I love this movie so much

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

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)

The first of the many serials based on the Zorro character released by Republic during the 30s and 40s.In this one John Carroll (before going on to bigger and better things) plays the hero and his mild-mannered alter ego James Vega. Noah Beery Sr. is wasted as the Marsden, the head bad guy trying to take over the California/Yukatan Railroad. He basically never leaves his office and only appears to radio instructions to his henchman led by Richard Alexander and Robert Kortman.As usual in Republic serials, the stunt work in this one is great. Yakima Canutt visibly doubles the hero and performs some dangerous horse to train transfers among others.All in all it isn't bad. The only problem I had with it was the inclusion of a couple of songs for Zorro to warble as he galloped across the range. A tip of the hat to the singing cowboys of the day, I suppose.

Good early Republic actioner. Only one cheat at a chapter ending, where you see Zorro fall from a building, but the next chapter shows him still hanging there. Carroll is best, Renaldo is fun, and Yakima Cannutt's stunt work is first rate. If only they didn't have Zorro SING!