The Mark of Zorro (6 page)
Authors: JOHNSTON MCCULLEY
Comic book versions of Zorro had been published in France since 1939, and others appeared in Italy and the Netherlands.
55
In 1993, Topps Comics began a series written by Don McGregor and illustrated by various artists, who said that they loved drawing Zorro because of the acrobatics the character performed and the chiaroscuro of the nocturnal scenes. The opening episode ran parallel stories of Zorro and Dracula and then brought them into deadly conflict climaxed by a combat in Notre Dame cathedral, at the end of which Napoleon Bonaparte resurrects the defeated Dracula. There are also Zorro graphic novels.
55
In 1993, Topps Comics began a series written by Don McGregor and illustrated by various artists, who said that they loved drawing Zorro because of the acrobatics the character performed and the chiaroscuro of the nocturnal scenes. The opening episode ran parallel stories of Zorro and Dracula and then brought them into deadly conflict climaxed by a combat in Notre Dame cathedral, at the end of which Napoleon Bonaparte resurrects the defeated Dracula. There are also Zorro graphic novels.
Throughout the summer of 1994, Los Angeles' Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum mounted an extensive exhibit called
The Mask of Zorro: Mexican-Americans in Popular
Media, accompanied by a booklet of that title. Two years later, the Arts and Entertainment network telecast an hour-long
Zorro
on its biography series. The rest of the decade saw another animated TV series, a Zorro play for children and another for adults, and two Zorro musicalsâone in Mexico City, another in Londonâand a BBC radio series based on the original novel, all of them well received both by critics and audiences.
56
According to Isabel Allende, sixty-four percent of people in China know about Zorro, as do ninety-seven percent of those in Germany.
57
Dozens of Japanese samurai films feature Zatoichi, a blind swordsman who slashes Zs on his enemies. A confused student wrote that Zoroastrianism is a religion that worships Zorro. On the Internet, looking for Zorro on any search engine will bring up Web sites within Web sites within Web sites. Were he alive today, McCulley might repeat the words of Lew Wallace after
Ben-Hur
became a hit play around the world: “My God! Did I set all this in motion?”
The Mask of Zorro: Mexican-Americans in Popular
Media, accompanied by a booklet of that title. Two years later, the Arts and Entertainment network telecast an hour-long
Zorro
on its biography series. The rest of the decade saw another animated TV series, a Zorro play for children and another for adults, and two Zorro musicalsâone in Mexico City, another in Londonâand a BBC radio series based on the original novel, all of them well received both by critics and audiences.
56
According to Isabel Allende, sixty-four percent of people in China know about Zorro, as do ninety-seven percent of those in Germany.
57
Dozens of Japanese samurai films feature Zatoichi, a blind swordsman who slashes Zs on his enemies. A confused student wrote that Zoroastrianism is a religion that worships Zorro. On the Internet, looking for Zorro on any search engine will bring up Web sites within Web sites within Web sites. Were he alive today, McCulley might repeat the words of Lew Wallace after
Ben-Hur
became a hit play around the world: “My God! Did I set all this in motion?”
Zorro, the Gay Blade,
is dedicated to Rouben Mamoulian and the other filmmakers, “Whose past gives us our future.” Film has given us a contemporary mythology, a constantly changing and evolving frame of reference.
Shrek 2,
on the face of it light-years from
Zorro,
has Antonio Banderas as the voice of Puss in Boots, a dual-identity cat (harmless, adorable kitten and demonic swordsman) with a Spanish accent. Announcing himself with a P slashed on a tree with the three traditional strokes, he joins Shrek and Donkey on their quest, as a point of honor: Shrek has saved his life. Obviously, the entire audience is expected toâand doesâget the allusion. Zorro, in unexpected guises, rides again tonight.
NOTESis dedicated to Rouben Mamoulian and the other filmmakers, “Whose past gives us our future.” Film has given us a contemporary mythology, a constantly changing and evolving frame of reference.
Shrek 2,
on the face of it light-years from
Zorro,
has Antonio Banderas as the voice of Puss in Boots, a dual-identity cat (harmless, adorable kitten and demonic swordsman) with a Spanish accent. Announcing himself with a P slashed on a tree with the three traditional strokes, he joins Shrek and Donkey on their quest, as a point of honor: Shrek has saved his life. Obviously, the entire audience is expected toâand doesâget the allusion. Zorro, in unexpected guises, rides again tonight.
1
Respectable authors included Louisa May Alcott, who “responded to the specific request from a Boston publisher of pulp fiction, James R. Elliott, for a novel of twenty-four chapters in which each second chapter would be so âabsorbingly interesting that the reader would be impatient for the next.”' (Kent Bicknell, ed., “The Genesis of
A Long Fatal Love Chase,
” in A
Long Fatal Love Chase,
Louisa May Alcott. New York: Dell Books, 1997, p. 348.) McCulley's opening chapters follow this advice, quite probably standard for pulp fiction.
Respectable authors included Louisa May Alcott, who “responded to the specific request from a Boston publisher of pulp fiction, James R. Elliott, for a novel of twenty-four chapters in which each second chapter would be so âabsorbingly interesting that the reader would be impatient for the next.”' (Kent Bicknell, ed., “The Genesis of
A Long Fatal Love Chase,
” in A
Long Fatal Love Chase,
Louisa May Alcott. New York: Dell Books, 1997, p. 348.) McCulley's opening chapters follow this advice, quite probably standard for pulp fiction.
2
Isabel Allende, telephone interview by authors, August 16, 2004.
Isabel Allende, telephone interview by authors, August 16, 2004.
3
Imagine
The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath,
and
Elmer
Gantry with the titles their authors originally contemplated for
them-Trimalchio in West Egg, L'Affaire Lettuceville,
and
Myron Mellish.
Imagine
The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath,
and
Elmer
Gantry with the titles their authors originally contemplated for
them-Trimalchio in West Egg, L'Affaire Lettuceville,
and
Myron Mellish.
5
Bob Kane and Tom Andrae,
Batman and Me, An Autobiography
(Forestville, Calif.: Eclipse Books, 1989), pp. 1, 37-38.
Bob Kane and Tom Andrae,
Batman and Me, An Autobiography
(Forestville, Calif.: Eclipse Books, 1989), pp. 1, 37-38.
8
See Lisbeth Haas, Conquests and Historical Identities in California, 1769-1936 (Berkeley: University of California Press 1995), pp. 29-32. To further confuse the concept of “pure” blood, as Hass explains, “White” lineage could be purchased from the crown with gold or other goods through a decree called
gracias al sacar
(thanks to be taken out, removed, or freed).
See Lisbeth Haas, Conquests and Historical Identities in California, 1769-1936 (Berkeley: University of California Press 1995), pp. 29-32. To further confuse the concept of “pure” blood, as Hass explains, “White” lineage could be purchased from the crown with gold or other goods through a decree called
gracias al sacar
(thanks to be taken out, removed, or freed).
9
Johnson McCulley, “Zorro Draws His Blade,” in
Zorro: The Masters Edition,
vol. 1, (Madison, Wisconsin: Pulp Adventures, Inc), p.100.
Johnson McCulley, “Zorro Draws His Blade,” in
Zorro: The Masters Edition,
vol. 1, (Madison, Wisconsin: Pulp Adventures, Inc), p.100.
12
Ibid., p. 6.
Ibid., p. 6.
13
Ibid., p. 92.
Ibid., p. 92.
14
McCulley, “Zorro Draws His Blade,” p. 106.
McCulley, “Zorro Draws His Blade,” p. 106.
17
Ibid., p. 47.
Ibid., p. 47.
18
Peonage could be legally imposed for indebtedness, but in practice the debtors were often illegally pressed into service. The relationship between padron and peons was semifeudal, often paternalistic but also little better than slavery.
Peonage could be legally imposed for indebtedness, but in practice the debtors were often illegally pressed into service. The relationship between padron and peons was semifeudal, often paternalistic but also little better than slavery.
20
Ibid., p. 50.
Ibid., p. 50.
21
Ibid., p. 206.
Ibid., p. 206.
22
Carey McWilliams,
North from Mexico: The Spanish-Speaking People of the United States
(New York: Greenwood Press, 1968), pp. 35 ff.
Carey McWilliams,
North from Mexico: The Spanish-Speaking People of the United States
(New York: Greenwood Press, 1968), pp. 35 ff.
23
Laurence A. Hill,
La Reina: Los Angeles in Three Centuries
(Los Angeles: Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles, 1931), p. 29.
Laurence A. Hill,
La Reina: Los Angeles in Three Centuries
(Los Angeles: Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles, 1931), p. 29.
24
McWilliams, North from Mexico, pp. 133-161.
McWilliams, North from Mexico, pp. 133-161.
26
McWilliams,
North from Mexico,
pp. 129-131; Andrew Rolle,
California,
a
History
(Wheeling, Illinois: Harlan David-son, 2003), p. 126.
McWilliams,
North from Mexico,
pp. 129-131; Andrew Rolle,
California,
a
History
(Wheeling, Illinois: Harlan David-son, 2003), p. 126.
28
Carey McWilliams,
Southern California Country
(Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press, 1970) p. 82.
Carey McWilliams,
Southern California Country
(Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press, 1970) p. 82.
29
Ibid., p. 75.
Ibid., p. 75.
30
William Deverell, Whitewashed
Adobe:
The Rise of Los
Angeles and the remarking of the Mexican past
(Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004), p. 77.
William Deverell, Whitewashed
Adobe:
The Rise of Los
Angeles and the remarking of the Mexican past
(Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004), p. 77.
31
Ibid., pp. 129-171.
Ibid., pp. 129-171.
35
McGoarty, pp. 7-8, 10.
McGoarty, pp. 7-8, 10.
37
James Robert Parish and Don E. Stanke,
The Swashbucklers
(New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House, 1976), p. 184.
James Robert Parish and Don E. Stanke,
The Swashbucklers
(New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House, 1976), p. 184.
38
Program for
The Mission Play,
1924, Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont, California.
Program for
The Mission Play,
1924, Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont, California.
39
Isabel Allende, telephone interview by authors, August 16, 2004.
Isabel Allende, telephone interview by authors, August 16, 2004.
40
In fact, a film, romanticizing Murrieta as to characterization but quite accurate on the oppressive effect of the Anglos coming down from the North and the gold fields, was called The Robin Hood of El Dorado (1936), directed by William Well-man, with Warner Baxter as Murrieta.
In fact, a film, romanticizing Murrieta as to characterization but quite accurate on the oppressive effect of the Anglos coming down from the North and the gold fields, was called The Robin Hood of El Dorado (1936), directed by William Well-man, with Warner Baxter as Murrieta.
41
D. H. Lawrence, Studies in Classic American Literature, in Edmund Wilson, Ed.,
The Shock of Recognition
(New York: The Modern Library, 1955), p. 965.
D. H. Lawrence, Studies in Classic American Literature, in Edmund Wilson, Ed.,
The Shock of Recognition
(New York: The Modern Library, 1955), p. 965.
42
For
hortus conclusus,
see John Dixon Hunt,
The Figure in the Landscape
(Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1976, 1989).
For
hortus conclusus,
see John Dixon Hunt,
The Figure in the Landscape
(Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1976, 1989).
43
Warren A. Beck and David A. Williams,
California, A History of the Golden State
(Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1972), p. 60.
Warren A. Beck and David A. Williams,
California, A History of the Golden State
(Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1972), p. 60.
44
Dennis Belafonte with Alvin H. Marill,
The Films of Tyrone
Power (Secaucus, N.J.: The Citadel Press, 1979), p. 111.
Dennis Belafonte with Alvin H. Marill,
The Films of Tyrone
Power (Secaucus, N.J.: The Citadel Press, 1979), p. 111.
47
Ibid., p. 181.
Ibid., p. 181.
48
Ibid., pp. 182-184.
Ibid., pp. 182-184.
50
Ibid.
Ibid.
51
Produced at El Teatro Campesino, Los Angeles, 1982; Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, June, 1994.
Produced at El Teatro Campesino, Los Angeles, 1982; Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, June, 1994.
54
Ibid., p. 240.
Ibid., p. 240.
56
Curtis, pp. 241-242.
Curtis, pp. 241-242.
57
Isabel Allende, telephone interview by authors, August 16, 2004.
WORKS CITED IN THE INTRODUCTIONIsabel Allende, telephone interview by authors, August 16, 2004.
Allende, Isabel. Telephone interview by author, August 16, 2004.
Austin, Wade. “Johnston McCulley.” In
Twentieth-Century Western writers
, ed. James Vinson. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1982.
Twentieth-Century Western writers
, ed. James Vinson. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1982.
Beck, Warren A., and David A. Williams. California, A History of the Golden State. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1972.
Belafonte, Dennis, with Alvin H. Marill. The Films
of Tyrone Power.
Secaucus, N.J.: The Citadel Press, 1979.
of Tyrone Power.
Secaucus, N.J.: The Citadel Press, 1979.
Berg, Charles Ramirez.
Latino Images in Film: Stereotypes, Subversion
,
&
Resistance. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2002.
Latino Images in Film: Stereotypes, Subversion
,
&
Resistance. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2002.
Berumen, Frank Javier Garcia.
The Chicano/Hispanic
Image in
American Film.
New York: Vantage Press, 1995.
The Chicano/Hispanic
Image in
American Film.
New York: Vantage Press, 1995.
The Bronze Screen:
100
Years of the Latino Image in Hollywood.
Dir. Susan Rancho and Alberto Dominguez, 120 min., Questar Inc., DVD.
100
Years of the Latino Image in Hollywood.
Dir. Susan Rancho and Alberto Dominguez, 120 min., Questar Inc., DVD.
Curtis, Sandra.
Zorro Unmasked.
New York: Hyperion, 1998.
Zorro Unmasked.
New York: Hyperion, 1998.
Deverell, William.
Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles and the Remaking of Its Mexican Past.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004.
Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles and the Remaking of Its Mexican Past.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004.
Haas, Lisbeth.
Conquests and Historical Identities in California
1769-1936. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1995.
Conquests and Historical Identities in California
1769-1936. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1995.
Hill, Laurence L.
La Reina: Los Angeles in Three Centuries.
Los Angeles: Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles, 1931.
La Reina: Los Angeles in Three Centuries.
Los Angeles: Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles, 1931.
Kane, Bob, and Tom Andrae.
Batman and Me, An Autobiography.
Forestville, Calif.: Eclipse Books, 1989.
Batman and Me, An Autobiography.
Forestville, Calif.: Eclipse Books, 1989.
The Mask of Zorro: Mexican Americans in Popular Media.
Los Angeles: Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, 1994.
Los Angeles: Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, 1994.
McCulley, Johnston. The Black Star. Holcong, Penn.: Wildside Press, 2003.
â.
The
Caballero. New York: Samuel Curl, Inc., 1947.
The
Caballero. New York: Samuel Curl, Inc., 1947.
â. Captain Fly-by-Night.
New York: G. Howard Watt, 1926.
New York: G. Howard Watt, 1926.
â.
Señor Avalanche.
New York: Arcadia House, 1946.
Señor Avalanche.
New York: Arcadia House, 1946.
â. The Sword of Zorro.
New York: L. Harper Allen, 1928.
New York: L. Harper Allen, 1928.
â.
Zorro
:
The Masters Edition,
vol. 1. Madison, Wisconsin: Pulp Adventures, Inc., 2000.
Zorro
:
The Masters Edition,
vol. 1. Madison, Wisconsin: Pulp Adventures, Inc., 2000.
McGroarty, John Steven.
Mission Memories.
Los Angeles: Neuner Corporation, 1929.
Mission Memories.
Los Angeles: Neuner Corporation, 1929.
McWilliams, Carey.
North from Mexico: The Spanish-Speaking People of the United States.
New York: Greenwood Press, 1968.
North from Mexico: The Spanish-Speaking People of the United States.
New York: Greenwood Press, 1968.
â.
Southern California Country.
Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press, 1970.
Southern California Country.
Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press, 1970.
Parish, James Robert, and Don E. Stanke. The Swashbucklers. New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House, 1976.
Pitt, Leonard.
The Decline of the Californios: A Social History of
the
Spanish-Speaking
Californians, 1846-1890. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966.
The Decline of the Californios: A Social History of
the
Spanish-Speaking
Californians, 1846-1890. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966.
Richards, Jeffrey.
Swordsmen of the Screen, from Douglas Fairbanks to Michael York.
London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1977.
Swordsmen of the Screen, from Douglas Fairbanks to Michael York.
London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1977.
Rolle, Andrew.
California, A
History. Wheeling, Ill.: Harlan Davidson, 2003.
California, A
History. Wheeling, Ill.: Harlan Davidson, 2003.
Stedman, Raymond William. The
Serials: Suspense and Drama by Installment.
Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1977.
Serials: Suspense and Drama by Installment.
Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1977.
Valdez, Luis. Zoot
Suit and Other Plays.
Houston, Tex.: Arte Publico Press, 1992.
Suit and Other Plays.
Houston, Tex.: Arte Publico Press, 1992.
Yenne, Bill.
The Legend of Zorro.
Greenwich, Conn.: Brompton Books Corporation, 1991.
The Legend of Zorro.
Greenwich, Conn.: Brompton Books Corporation, 1991.
Suggestions for Further Reading
Curtis, Sandra.
Zorro Unmasked.
New York: Hyperion, 1998.
Zorro Unmasked.
New York: Hyperion, 1998.
Deverell, William.
Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles and the Remaking of the Mexican Past.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004.
Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles and the Remaking of the Mexican Past.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004.
McCulley, Johnston.
The Black Star.
Holcong, Penn.: Wildside Press, 2003.
The Black Star.
Holcong, Penn.: Wildside Press, 2003.
McWilliams, Carey.
North from Mexico: The Spanish-Speaking People of the United States.
New York: Greenwood Press, 1968.
North from Mexico: The Spanish-Speaking People of the United States.
New York: Greenwood Press, 1968.
Yenne, Bill.
The Legend of Zorro.
Greenwich, Conn.: Brompton Books Corporation, 1991.
The Legend of Zorro.
Greenwich, Conn.: Brompton Books Corporation, 1991.
Suggestions for Zorro Films
Douglas Fairbanks's
The Mark of Zorro
and
Don
Q,
Son of
Zorro (both silent) are available on DVD. Also on VHS and DVD are
The Mark of Zorro
(1940) with Tyrone Power,
Zorro, the Gay Blade
(1981), and
The Mask of Zorro
(1998) with Antonio Banderas. Available only on VHS is
The Bold Caballero
(1936).
Zarro's Fighting Legion
is available on DVD. Otherwise out-of-print Zorro films-the Alain Delon Zorro, some Disney Zorro episodes, and two films from
New Word Zorro
âare available from the
Belle and Blade Catalogue,
1-800-365-2104.
The Mark of Zorro
and
Don
Q,
Son of
Zorro (both silent) are available on DVD. Also on VHS and DVD are
The Mark of Zorro
(1940) with Tyrone Power,
Zorro, the Gay Blade
(1981), and
The Mask of Zorro
(1998) with Antonio Banderas. Available only on VHS is
The Bold Caballero
(1936).
Zarro's Fighting Legion
is available on DVD. Otherwise out-of-print Zorro films-the Alain Delon Zorro, some Disney Zorro episodes, and two films from
New Word Zorro
âare available from the
Belle and Blade Catalogue,
1-800-365-2104.
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