# The Mark of Zorro (film)

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A 1920 American silent swashbuckler film starring Douglas Fairbanks and Noah Beery Sr. This genre-defining swashbuckler adventure was the first movie version of The Mark of Zorro. Based on the 1919 story The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley, which introduced the masked hero, Zorro, the screenplay was adapted by Fairbanks (as "Elton Thomas") and Eugene Miller.
A sequel to the film was made in 1925, also starring Fairbanks, called Don Q, Son of Zorro.
Cast and Crew :
| Cast ||
| Role | Actor |
| | Douglas Fairbanks |
| | Marguerite De La Motte |
| | Noah Beery, Sr. |
| | Robert McKim |
| | Charles Hill Mailes |
| | Claire McDowell |
| | Milton Berle |
| | Charles Stevens |
| | George Periolat |
| | Walt Whitman |
| | Tote Du Crow |
| | Noah Beery Jr. |
| Crew ||
| Production company | United Artists |
| Distributor | United Artists, Netflix |
| Director | Fred Niblo (d. 1948) |
| Producer | Douglas Fairbanks (d. 1939) |
| Screenwriter | Douglas Fairbanks |
| Cinematographer | William C. McGann (d. 1977) |
| Editor | Bill Nolan |
| Based on available information, the latest crew member that is relevant to international copyright laws died in 1977, meaning that this film may be in the public domain in countries and jurisdictions with 46 years p.m.a. or less, as well as in the United States. ||
Douglas Fairbanks
in
"THE MARK OF ZORRO"
COPYRIGHT 1920 DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS PICTURES CORPORATION
Based on the story
"The Curse of Capistrano"
by
Johnston McCulley
Published in "All-Story Weekly"
Directed by
Fred Niblo
Photographed by
William McGann and Harry Thorpe
Art Direction by
Edward Langley
THE PLAYERS
Marguerite De La Motte Robert McKim Noah Beery Charles Hill Mailes Claire McDowell Snitz Edwards Sydney de Grey George Periolat Walt Whitman Tote Du Crow Douglas Fairbanks
Oppression—by its very nature—creates the power that crushes it. A champion arises—a champion of the oppressed—whether it be a Cromwell or someone unrecorded, he will be there. He is born.
In California, nearly a hundred years ago, with its warmth, its romance, its peaceful beauties, this dread disease, oppression, had crept in.
Then—out of the mystery of the unknown—appeared a masked rider who rode up and down the great highway—punishing and protecting and leaving upon the vicious oppressor.
THE MARK OF ZORRO.
"In an evil hour—for no cause——that man beat a native and maimed him for life. Now he bears the mark of Zorro."
"This Zorro comes upon you like a graveyard ghost and like a ghost he disappears."
While in the north of the province, the governor——greedy, licentious, arrogant—
"This Zorro poses as a protector of the poor and breeds rebellion. Order out my troopers. I'll go to the South myself—"
In the hut of a native—
"I tell you—Señor Zorro is our only friend—"
At the hacienda of Don Carlos Pulido—
"The governor shows no mercy. This order will strip us of everything save the house—"
"If I were only a man—I'd ride the highway like this Zorro—"
Sergeant Gonzales—
"It's a good thing for that carver of Z's that he keeps out of reach of my sword. I'll carve Gonzales all over his body."
Don Diego Vega—lately home from Spain—
"Did I startle you, sergeant?"
"I hoped it was Zorro."
"Fetch me a pot of honey——and serve wine to everybody."
"Don Diego is my friend."
"Why so eager to meet this—ah—Zorro?"
"See, caballero, what he does to my beautiful soldiers."
"Where is he?"
"He was in Capistrano. He may be anywhere——everywhere. Who can tell?"
"He is in Capistrano, señor. In the morning I go with my troopers to capture him."
"Is it true he always makes fools of your soldiers?"
"Here's to any early meeting with Zorro—"
"—and a short one."
"I detest swords and bloodshed—but—to rid our beautiful country of a menace is a noble deed."
"Zorro knows the deeds you do before you think them—takes any shape he wills——appears through keyholes!"
GRATIFICACION
De 10.000 PESOS
Por Lo Capturo del Bandido
ZORRO
muerto o vivo
RAMON COMANDANTE
Por Orden Su Excelencio EL GOBERNADOR
REWARD
10.000 PESOS
For the capture of the bandit
ZORRO
Dead or Alive
Ramon Commandant
By order of His Excellency The Governor
"I shall have that reward."
"If you are so anxious to meet him, pick on a priest or a native and—presto! Zorro!"
"Tell that to Zorro—with my compliments!"
"Keep your sword, Gonzales. You'll have use for it."
"Sergeant Gonzales, I am at your service."
"The first man who moves from there gets this!"
"Pardon me, sergeant, your boot."
"I ask you—how can I fight him if he will not stand still?"
"Justice for all! Punishment for the oppressors of the helpless—from the governor down."
"Break in the door. We have Zorro in here."
"Open that door!"
Bernardo who can hear but cannot speak—
"Oppression will grow less, Bernardo. Could I but enlist the caballeros in this cause, perchance 'twould end—"
"My father here—at this time of night! There's some ill brewing. Detain him."
"You've been back from Spain three months—shut up here in your house——idle—bloodless——without ambition—"
"The family name must be perpetuated. At least you are rich enough to win you a wife."
"No girl will ever marry me—"
"—for my money."
"Bosh! I've written the Pulidos that you will pay your addresses to their daughter to-morrow. They have good blood and the governor has made them poor."
"Have you seen this one?"
"Don Diego comes this morning—the letter said. He is the greatest catch in the country. Such a son-in-law will mend my fortunes."
"My father insists that I get married. It's an awful nuisance—but I suppose one must please one's father."
"I have a servant—a wonder at the guitar. To-night I shall order him to come out and play beneath your window."
"I have a maid—passionately fond of music!"
"I shall invite you and your parents to occupy my town house while I am away at my hacienda. You will see how richly it is furnished."
"Have you seen this one?"
"I think I've said everything. I'll run along now."
"You will honor my house with a visit?"
"He isn't a man—he's a fish!"
Some ten minutes elapse, when—
"Zorro! To secure his arrest will win us the governor's favor."
"Race to the presidio and tell Captain Ramon that Zorro is here!"
"Once, in a garden I saw a beautiful rose—"
"I sought to pluck it—quickly. It stung me—"
"Then——slowly——cautiously—I reached for it——and the rose was mine!"
"Indeed! Then I'm but another rose?"
"Ah, no, señorita. You are too wonderful! I dare not even hope."
"Zorro—at my master's house!"
"Your swordsmanship? Where did you learn the blade?"
"In Spain, señorita, where there are no eyes like yours."
"They say you ride as if you were part of your horse!"
"Oh, such lips!"
"Turn not away. Your face is heaven—all else is blackness!"
"Why do you wear a mask?"
"Perhaps to hide the features of a De Bergerac!"
"The troopers! Señor, you must go at once!"
"Captain Ramon leads. I hate him—and I fear him."
"Have no fear of Ramon. My soul's in arms and eager to serve you."
"He fled at the first sound of your horses' hoofs!"
"Have you decided to accept my love, señorita? I have waited long for my answer."
"To the speedy capture of Zorro."
"I'll capture him—and I'll make short work of him!"
"Is it not true that Señor Zorro defends the weak?"
"Bah! He should die. He goes about frightening children and insulting women!"
"The troopers!"
Some ten minutes elapse, when—
"We seek the vulture, Zorro!"
"You're too fat, Gonzales. Poison the mountain tops and set your traps in the clouds—perhaps you'll have better luck."
As planned, the Pulidos visit Don Diego's town house during his absence—
"—and all this magnificence is yours when you say the word, my daughter."
Hopeful of saving the small remnant of their possessions, the Pulidos go to the presidio to plead their cause before Captain Ramon—
"The young lady's duenna is absent. It will be better if the señor calls at another time."
"Captain Ramon, your visit at this time is an intrusion."
"Beauty should not be cruel!"
"I demand that you leave—now!"
"The daughter of a man so out of favor with the governor should be more friendly—to the governor's friend."
"Apologize!"
"Adios, señorita."
"I—give you—freely—the kiss he would have taken."
"I fear for your safety, señor."
"Fear not—their wits are as slow as their blades."
"The weapons you use pierce deep, señorita."
When morning came life seemed lovelier to Lolita and romance beat high as she told the tale of Zorro's coming.
"I trust you have been comfortable."
"I am very much fatigued. I spent a wretched night at Fray Felipe's."
"The troopers came there and turned the place topsy-turvy searching for this fellow, Zorro."
"Captain Ramon came here during our absence and forced his attentions upon our daughter!"
"It is an insult, Don Diego, that should be wiped out in blood!"
"So many unpleasant things happen——it is most fatiguing."
"It is a matter for the sword!"
"Don Carlos is so excited—he confuses me. Perhaps you—"
"I think my father has made it sufficiently plain!"
"It was very wrong of Captain Ramon to affront you."
"I think—after my siesta—I shall ride up to the presidio and—rebuke him."
"Have you seen this one?"
"It desolates me that the señorita does not look with favor on my suit. What shall I say to my father?"
"Do not give up hope, caballero."
The governor's cortege arrives in the South—
"All this is my domain and I will be supreme in authority. Let those who oppose me beware—"
OPPRESSION
The good priest, Fray Felipe, is falsely accused of swindling a dealer in hides—
"If I were the supporter of a licentious governor—my hides would have been good. I am a robed Franciscan—therefore I am guilty."
"For the swindle you shall receive five lashes across your bare back——and for your words of treason——ten lashes more."
"More treason! You interfere with the governor's officers in the performance of their duty. His Excellency shall hear of this!"
Caballeros!!
How long will you allow thieving politicians to rob honest men and mistreat natives?
Let those of good blood band together to put down oppression.
"When the night is blackest, leave one of these at the door of every caballero in the pueblo!"
POSADA "EL CAMINO REAL" REFRESCOS
"Call to the magistrado that he is wanted outside!"
"Caballeros, as loyal supporters of my administration, I call upon you to help capture this insolent dog!"
"It's adventure. Let's do it for sport!"
"Don Carlos Pulido is at the bottom of this. He and his family abet this rascal at every turn."
"Arrest them—throw them into jail. I've had quite enough of these blue-blooded Pulidos."
At the home of Don Diego's father—
"Señorita Lolita has refused me."
"We pursue Zorro. Don Diego's servant saw him headed this way."
"I haven't seen him."
"Pardon the intrusion—we'll be on our way."
"You know my cellars, caballeros. I trust you will accept of my hospitality."
"We never let business interfere with our drinking!"
"Señores, you will pardon me if I retire. The journey from the village has fatigued me."
"I am more ashamed of you to-night than ever before."
"I'm sorry, father. Late hours weary me."
"I sent him to Spain to be educated and his blood turned to water."
"You idlers! You wasters! You fashion-plates! You sit and sip your wine while the naked back of an un—protesting soldier of Christ is lashed with the whip!"
"You——who boast the blood of Aragon and the inheritance of Castile——make merry while, all about you, injustice seethes!"
"The heaven-kissed hills of your native California swarm with the sentinels of oppression! Are your pulses dead? Thank God, mine is not—and I pledge you my blood's as noble as the best!"
"No force that tyranny could bring would dare oppose us—once united. Our country's out of joint. It is for us caballeros, and us alone, to set it right!"
"This man speaks true and to his cause I pledge myself——so help me heaven!"
"Justice for all!"
"Good! And now, my friends, for reasons known to me, my name must be my secret. Adios——until we meet again!"
Accused of treason, the Pulidos, under military arrest, are brought to jail—
To-night— At the place you know. Come masked—and ride black horses.
Z
Just before dawn—
"I fear it will help my cause but little to be rescued by you, señor."
"I know your case. Go!"
"You trust me, Señorita?"
"To love is to trust, señor."
"Remember—they are to be taken to Don Alberto's and you are to return to the plaza——pronto! I'll remain in the rear and draw off pursuit."
The troopers, forewarned by Ramon to be on the alert—
The caballeros and their rescued prisoners near the home of Don Alberto—
I AM GOING TO EAT BREAKFAST IN THE VILLAGE. I DARE YOU TO CATCH ME. THIS IS MY LAST WEAPON. Z
"Where is Lolita?"
"I give you a safe rule, good landlady. Never do anything on an empty stomach—but eat!"
"Do not be afraid. Don Diego is my friend."
"Watch for the return of the caballeros!"
"I protest this intrusion!"
"So there you are. Where is your lover?"
"I protest—"
"You couldn't win this woman for yourself——and your house is a rendezvous for her and her bandit lover!"
"I know that blade!"
"Get to your feet. This time you'll wear your mark where all can see!"
"ZORRO!!"
"Zorro!"
"Zorro—my son!"
"It's Zorro!"
"Here your abuse of power ends. Every Californian of noble blood stands with me—"
"Wha—what shall I do?"
"Abdicate—get out of the country—and take this skunk with you!"
"Justice for all!"
"I'm with you—and I'll cut the ears off any soldier of mine who isn't!"
"Till I need you again!"
"You talk—you fight—you look like Zorro!"
"And I love like Zorro—"
"Have you seen this one?"
THE END COPYRIGHT 1920 DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS PICTURES CORPORATION
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1948, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 75 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse