The Mask of Zorro: Difference between revisions
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Diego makes peace with Alejandro before dying, passing the mantle of Zorro to him, and gives his blessings for Alejandro's and Eléna's prospective marriage. Alejandro and Eléna are married. They then re-build the De La Vega house and have a son named Joaquin, honoring Alejandro's brother. |
Diego makes peace with Alejandro before dying, passing the mantle of Zorro to him, and gives his blessings for Alejandro's and Eléna's prospective marriage. Alejandro and Eléna are married. They then re-build the De La Vega house and have a son named Joaquin, honoring Alejandro's brother. |
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====Undressing of Eléna scene==== |
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[[Image:Maskofzorro2.jpg|thumb|right|350px|In the film's most famous scene, Eléna is undressed by Zorro following their duel.]] |
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The one moment that captured all the advertising and viewer's attention: When Eléna ([[Catherine Zeta-Jones]]) is undressed by the slashing sword of Mexican thief Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro ([[Antonio Banderas]]).<ref>{{cite web | last = Dirks | first = Tim | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = "Best and Most Memorable Film Kisses of All Time in Cinematic History" | work = | publisher = ''[[Filmsite.org]]'' | date = | url = http://www.filmsite.org/filmkisses10.html | doi = | accessdate = 2008-03-13}}</ref><ref>In order to accomplish the effect of [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]]'s dress falling off from being sliced up by Antonio Banderas, a thin wire was attached to the dress to yank it off when the director called "action". In the film, it is quite obvious that the dress is being torn off by a wire rather than simply falling off by itself. Additionally, the back of Zeta-Jones's dress opens, which causes the upper half to fall, exposing her upper body, and then her skirt crumbling. Note that the actress tried to cover for this movement by moving her arms slightly to suggest the fragility of the mutilated dress. Furthermore, after being undressed by Banderas, Zeta-Jones is seen wearing a kind of long underwear, colored a light blue, that covers her below her hips. In the next long shot where she is covering her [[breast]]s with Banderas's hat, her "underwear" changes in style, coloring and fabric. '''Source:''' {{cite web | title = "Goofs" of ''The Mask of Zorro'' | publisher = ''[[IMDB]]'' | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120746/goofs | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-03-13 }}</ref> The scene has been called one of the most erotic film moments of the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web | last = Dirks | first = Tim | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = "SEXUAL or EROTIC FILMS" | work = | publisher = ''[[Filmsite.org]]'' | date = | url = http://www.filmsite.org/sexualfilms8.html | doi = | accessdate = 2008-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Dirks | first = Tim | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = "GREAT MOMENTS and SCENES FROM THE GREATEST FILMS" | work = | publisher = ''[[Filmsite.org]]'' | date = | url = http://www.filmsite.org/scenes26.html | doi = | accessdate = 2008-03-13 }}</ref> In fact, both Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas have admitted to [[sexual arousal]] during the filming of this scene,<ref name="sexiest">[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0799895/ "Sexiest..."] ([[2006]]) - "[[E!]]". ''[[IMDB]]''.</ref> Banderas being aroused by Zeta-Jones's beauty,<ref name="sexiest"/> and Zeta-Jones being aroused by the very fact that Banderas could strip her by using only his sword and not his hands.<ref name="sexiest"/> |
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==Main cast== |
==Main cast== |
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Revision as of 18:00, 2 August 2010
| The Mask of Zorro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Martin Campbell |
| Written by | Screenplay: John Eskow Ted Elliott Terry Rossio Story: Ted Elliott Terry Rossio Randall Jahnson Characters: Johnston McCulley |
| Produced by | David Foster Doug Claybourne Executive Producers: Steven Spielberg Walter F. Parkes |
| Starring | Antonio Banderas Anthony Hopkins Catherine Zeta-Jones Stuart Wilson Matt Letscher |
| Cinematography | Phil Meheux |
| Edited by | Thom Noble |
| Music by | James Horner |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | TriStar Pictures (Sony Pictures) |
Release date | July 17, 1998 |
Running time | 136 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $95 million |
| Box office | $250,288,523 |
The Mask of Zorro is a 1998 swashbuckler film directed by Martin Campbell, and stars Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Stuart Wilson. In over 80 years since the creation of the Spanish masked swordsman, Banderas was the first Spanish actor to ever portray Zorro, who is called a Californio from Las Californias. Hopkins portrayed the original Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega who was popularized by Guy Williams on the Disney TV series of the same name.
This epic, filmed in Mexico and Orlando, Florida, was a critical and financial success. The Legend of Zorro, a sequel also starring Banderas, Zeta-Jones and directed by Campbell, was released in 2005.
Plot
In 1821, the Mexican Army is on the verge of liberating its country from Spanish colonial rule. In Las Californias the ruthless Spanish Governor, Don Rafael Montero, is about to be overthrown. In a final effort to trap his nemesis, the masked swordsman Zorro (Anthony Hopkins), Montero prepares to execute three innocent townspeople. With assistance from two orphan brothers, Joaquin and Alejandro Murrieta, Zorro releases the prisoners. Zorro rewards the Murrieta brothers with a medallion he wears, and escapes on his horse, Toronado, after cutting a "Z" into Montero's neck as a warning.
Montero deduces that Zorro is really Don Diego de la Vega, a Spanish nobleman married to Esperanza, the woman Montero loved. Attempting to arrest Diego, a fight ensues. Esperanza is killed while trying to protect Diego. Diego's house is burned and his infant daughter, Eléna, is taken by Montero to be raised as his own. Diego is imprisoned.
Twenty years later Montero returns to California, looking for Diego in the old prison. Although de La Vega is there, Montero does not recognize him, while several prisoners claim to be Zorro. Diego escapes, intent on killing Montero at a public ceremony for Montero's return. Diego restrains himself when he sees Eléna (Catherine Zeta-Jones), now a beautiful young lady. Eléna is presented with a bouquet of flowers - Romagnas, native to California - the scent of which she recognizes, although she believes she has never been to California.
Diego encounters an adult Alejandro Murrieta (Antonio Banderas), whom he recognizes by the medal he awarded Joaquin. Alejandro is bitter over the capture of his mentor, bandit Three-Fingered Jack (L. Q. Jones), and the murder of Joaquin by Texian Army Captain Harrison Love, Montero's commander-in-chief. Diego takes Alejandro as his apprentice, in order to succeed him.
After some training, Alejandro dons a makeshift costume and clumsily steals a black stallion resembling Toronado, Diego's former steed. Alejandro encounters Eléna. Escaping from Love, Alejandro seeks refuge in a church with the assistance of the town priest and Diego's old friend, Father Felipe. Alejandro hides in the confessional, where Eléna unwittingly reveals her infatuation with the mysterious "bandit" she has just met.
Diego scolds Alejandro, claiming that Zorro was a servant of the people, not a thief and adventurer. Diego rebuffs a challenge by Alejandro, instructing him that to gain Montero's trust, Alejandro must convince Montero that he is "a gentleman of stature". Posing as visiting nobleman Don Alejandro del Castillo y García, with Diego as his servant, Alejandro attends a party at Montero's hacienda, where he gains Eléna's admiration and enough of Montero's trust to be invited to a secret meeting. Montero hints at a plan to retake California for the Dons by buying it from General Santa Anna, who needs money to fund his war with the United States.
Alejandro and the Dons are taken to a secret gold mine known as "El Dorado", where peasants and criminals are used as slave labor. Montero plans to buy California from Santa Anna using gold mined from Santa Anna's own land. Three-Fingered Jack, now a slave, attacks the noblemen and is killed by Love. Diego uses this opportunity to become closer to Eléna, though he identifies himself as "Bernardo" the servant, learning that Montero told Eléna that her mother died in childbirth. While walking in a market, Eléna meets the woman who was her nanny.
Diego sends Alejandro, dressed as Zorro, to steal the map leading to the gold mine from Montero's hacienda. Zorro duels Montero, Love and their guards. As he escapes he is confronted by Eléna, who attempts to retrieve Montero's map. Zorro defeats her, then playfully cuts off her bodice, leaving her in nothing but her underwear. After a passionate kiss, Zorro flees. Terrified of Santa Anna's retribution if he discovers that he is being paid with his own gold, Montero and Love decide to destroy the mine and kill the workers.
Diego tells Alejandro to release the workers on his own so that he can reclaim Eléna. Alejandro sets off, feeling betrayed by Diego's vendetta. Diego corners Montero at the hacienda and reveals his identity. Montero captures Diego after threatening to kill him in front of Eléna. As he is taken away, Diego tells Eléna the name of the flowers she recognized upon her arrival in California, convincing her that Diego is her father. She releases Diego from his cell and they proceed to the mine.
Zorro prevents Love from loading gold onto a wagon to be taken from the mine and engages him in a duel. Diego prevents Montero from shooting Zorro and they also duel. After disarming Montero, Eléna appeals for Diego to spare Montero's life. Montero threatens Eléna and mortally wounds Diego before Diego defeats him by having a gold-laden wagon drag Montero off a cliff, crushing Love in the process. Eléna and Alejandro free the workers before the explosives go off.
Diego makes peace with Alejandro before dying, passing the mantle of Zorro to him, and gives his blessings for Alejandro's and Eléna's prospective marriage. Alejandro and Eléna are married. They then re-build the De La Vega house and have a son named Joaquin, honoring Alejandro's brother.
Main cast
| Character | Actor/Actress |
|---|---|
| Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro | Antonio Banderas |
| Don Diego De La Vega/Zorro | Anthony Hopkins |
| Eléna (De La Vega) Montero | Catherine Zeta-Jones |
| Don Rafael Montero | Stuart Wilson |
| Captain Harrison Love | Matt Letscher |
| Don Luiz | Tony Amendola |
| Don Pedro | Pedro Armendáriz, Jr. |
| Three-fingered Jack | L.Q. Jones |
| Joaquin Murrieta | Victor Rivers |
| Father Felipe | William Marquez |
| Corporal Armando Garcia | Jose Perez |
Historical and cultural references
 | This section possibly contains original research. (July 2010) |
The Mask of Zorro and its sequel The Legend of Zorro, originates from the book The Curse of Capistrano. Like the book, it weaves several historical figures and incidents into its narrative. Alejandro is the fictional brother of Joaquin Murrieta, a Mexican outlaw killed by California State Ranger Harry Love, portrayed here as Texas Army Captain "Harrison Love", in 1853. (The film takes place more than a decade earlier,in 1841.) In the movie, Love shoots Murrieta with a Colt Texas Paterson long-barrelled revolver, which were in use after 1836. Similarly, there is a character called Three Fingered Jack although the real person was a Mexican named Manuel Garcia rather than an Anglo-American. As he did in the movie, the actual Harry Love preserved Murrieta's head and Garcia's hand in large, alcohol-filled, glass jars, though in reality, he went on to display the remains in an exhibition that toured California. The opening sequence is set during the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence, and a war between the United States and Mexico is alluded to. Too early to be the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848, this may refer to the Republic of Texas' continual conflicts with Mexico.
Alejandro tells Montero that he came to California via Paris, Lisbon, and San Francisco, though in 1841, San Francisco was still Yerba Buena. (The name change didn't occur until January 1847.) An original ending on the DVD includes an appearance by Antonio López de Santa Anna, who appears familiar with the Zorro legend, and Montero's plot concerning Californian gold (and its climactic concealment) foreshadows the California Gold Rush.
Diego uses the name Bernardo when posing as the new Zorro's servant. In the previous Zorro stories, Diego had a mute servant named Bernardo. Both Zorros conceal their costume under a priest's robes, a tactic used in numerous Zorro-related works. Diego's hacienda has a secret passage in a walk-in fireplace, which has also appeared in previous films. Esperanza de la Vega, Diego's wife, is not Lolita Pulido, the first woman he married.
The Zorro silhouette that bookends the film, as well as the action-packed opening scene, recall popular James Bond film structures. (The Mask of Zorro's director Campbell had directed 1995's GoldenEye, the first Bond film starring Pierce Brosnan, and would later direct 2006's Casino Royale, the first to star Daniel Craig; Campbell performed a similar service for Antonio Banderas in this film.)
Reception
Critical reaction to The Mask of Zorro has been mostly positive. The film currently holds an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes[1] and a rating of 63 out of 100 on Metacritic[2].
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times praised the film, awarding it three stars (out of four) and calling it "a display of traditional movie craftsmanship, especially at the level of the screenplay, which respects the characters and story and doesn't simply use them for dialogue breaks between action sequences."[3] Ebert later called The Mask of Zorro "probably the best Zorro movie ever made."[4]
James Berardinelli of ReelViews gave the film three and a half stars, saying that it features "a great deal of excitement and adventure, all brought to the screen by using a somewhat irreverent tone that keeps the mood light without trivializing the characters."[5] Todd McCarthy of Variety said that "the return of the legendary swordsman is well served by a grandly mounted production in the classical style."[6]
Scott Tobias of The Onion's A.V. Club said The Mask of Zorro "delivers the goods", "coasting on the charisma of its stars and a few exciting action setpieces".[7] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times said that the film is "the kind of pleasant entertainment that allows the paying customers to have as much fun as the people on screen."[8]
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave The Mask of Zorro a lukewarm review, calling it a "lavishly produced swashbuckler" but felt that it "should have been far more entertaining."[9] Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune agreed, saying that the film is "spectacular, fast, [and] never boring, [but] also one of the more disappointing movies I've seen recently."[10]
The movie was enthusiastically received in Wales, which is the home country of both Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones, their respective places of birth being less than 10 miles apart.
The Mask of Zorro did very well at the box-office, grossing $250,288,523 worldwide.[11]
Court case
Following the success of this film an action-adventure television series made by Fireworks Entertainment called Queen of Swords, set in Spanish California during the early 19th century ran for one season, from 2000 to 2001. It featured a protagonist who demonstrates many aspects of the Zorro character, including the black costume with a red sash, the swordfighting skills of the rapier and dagger in the Spanish mysterious circle (Destreza) style [12], the dagger in the boot, use of a whip, a gypsy servant (also a woman), and horse riding skills. Filmed at Texas Hollywood, Almeria, Spain. Sony Pictures unsuccessfully sued Fireworks Entertainment, a summary of the case is here[13], because the elements used from the original story and 1920 film The Mark of Zorro were out of copyright and a more detailed case review comparing characters and scenarios from The Mask of Zorro and the tv series is here [14]
References
- ^ The Mask of Zorro, Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ Mask of Zorro, The (1998): Reviews, Metacritic
- ^ The Mask of Zorro review, Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, July 17, 1998
- ^ The Legend of Zorro review, Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, October 28, 2005
- ^ The Mask of Zorro review, James Berardinelli, ReelViews, 1998
- ^ The Mask of Zorro review, Todd McCarthy, Variety
- ^ The Mask of Zorro review, Scott Tobias, The A.V. Club, March 29th, 2002
- ^ The Mask of Zorro review, Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
- ^ The Mask of Zorro review, Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
- ^ The Mask of Zorro review, Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
- ^ [1]
- ^ retrieved March 9, 2010
- ^ Retrieved November 15, 2009
- ^ Sony Pictures v Fireworks
