Overview
A masked hero rises to challenge tyranny and win the heart of his beloved.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- gallant
- adventurous
- classic movie night
- swordplay marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as lively, exciting, and well cast, while acknowledging that its masked-hero formula feels less fresh than earlier versions.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Don Diego performs as a useless fop while secretly acting as the masked Zorro.
Zorro’s black costume and public exploits oppose the dictatorship governing California.
Lolita is disappointed by Don Diego’s apparent effeminacy while unaware of his heroic identity.
The film foregrounds Zorro’s nimble fencing and theatrical duels as signature spectacle.
Films like The Mark of Zorro, and why
The Adventures of Robin Hood
shared masked vigilante premise, swordplay, romantic adventure, and theatrical classic-Hollywood style
The Scarlet Pimpernel
shared 19th-century swashbuckling action, gallant heroism, romance, and colorful costume spectacle
The Prisoner of Zenda
shared disguised aristocratic hero, comic double identity, sword fights, and anti-tyranny adventure
Movie Details
- Director
- Rouben Mamoulian
- Release Date
- 1940-11-08
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (240)
Cast
- Tyrone Power
- Linda Darnell
- Basil Rathbone
- Gale Sondergaard
- Eugene Pallette
- J. Edward Bromberg
- Montagu Love
- Janet Beecher
- George Regas
- Chris-Pin Martin
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Mark of Zorro about?
- A returning California nobleman hides behind a comic fop persona while becoming the masked swordsman who defies a cruel governor and wins back his place in Lolita’s heart.
- What is The Mark of Zorro like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Mark of Zorro as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Mark of Zorro violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Mark of Zorro as mild.
- What did critics think of The Mark of Zorro?
- Critics broadly regard the film as lively, exciting, and well cast, while acknowledging that its masked-hero formula feels less fresh than earlier versions.
- Which films are like The Mark of Zorro?
- Films with a similar feel include The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Prisoner of Zenda.
- How long is The Mark of Zorro?
- The Mark of Zorro runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Mark of Zorro?
- In United States, The Mark of Zorro is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
