Zorro’s Fighting Legion (1939)

Title card for Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)

Released by Republic Pictures in its heyday, this is widely hailed as one of the best serials ever made, with top-notch stunts (some of which were borrowed for Raiders of the Lost Ark), above-average camera work, and thrilling cliffhangers that didn’t cheat.

It’s 1824, and the new Republic of Mexico is threatened by the mysterious Don del Doro (“Lord of Gold”).  Clad in gold armor and posing as a native god, leads the Yaqui Indians in an armed uprising, attacking the Mexican gold trade in a plot to take over the land become Emperor.  Riding to the rescue is Zorro — armed with a brace of pistols, his sword, and a whip — who leads the Fighting Legion against the ruthless villain.  Who is the evil Don del Doro?  Can Zorro stop him in time to save the Republic?

Zorro’s Fighting Legion
Republic Pictures, 1939

Budget     $137,826 (negative cost: $144,419)

Directed by William Witney & John English
Produced by Hiram S. Brown Jr

Written by Ronald Davidson, Franklin Adreon, Morgan Cox, Sol Shor, Barney A. Sarecky.
Based on the Zorro character created by Johnston McCulley in The Curse of Capistrano (originally published in All-Story Weekly, 1919)

Cinematography by Reggie Lanning
Edited by Bernard Loftus, William P. Thompson, and Edward Todd
Art Direction by John Victor Mackay (uncredited, per IMDB)
Set Decoration by Morris Braun (uncredited, per IMDB)

Stunts (all uncredited)
Yakima Canutt
James Fawcett
Ted Mapes
Ken Terrell
Dale Van Sickel (stunt double for Reed Hadley)

Preceded by     Zorro Rides Again (1937)
Followed by     Zorro’s Black Whip (1944)