156 minutes, leaving the television version 56 minutes short of the 212 minutes of the theatrical version. This Comment reference the hstory of this serial contains no spoilers and no data corrections.

First Zorro serial is one of the best. It's a modern story with planes and trains and cars and horses all being used to great effect to tell the story of Zorro (James Vega) trying to stop the villain from blowing up the railroad he own stock in. Its one of the large scale serials that Republic did in the late 30's and early 40's before budgets got tighter thanks to wartime austerity. The large cast of characters is nicely handled and it doesn't have the round and round feeling that later Zorro serials engendered. This has spectacular effects that help elevate things a couple of notches- Where else are you going to see a train try to out run a plane that is trying to bomb it?. If there is a flaw it's that there is a few musical numbers that don't really fit (Most musical numbers don't fit in serials since they slow the serial down too much)

A good effort from Republic,with exciting effects including a horse to train transfer by Yakima Canutt, concerns Noah Berry's efforts to take over a railroad and John Carrols[as Zorro] heroic efforts to stop him. Good location photography,and supporting acting adds to the excitement. Whitney and English direct in fine style.The primitive musical score [used in earlier serials],detracts. Though not the same caliber as Zorros Fighting Legion, this is still a top notch serial,well worth viewing.

This was one of the best early serials filled with action furnished by Yakima Canutt on the horse. Although later serials would improve the mask it was also unique in it's scripting. It was well written as serials go. It was mentioned somewhere that a serial was silly. True perhaps but we didn't get that serious with them and enjoyed anyway. This Zorro was entertaining and interesting. One of the best cliffhangers endings was with the train, early in the serial.