His ready grin, boundless vitality, and graceful acrobatic style can not be duplicated. In this film Douglas Fairbanks plays the roles of two separate and very different characters. The first character is a man by the name of Don Diego, who turns out to really be the bandit in disguise- Zorro. Don Diego has returned to California after studying for some time in Spain. In returning he sees that in old Spanish California, the colonial government is oppressing his people.
Oppression creates the power that crushes it.
Out of this oppression therefore came Zorro, a Robin-hood like character. He believes in justice for all and will fight until he gets just that. As Don Diego, Fairbanks is insecure, timid, wearied, a dry comedian even dorky, and not a ladies man. Whereas as Zorro, Fairbanks is the complete opposite. Zorro is secure, confidant even to the point of cocky, a lover even a poet, and of noble blood.