Walt Disney's Zorro: The Complete First Season (Colorized)

Walt Disney Treasures: Zorro The Complete First and Second Season(Released November 03, 2009) A typically long DVD Review by Joe Torcivia."Out of the niiiight, when the full moon is briiiight,Comes the horseman known as Zorro!"And, out of the latest wave of Walt Disney Treasures DVDs come two amazing sets - ZORRO: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON 1957-1958 and ZORRO: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON 1958-1959!As is usual with the Walt Disney Treasures sets, there are introductions and much background information courtesy of film historian Leonard Maltin and loads of extras and special features. There is even a "postcard-size lithograph" and collector pin - a different pair packaged in each of the two season sets.But, the true "Treasures" here are the shows themselves and the actors' performances therein - particularly that of series star Guy Williams!Relegated mostly to The Disney Channel in recent decades, ZORRO was neither a large part of my childhood, nor did it ever enter into my adulthood. The last time I can actually remember seeing it was in early evening local syndication in 1965. The same year that Guy Williams would move on to the role I will forever associate him with - Professor John Robinson, of LOST IN SPACE (1965-1968)In LIS, he was the ultimate father figure... the one I wish I had. He was everything famous TV dads Ward Cleaver and Jim Anderson were, but with a laser rifle and spaceship. He'd "teach you life's lessons" while "saving your life" at the same time. ...And he was always there for dinner conversation and needed moments of consolation.As Zorro, I'm learning that he was even more amazing! (I guess he's STILL teaching me things!) His warmth and charm, that only peeked out from time to time (...as he was continually upstaged by kids, robots, "special guest stars", pyrotechnics, aliens, and monsters on LOST IN SPACE), is on complete display in ZORRO.And, was any television star of the time better at sweeping (dare I employ the term "swashbuckling"?) action than Guy Williams? I'd say not! He ran, jumped, rode, and fenced his way into our hearts, our collective consciousness, and television history.But Williams was far more than a mere action hero. As Zorro's alter-ego Don Diego De La Vega, he adopts the personality and mannerisms of a foppish dandy and a man of letters to throw off any suspicion that he is secretly Zorro. He smiles cheerfully at everything, makes pleasant but innocuous small talk (though, often with a deliberate and purposeful undertone) and moves about in a somewhat lithely - but, nonetheless, manly - fashion! Yes, it IS possible to do this, if you are as skilled as Guy Williams.Diego's busying himself with scholarly books, poetry, and song, while eschewing any inclination towards "the active life", fools both his concerned father and scoundrels alike. In one superb moment, he DEMANDS that he be allowed to try on a "black mask and cape", that the local tyrant is forcing upon a line-up of men in order to identify one of them as Zorro.De La Vega's request to don the outfit is dismissed, as the tyrant cannot fathom it possible that one such as he might be Zorro. That's an indicator of the depth of duality that Williams brings to the role of Deigo and Zorro. So effective is this deception, that no one considers that both Deigo and Zorro sport the same moustache!Great as Guy Williams was, the supporting cast was just as large a part of the show's success.Gene Sheldon, as Diego's mute manservant Bernardo, offers repeated moments of inspired pantomime. Bernardo CAN hear (and quite well) but, as Diego poses as an idler, so Bernardo feigns DEAFNESS, and acts as Zorro's eyes AND ears.Henry Calvin is a cartoon-come-to-life as Sgt. Garcia. He is the living embodiment of every large, bulky sidekick ever seen in animation. He's one of those characters you feel for, because he'd like to "do right", but must remain loyal to his commandant. His comedic talents and hangdog delivery, combined with a surprising ability (for one so large - think Oliver Hardy as a mustachioed Spaniard) to pull off unexpected amounts of slapstick humor, never fail to generate laughs.Britt Lomand completes the cast of the first arc (...more on that to follow) as the evil Captain Monastario. He sneers, preens, snarls, and schemes just like all the "Spanish Oppressor" parody villains that animation writer Michael Maltese would create to throw at "El Kabong" - a Zorro-type send-up "masked avenger identity" created for TV's Quick Draw McGraw.Episode Three ("Zorro Rides to the Mission") begins with a hilarious exchange between Garcia and Monastario, in which the former is soundly berated by the latter for his (what will become repeated) failure to capture Zorro. These two actors settle quickly and superbly into their roles of good-natured bumbler and frustrated superior.Oh, yes... "Arcs". One very unique thing about ZORRO is that it apparently unfolds in ARCS, not unlike many modern TV series. Highly unusual for the late 1950s!While each episode has a nominal "ending", Zorro does not "wrap up a case or mission" and begin an entirely new one next week. Instead, there is an overall story that carries over a number of episodes.The first of these concerns Don Diego De La Vega returning from his studies in Spain to find Captain Monastario ruling Los Angeles of Spanish California with an iron (and unjust) hand. To keep his father safe, as the neighboring rancher has been branded treasonous by Monastario in a play to seize his land and wealth, Diego adopts both his foppish pose and the identity of "The Fox" - El Zorro - to vanquish the tyrant. This arc is said to run 13 episodes, before moving on to a new story.Sampling Volume Two, we also see the beginning of the tale of Zorro's adventures in Monterey. Though we reach an initially satisfying conclusion in that "first episode", here too, things are not fully resolved - leading into the next show and likely several more.Setting up the anticipation for each episode to come is Dick Tufeld, narrating the (miraculously included) "Next Week Scene Previews" with gusto. Tufeld would later work with Guy Williams on LOST IN SPACE as the voice of the Robot - and in the series' third season would also narrate "Next Week" promos in the same fashion as he does here for ZORRO!Music scores are by William Lava - later of F-TROOP and 1960s LOONEY TUNES fame.Guest stars to come include Ricardo Montalban, Caesar Romero, Ross Martin (The Wild Wild West), and future LOST IN SPACE co-star Jonathan Harris!Special features include a look at the life of Guy Williams, with Leonard Maltin and Guy Williams Jr. and, in a separate feature, the pair host a tour of ZORRO costumes and memorabilia (including a run of DELL COMIC BOOKS!) at the Walt Disney archives.There's a segment of Walt Disney introducing Zorro to the Mousekteers. Guy Williams makes a appearance in costume and wonderfully handles the subject of whether Zorro is "real" or "legend"! "The Life and Legend of Zorro" (...perhaps he IS both "real" and "legend"!) traces the character from his 1919 serialized magazine debut thru the TV series.There are also several longer ZORRO programs that aired on the Walt Disney television show, after the ZORRO series was canceled.Every Walt Disney Treasures set has many things to recommend, but this one is particularly special as it offers the expected quality and features but also presents a series - in its ENTIRETY - that deserves to be preserved and enjoyed. And, I'm looking forward to continued enjoyment of Guy Williams as Zorro!

Excellent encoding quality, good set of extras, a fun family show that holds up reasonably well (the period setting probably helps)

I bought both seasons 1snd 2., and wasn’t disappointed, the quality is fantastic as is Guy Williams’ fencing, good looks and humor!Disney was a genius, and these 2 seasons have stood the test of time!!The support actors are wonderful Bernardo and Garcia continue to add their genius’ It was so much fun to see Tornado and Phantom again, they all live up to my memories after about 68years. the series’ is not just for kids!

Another Collector's Tin release by Disney; this time a limited series of 30,000 were issued. Each contains an individually numbered certificate of authenticity, a 7" x 4.5" black and white publicity still of the title character, a collectible pin, a booklet about the serial, and six disks. This first season release covers the first 39 black and white episodes (there were 78 total) of the series, originally broadcast by ABC during the 1957-58 television season. Also included are two (of four) 60 minute episodes which were broadcast as part of "Walt Disney Presents" in the fall of 1960; these are not in color in this DVD release.This is a first class release with a nice Leonard Maltin introduction and on-point featurettes.Made in the style of old Saturday-matinee action-adventure serials; Disney began each episode with a rousing theme song about the adventures of Spanish California's most famous swordsman. Walt's success with Fess Parker's Davy Crockett miniseries paved the way for this relatively ambitious project.Out of the night,When the full moon is bright,Comes the horseman known as Zorro.This bold renegadeCarves a "Z" with his blade,A "Z" that stands for Zorro.Zorro, Zorro, the fox so cunning and free,Zorro, Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z.He is polite,But the wicked take flightWhen they catch the sight of Zorro.He's friend of the weak,And the poor and the meek,This very unique senor Zorro.Zorro was a 1820's Mission California version of Robin Hood. Although fictional (first appearing in a 1919 five-part pulp magazine serial by Johnston McCulley) he bears a resemblance to Joaquin Murrieta, a semi-legendary outlaw who was either an infamous bandit or a Mexican patriot, depending on one's point of view.Guy Williams plays young Don Diego, returned to California from several years of university study in Spain with his mute manservant Bernardo (Gene Sheldon) to live with his father Don Alejandro (George J. Lewis). His newly acquired foppish ways are a disappointment to his father. But playing the wimp is simply an act as he quickly becomes the new champion of the oppressed, donning the black outfit and mask of Zorro and carving a "Z" in places that embarrass the corrupt territorial officers and political appointees.Bernardo and Sergeant Garcia (Henry Calvin) provide comic relief and would be paired a couple years later in Disney's "Toby Tyler". Disney sweetheart Annette Funicello does not guest star until the second season. But Season One gave the viewer multi-episode appearances of two of Hollywood's most beautiful starlets ever to grace 1950's television screens; Myrna Fahey playing Maria the barmaid and Sandy Livingston as Don Diego's childhood love interest Rosarita Cortez.By almost any objective measure Season One is stronger than Season Two.The film Zorro dates back to Douglas Fairbanks (Sr.) in the silent "Mark of Zorro" (1920). After its initial episodes the Disney entry's format becomes more like the 12-episode Republic Pictures cliffhanger serial "Zorro's Fighting Legion" (1939).Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Enjoyed in my youth, and now again.