Hal Roach Studios, Film Classics.
It has been written that Zorro's Fighting Legion was produced near the end of the "Golden Age" of motion picture Chapterplays. If that post-Flash Gordon concept is true, it was most certainly a long, lingering twilight at the legendary Republic Pictures. For this second entry in the Zorro series was followed in quick succession by the seminal Adventures of Captain Marvel, Mysterious Dr. Satan, Spy Smasher, Perils of Nyoka, The Masked Marvel, Captain America, The Purple Monster Strikes, The Crimson Ghost and, ultimately, King of the Rocketmen.
It was late in 1939 that all the best of the then-famous Republic story-lines and production values had been fully set in place, and in the case of this exciting Zorro adventure, had achieved the added cachet of a lavishly appropriate score brilliantly composed and orchestrated by William Lava. And, thanks to Lava, this Zorro featured the only Republic Serial theme to be graced by lyrics, sung by the riding Legionnaires.
All the best Republic Serials shared one common set-up: A group of men meeting around a table battling a mysterious enemy. However one of those assembled men unfailingly IS that enemy, whether garbed in a suit and hat as the Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island, or in full costume drag as was The Scorpion, The Crimson Ghost, Dr. Vulcan, or, as in the case of Zorro's Fighting Legion, the golden armor of the dreaded Yaqui Indian God of Legend, Don del Oro - the God of Gold!
Mexico has just won its independence from Spain, and President Juarez depends on a steady flow of gold ore from the mines of San Mendolito to establish the credit of the fledgling nation. Don del Oro and his henchmen are determined to hijack the gold - with the aide of the Indians (worshiping their newly-resurrected "God"). But Don Diego as Zorro, with his loyal Legionnaires, have other patriotic ideas. The unmasking scene at the end of Chapter 12 is itself worth the price of admission to see Zorro's Fighting Legion.
Details
Length 3 hrs. 32 mins.
Rating NR
Released: Jul 29 2003
Production Year 1939
UPC Code 014381946321
Studio Image Ent.
Packaging Keep
Number of Discs 1
Disc SS-SL
Features
Includes Six Original Republic Serial "Trailers"
Audio
English Dolby Digital Stereo
Video
Standard 1.33:1 B&W
Cast
Sheila D'Arcy
C. Montague Shaw
Reed Hadley