Favourite Action Scenes #7: Stealing the Horse (The Mask of Zorro)

Clip

We're going back to "entertaining" fight scenes, in which the action is prolonged. This is probably one of the sillier entries on the list. And it's certainly the most chaotic one so far.

Zorro-in-training Alejandro Murietta is attempting to infiltrate the local garrison in order to steal a horse resembling Zorro's steed Tornado. However, the horse is poorly disciplined, and takes Alejandro on a wild ride through the stable and into the adjoining barracks and armoury. The first part (which I don't have a clip of) involves Alejandro trying to keep control of Tornado as the soldiers in the barracks try and get out of harm's way. Eventually, the horse bolts, leaving Alejandro in the barracks as the dust settles.

One of the reasons I want to look at this one is because I find it difficult to write fight scenes involving one person against many. The common pitfall is that the enemies end up attacking one at a time. While it does happen here, they try and avoid it. Actually, the action in the second part opens with them trying to swarm Alejandro in a school yard "pile-on", which he escapes from. And once swords get used, he does use two weapons and tries to bind the blades of two opponents while positioning himself so nobody else can get to him easily.

I love the classic swashbuckling and slapstick element of the scene, with Alejandro swinging from a chandelier and using improvised weapons such as ornamental antlers, and even a sliding barred gate to disarm his opponents. The whole sequence establishes that he is a cunning fighter, but he is motivated by fame rather than a desire to help others, and still has a lot to learn if he wants to become the next Zorro.

Yes, it's cliched, but they're fun cliches.