40 Films in Robotech: The Mark of Zorro (1920)
ROBOTECH MENTION:
Jack McKinney loaded the 1987 Robotech book Metamorphosis with oodles of film references. In this little bit, McKinney has New Generation resistance fighter Lancer defending his flair while fighting by referencing Zorro…
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| Excerpt From Jack McKinney’s novelization of Metamorphosis – page 82. |
IMDB.com's synopsis: “A seemingly idiotic fop is really the courageous vigilante Zorro, who seeks to protect the oppressed.”
National Film Preservation Board awarded The Mark of Zorro National Film Registry in 2015.
OTHER COOL FACTS:
In his #classicfilmreading book American Silent Film (1998), William K. Everson explains how The Mark of Zorro was a turning point for Hollywood screen legend Douglas Fairbanks. Everson writes: “…The overall trend was toward melodrama and action, with themes of Americana forming a prolific back-up group…because 1920 was, for many filmmakers, a year of transition. It was the year in which, for example, Fairbanks made The Mark of Zorro, the enormous success of which caused him to abandon his popular modern acrobatic comedies and concentrate fully on elaborate swashbucklers.” (pgs. 155-156)
ROBOTECH REASON:
McKinney’s “Lancer defends theatrics” passage is perfect. As a kid, I was confused by the unnecessary flair of Lancer – attaching a flower to a bomb and whatnot. In light of The Mark of Zorro, everything – especially the flower – makes sense.
To read my ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ (out of a possible 5 star) rating for The Mark of Zorro on Letterboxd, click here.
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