Ricardo Di Villa Verde returns to Lusitania (an
ancient name for an area in Portugal and Spain) after an absence in Mexico
for ten years. He has come back to see his father and to marry his cousin
Bianca (Nadia Marlowa). There is trouble brewing in Lusitania though. The
Duke has passed away and his evil brother is usurping the throne from the
legitimate heir, a small girl. There seems nothing that can be done to stop
him. Until a stranger with a black mask, cape and hat shows up and starts
turning the tables. Who is this man who marks his enemies with a Z slash
of his sword. It is Zorro!
He is played by George Ardisson, an Italian actor who during the 1960's appeared
in peplums, Westerns, adventure and spy films. In some ways Italy was ground
zero for genre films during these years pumping out tons of swashbuckling
adventure tales, spies, cowboys and Hercules. This alongside Fellini, Pasolini,
Visconti, De Sica and Antonioni. Remarkable really. There have been at least
five other Italian Zorro films that I know of with Ardisson appearing in
one of them, Zorro the Fox.
Ricardo is a disappointment to his father - a bored young man who seems uninterested
in his cousin or the politics. Napping is his favorite occupation. Needless
to say, he is Zorro. These are not the cleverest people as no one figures
it out. Just a coincidence that this Zorro fellow shows up at the same time
as Ricardo, are the same height and both have blonde hair. He marries Bianca
but refuses to bed her until she loves him. She despises him. Why can't you
be more like Zorro - who saves her a few times. Zorro does the usual Zorro
like deeds - saves a man from hanging, fights off ruffians, saves the little
girl from the tower in a castle and kills most of guards and of course in
the end reveals who he is to Bianca as she melts in his arms and walks him
towards the bedroom. We have some unfinished business in her eyes.
Not great, but enjoyable enough and lots of sword action.
