Western Weekends: Zorro's Fighting Legion

Yesterday I talked about the 1937 film serial, Zorro Rides Again. Today, I'll talk about the follow-up, Zorro's Fighting Legion, which was released in 1939. While Zorro Rides Again took place in a contemporary setting and placed a greater emphasis on the western elements of Zorro, this one goes back to basics, and follows Reed Hadley as Don Diego Vega.

The serial takes place in 1824, as Mexico is now free from Spanish rule. In the resource-rich province of San Mendolito, a mysterious idol known as Don Del Oro is inciting the Yaqui Indians to attack caravans transporting gold from the mines to Mexico City, as part of a plot to take control of the country. Fearing that military reprisals will provoke a general uprising, Don Francisco Vega, a member of the ruling council, has set up a volunteer force to protect the caravans. However, several council members are in league with Don Del Oro, and arrange for Francisco's assassination. Not long afterwards, Francisco's foppish nephew Diego arrives in San Mendolito from California, and assumes his uncle's place on the council while taking command of the legion under his persona as Zorro, with Francisco's ward Ramon serving as his sidekick.

You might think the idea of Zorro having an army is a bizarre concept, but that actually happens in the original story. Don Del Oro is a pretty menacing villain, and his true identity is a mystery to all and sundry. A running gag in the serial is that any time someone is about to reveal his identity, they get killed by a golden arrow. And the sound effect they dubbed in sounds kind of silly, but again, that's expected for these kind of things.

And that's pretty much all I really have to say. Personally, I think I prefer this one to Zorro Rides Again. They're both mindless time-wasters for a quiet weekend. Again, this is public domain, so you can find it online quite easily.

Right, I'd best get back to my own projects. Happy writing.