The Mark of Zorro - Featuring the Original 1920 Score

This is a rare opportunity to hear a first class professional orchestra perform a beautifully-recorded score based upon a vintage cue sheet for a really delightful film. Although the advertising claims this is the film's "authentic 1920 musical score," that is not quite the case; full scores were prepared for only two or three outstanding films a year, and the rest were sent out with cue sheets that broke the film into short dramatic units and offered timings and musical suggestions for each. The music available was either an adaptation of a classical standard orchestrated for a theater ensemble (Paragon has about twelve players), or special "stock music" composed to fit various motion picture moods, usually by very good composers who believed that they were creating a new genre of classical music for huge cinema audiences across the land. Each theatre compiled its score from these suggestions or made substitutions of individual selections according to the resources of its music library, which is what Paragon's Rick Benjamin has done in this instance. To hear the result of such a well-informed effort is a really rare opportunity, especially when achieved with such a high standard of musicianship.Paragon has also released a fine CD of stock music cues for silent film, available from amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Pioneers-Movie-Paragon-Ragtime-Orchestra/dp/B00OV9ABPK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1446174223&sr=8-2&keywords=Paragon+Ragtime+OrchestraThe bad news is that the image portion of this DVD has been copied (without permission) from a laserdisc release produced by myself about 25 years ago, and suffers from all the deficiencies of video technology of that time plus those of an unauthorized copy. An incomparably more beautiful copy of "The Mark of Zorro" achieved with the latest technology is included in the DVD box set "Douglas Fairbanks: A Modern Musketeer" with a different compiled score by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, also using authentic stock music and also available from amazon.com.You pays your money and you takes your choice.

I think there are about seven versions of this same movie on dvd. I have three of them. The first one I'll talk about is from Image Entertainment. The cover portrays Zorro on the floor holding a woman in one arm while wielding a sword in his opposite hand and a military person standing upright. This one has a run time of 1:28:18. It is presented in various tints of sepia, blue, and green, and seems to be the only one that has the original title cards. The music is provided by an organ/synthesiser. Next we have the version from Rialto Media. The run time is 1:29:26. It also is presented in the same tints as the Image Entertainment disc. The music is provided by a 13 piece orchestra known as the Paragon Orchestra, which they claim is the actual soundtrack intended for this movie. And finally we have the Alpha Video version. It's run time is 1:37:12. Its is presented in Black and White. The music provided seems to come from a variety of sources close to that time period. Some of it sounds like the style of music heard in Laurel and Hardy/ The Little Rascals. Some of it is traditional classical music. And some of it is the type of music heard during action sequences of the old cliffhanger serials. A word about the covers. Both the Rialto Media and Alpha Video have similar covers of Zorro standing next to a wine barrel. The Alpha Video is the more colorful of the two. Now that I've given some basic facts I am going to give you my opinion. Personally of the three I like the Alpha Video best. It has a surprisingly beautifully restored picture (not common with Alpha Video) presented in glorious Black and White. I even like the music provided. It does abruptly break from time to time, but it does add a dimension of excitement lacking in the other two. While the Image version and the Rialto version have an 18 chapter scene select and the Alpha only has 6, I enjoy the Alpha version best. I hope this little review provided a little help for you in making a selection. Thank You.

This movie was made in 1920. So it's a silent film. So as far as silent films go(my first), it was good. Funny thing is, not much has changed in the plot of the new Zorro movie other than the new Zorro not as nerdy, has got a bigger shiny sword and Zeta-Jones' character has got a bigger ... errr... never mind. What's sad when you watch the new Zorro is that the jokes are the same in the old Zorro almost 80 years earlier. If you are a Zorro fanatic or into really old films, you gotta watch this version. It is also an interesting film to see how Hollywood and our culture/values have changed in nearly a century.UPDATE:Oh, I forgot to mention this. Will someone please tell me what is it that Zorro is snorting? Seriously!, it is the best part of the film. Before Zorro beats up the bad guys, he makes his entrance by showing up smoking this huge cigar which releases a cloud of smoke. Then he whips out this small tin box and then proceeds to snorts its contents. Seriously!. Did you just say "What the hell?", cause I sure did when I saw that. I'd love to know what he is snorting, so if someone knows, please post. Puts a new spin on they don't make things like to use to.

An interesting DVD. Douglas Fairbanks in one of his old movies.

A***** Absolutely brilliant. Will trade again. Thank you.

great item and service, thank you.

Excellent

Haaaa, j'ai découvert ce film il y a peu et il faut dire qu'il n'a pas pris une ride! Douglas Fairbanks est virevoltant, on s'extasie devant ses cabrioles et ses prouesses physiques! L'histoire est connue de tous mais la réalisation est fraiche et pleine d'humour. Quel film agréable à regarder! Je le conseille vraiment. C'est un très bon moment.