The Mask of Zorro (1998)

 ●  English ● 2 hrs 16 mins

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Embedded with mystery and suspense, this action-oriented thriller is set in the early 19th century, in the ruggedly beautiful territory of California, when the masked swordsman hero, Zorro was a champion of the people against the tyranny of Spanish rule, represented by the ruthless Governor Montero. Unfortunately, on the eve of his greatest triumph, the liberation of California, Montero learns of Zorro's secret identity as Don Diego de la Vega and attacks the rebel in his home leaving him imprisoned, his wife dead and his daughter abducted to be claimed as the child of Montero. Twenty years pass, and Montero returns to California intent on a foul plan to bring it under his total control. Upon learning of his return, Don Diego escapes from his long imprisonment and prepares for his revenge. Part of it involves the training of an orphan who helped him as a boy to become his successor. Together, the two must prepare to do battle with Montero and his American henchman to save California and reunite with Diego's lost daughter. So once again, the enemies of freedom and justice in California must fear of the man who leaves the mark of the Z...
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Did you know? In the original draft of Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's screenplay, Don Diego was not killed and lived to tell the story of Zorro's adventures to his granddaughter. Read More
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Direction

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Production

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Distribution

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Writers

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Camera and Electrical

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Music

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Editorial

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Film Type:
Feature
Language:
English
Spoken Languages:
Spanish
Colour Info:
Color
Frame Rate:
24 fps
Aspect Ratio:
2.39:1 (Scope)
Stereoscopy:
No
Movie Connection(s):
Referenced in: The Lone Ranger (English)
Goofs:
Revealing Mistakes
In the scene where he dismounts to stop the burning wick, it is obvious Captain Love's saddle cover is made of fake leopard skin material.

Revealing Mistakes
In the scene where Zorro is surfing down the gulch on a shovel during his fight with Captain Love, a strap holding his foot to the shovel can be seen.

Revealing Mistakes
As Zorro is swinging on a tree branch scene just before kicking Captain Love, the parallel bars used for the tree limbs are clearly visible.

Miscellaneous
At the party sequence, Captain Love is wearing officer's epaulets, but is wearing a senior officer's (double breasted) uniform. The double breasted uniform was used only by those of the rank of major and above.

Factual Mistake
The Mexican flag appearing in the headquarters scene when Zorro is fighting the soldiers has the red and green areas reversed.

Errors in Geography
In the scene where Don Raphael comes ashore there are saguaro cactus which only grow in the Sonoran Desert in extreme southeast California.

Crew/Equipment Visible
In the scene where one of the Dons comes into the room where de la Vega is hiding at the party, stage lighting is briefly visible when the door is opened.

Continuity
In the scene where Don Diego is fighting Alejandro in the Cantina, there are some hay stacks in the corner. When Alejandro attacks Zorro, one of the hay stacks falls down but in the next scene it's up again in the corner.

Continuity
In a training exercise, Alejandro knocks Diego's sword from his hand and catches it. As he throws it back, the blade points down; when Diego catches it, the blade is pointed up.

Audio/Video Mismatch
In the scene where Don Diego is about to confront Don Rafael for the first time, he begins talking in the shadows but his voice isn't in sync with the picture.

Miscellaneous
Elena has a nylon zipper on her dress in the last scene whereas Zippers were not used in the 1840's and nylon was not used for this purpose until after WWII.

Miscellaneous
The movie was set around 1841, whereas a pressure gauge measures in metric units which were not adopted in Mexico until the 1860s.

Miscellaneous
Captain Love is identified by his insignia as a cavalry captain. He should be using the model 1840 cavalry saber, but the sword shown has a straight blade more like a modern fencing saber.
Trivia:
In the original draft of Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's screenplay, Don Diego was not killed and lived to tell the story of Zorro's adventures to his granddaughter.

Anthony Hopkins refused the part of Don Diego de la Vega earlier because he had too much pain in his back. A laser operation brought an end to the pain and made it possible for him to accept the part.

Antonio Banderas was extremely particular about performing nearly all his own stunts for the purposes of authenticity. The only shot that was a stunt double is the one of Alejandro leaping over a horse and kicking the guard during the chase scene.

Just to accomplish the effect of Elena's dress falling off from being sliced up by Zorro, a wire was attached to the dress to pull the dress off.

Previously Sean Connery turned down the part later played by Anthony Hopkins.

When Montero goes to the prison to seek out Zorro, while several of the prisoners claim to be Zorro in a scene reminiscent of a similar scene in Spartacus (1960). Anthony Hopkins provided the voice of Crassus during the restoration of the earlier film.

Earlier Shakira was offered the role of Elena.

Originally Raul Julia was supposed to play Diego de la Vega but died before he could take the role.

Originally Robert Rodriguez was attached to direct, but the studio didn't agree with his much-more violent and R-rated proposal.