This movie is part of the Douglas Fairbanks Collection boxed set released by Kino.  You can read a review of the whole set here.

Most people are familiar with the story of Zorro.  The masked hero has appeared in dozens of movies, and a popular TV show produced by Disney.  But his first screen appearance was in this 1920 Douglas Fairbanks vehicle.

In 19th century California the people are being oppressed.  The appointed Spanish Governor rules with an iron fist.  Native Indians are beaten for no reason, and even priests are tied up and whipped.  But the people have someone on their side, the masked outlaw Zorro!  The story starts with a Spanish solider brandishing a "Z" carved into his cheek.  He was beating an Indian for no reason when Zorro appeared and scarred him.  The sergeant in command, Pedro Gonzales (wonderfully played by Noah Beery) brags to the foppish Don Diego (Douglas Fairbanks) that he'd like to meet Zorro face to face.  Soon after Diego leaves,  someone suggest to Gonzales that if he beats a native, Zorro will surely arrive.  True to the prediction, as soon as the Sergeant attacks an innocent Indian, Don Diego returns in the guise of Zorro.  He locks the doors and windows and fights the rotund Gonzales leavening him marked with a "Z".

Back at home, Diego's father is disappointed in his idle and frivolous son.  If he won't work, the least he can do is marry.  So he sends Diego off to court Lolita Pulido (Marguerite De La Motte.)  Though the bored Don Diego can not get the fair Lolita interested in his handkerchief tricks or his latest hat, she is very interested in the dashing Zorro.  Will Don Diego be able to win Lolita's heart, banish the corruption in California and stay alive while doing it?

This was a fun film.  The action starts quickly and keeps on going.  When there isn't a sword fight or chase, Fairbanks is giving a wonderful performance as the effete Don Diego, a very funny presentation.  Another stand out performance was by Naoh Beery as the pompous Sergeant Gonzales.  He played the oafish sergeant with just the right amount of bravado and stupidity.

The direction is perfectly suited to the picture.  It is fast and dynamic, keeping the film moving and didn't let it slow down.  The director, Fred Niblo, would also direct Fairbanks in The Three Musketeers, and Valentino in Blood and Sand.

Though the acting was superb, and the direction was good, the main attraction to this movie is the action.  There are some great sword fights, and breathtaking stunts.  It's amazing to watch Fairbanks scamper up the side of a building and through the second story window as if it were nothing.  He leaps and runs over the sets, all the while with a huge grin on his face.  A very enjoyable film.

This film had a profound influence on heroic fiction, and still does today.  Yes, this movie is based on a previously printed story, but the film was much more widely disseminated, and therefore had a larger impact.  Many heroes that came after Zorro borrowed heavily from him.  Mild mannered Clark (Superman) Kent and playboy millionaire Bruce (Batman) Wayne both come right from Don Diego, not to mention other heroes like the Green Hornet.  The Lone Ranger was profoundly influenced by Zorro, and even Spider-man's witty banter in the middle of fights can be traced back to this film too.   Influential and entertaining, quiet a combination.

Don Q, Son of Zorro

Also on this same disc is the sequel to Mark of Zorro, 1925's Don Q, Son of Zorro.  In this movie Fairbanks plays Don Diego's son Don Cesar, who has been sent to Spain for his education.  While showing off his skill with the whip, Don Cesar earns the enmity of the Captain of the Queen's guard, Don Sebastian, (played by the film's director, Donald Crisp) by accidentally flicking off the plume from his hat.  Rescuing Sebastian from being trampled by a runaway bull only makes serves to make him more upset, but the Queen is impressed with Don Cesar's valor, and gets him introduced at court.

To make matters even worse,  Don Cesar and Don Sebastian start courting the same beautiful heiress, Dolores de Muro (played wonderfully by Mary Astor.)  The competition is too much, so when Don Sebastian accidentally kills a foreign ambassador, he sees his chance to remove Cesar from the picture by framing him for the murder.  Don Cesar fakes his own death, and reappears as the masked Don Q, the whip wielding outlaw who is out to prove his own innocence.

This movie is just as enjoyable as the first.  The stunts are still as daring and exciting, and the action is still almost nonstop.  Fairbanks does a great job playing the dual role of Don Diego and Don Cesar.  He still has all of the enthusiasm and verve of the earlier film. The fights in this sequel were staged better than the one's in the original movie.  They were more elaborate and though out, very impressive looking.  So impressive were Fairbanks' extraordinary stunts with the whip, they would influence the creators of Indiana Jones over half a century later.
 

The both films had an original piano score written and performed by Jon C. Mirsalis.  Of course, a full orchestration would have been preferred, but this accompaniment was suitable, even if it wasn't inspired.  The music matched the tone of the movie, but didn't add a lot to the viewing experience.  The sound quality was very good.  There was no hiss of other glaring imperfections.

Video:

The video quality for Mark of Zorro was very good.  The picture was filled with rich browns and amazingly clear for most of the film.  There were some dirt and specks, more so in some parts than others.  There was some significant emulsion damaged in one scene, obscuring most of the picture.  It only last a few seconds though, and it does not occur during an action sequence.  There were a few frames missing, due to splices, but these did not adversely effect the film.  The digital compression was done well, with few artifacts present.  I very nice looking copy of a great film.

I wish I could say the same for Don Q, Son of Zorro.  This film is in much worse shape.  The print they used is very badly scratched.  The scratches and dirt are constant through the whole film, though they are not as bad later in the film, they never completely disappear.  It does get distracting at times.  Like most silent films, there are occasional frames missing, and a few slight spots of emulsion damage, but these are not nearly as bad as the other video imperfections.  Luckily, the print is clear, and there is a good amount of detail.  You can still make out the tassels on uniforms and the lace on the Queen's dress.  The contrast is good overall, though there are a few scenes where is gets quiet dark.  If the print has significantly fewer defects this would have been a top notch presentation.

The Extras:

Home Videos:  5 ½ minutes of film that Fairbanks mainly shot himself outside his office at UA.  The most interesting part occurs at the end when Fairbanks practices some whip tricks that he would incorporate into Don Q.

Orson Welles intro to Mark of Zorro:  A 6 minute prologue that Orson Wells filmed for the PBS series The Silent Years.  Included in the introduction is a short except from Fairbanks 1917 film Wild and Wooly.

Fairbanks Vs. Dempsey: ½ minute newsreel clip of the champ and star goofing around in a ring.  This is a much too short.  As soon as the feature starts, it's over.It is too bad they couldn't have found a longer clip.

Making Life Worthwhile:  A text feature that presents three chapters from Fairbanks'  book.

Easter Egg:  If you let the Orson Welles intro finish, instead of taking you back to the menu, you are treated to another Welles prologue and an except from Fairbanks sound picture, Reach for the Moon.

Final Thoughts:

Mark of Zorro would be the perfect film to introduce the art of silent pictures to someone who hasn't seen one before.  It has all the charm and fun that audiences have come to expect from Douglas Fairbanks.  While Don Q is also just as fun, the print may turn off viewers who are used to watching videos without constant print defects.  I can see why Kino didn't issue this film on it's own.  If think of it as a bonus movie, it is quite acceptable.  Highly Recommended.