Customer Reviews

Zorro, The Gay Blade

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I was extremely disappointed. I had seen the original movie release years ago, and was excited to buy the DVD. However, much of the original movie is missing! They have taken the edited down version from TV and made it into a DVD. None of the really hilarious parts were left intact.....therefore some parts of the movie don't even make sense! I wish someone would release the original movie in it's entirety, not such a watered-down, hacked-up shadow of the Gay Blade Zorro I knew and loved.

Both George Hamilton and Lauren Hutton are wonderful in this movie. It takes the classic Zorro industry and gives it a twist. Don't expect the classic action/adventure story.

Hamilton plays both Don Diego Vega and Bunny Wigglesworth. Unbeknownst to them, they are the sons of the legendary Zorro.

Vega returns home to find his childhood friend Esteban in control and a lady from his youth, Florinda (Brenda Vaccaro) married to Esteban. Also, his father has died and left his Zorro costume for his son. Seizing his 'destiny', Vega becomes Zorro causing much trouble to the ruthless Esteban (Ron Leibman).

He fights the "tyranny and injustices" until he injures his ankle jumping from a window.

Enter Bunny Wigglesworth. Bunny is completely the opposite of his lothario brother--English accent, no tan and loves men. During his brothers recouperation, Bunny takes up the sword--and the whip and many colorful Zorro costumes.

Adding to the mix is the character played by Lauren Hutton, Charlotte Taylor Wilson. She is a beauty from the east who has come west to liberate the downtrodden. Vega is immediately taken by her.

This movie is full of cute lines you will find yourself saying later. Also, the stars of the film (Hamilton, Hutton, Liebman and Vaccaro) are all wonderful in their roles. (Watching Vaccaro, who's character is bored with her dull husband, chasing Hamilton is hilarious!)

I highly recommend this film for a great laugh. I've practically worn out my VHS copy of Zorro!

This 1981 side-splitting comedy directed by Peter Medak is a fun spoof on the legendary Zorro. A light-comedy with a humorous plot that can only make you laugh.

Don Diego De La Vega (George Hamilton) arrives to Spain's colony of California to find it despoiled by the excesses of his former friend, Capitan Esteban (Ron Leibman). He soon uncovers the secret of Zorro from his dead father and now becomes the masked protector. Accidentally injured during one of his outings, Don Diego almost calls it quits until his estranged brother, Bunny Wigglesworth (also played by George Hamilton), comes to town to save the day. Although an unabashed dandy in England's Royal Navy, Bunny takes the challenge and adds a little zest to the legend of Zorro. With Bunny's fashionable tastes, Zorro's sombre costumes soon become colorful fashion statements of green, purple, and yellow. Bunny also discards the sword and leaves his traditional 'Z' mark with his whip instead.

A great tongue-in-cheek comedy that makes the maximum spoof of the dandy stereotype. The film never takes itself too seriously and offers laughs for the whole family.

I first saw this movie when I was 10 years old and it still makes me laugh to this day.

What makes this comedy unique for me though, is how so many different story elements are blended so beautifully. You have romance, action, and comedy so wonderfully balanced that the entire movie is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Bunny Wigglesworth is so over-the-top whilst Diego's accent is so hilariously exploited. Esteban's evil is perfectly juxtaposed against Diego's love interest. The drama of Zorro surrendering himself to save the one he loves plays against the "other" Zorro whipping his name into the wall (and not just a "Z", but "Zeeeeee Ohhhhhhhhh Rrrrrrrrr Rrrrrrr Ohhhhhhh! Zorro!" Esteban: "Ah, ha!!! I think he is trying to tell me something!"

It's also evident in the music. The dark, thunderous playing of violins accentuate Esteban's bad character. The light, lilting tune is playful when Zorro fences. The music waxes nostalgic when Ms. Hutton kisses Zorro.

Sadly, the transfer of this movie to DVD seems confined to someone eating a Twinkie and hitting record from a VHS tape. Mono sound? Poor video transfer? Come on, people, get with it! While it's forgivable on very old movies, a 1981 flick is NOT beyond the realm of beautification. And for the price, some extras would have been nice.

Still, it's nice to see that someone thinks highly enough of the film to transfer it to something longer-lasting than a VHS tape.

One of the most underrated and overlooked movies of all time. Over the top and campy, the movie is filled with one laugh after another. After seeing it first in the theater and then years later on video, I could not believe it was as funny the second (and third and fourth and fifth) times as the first. Don't take it seriously and you will have a wonderful time and you will be quoting lines for days afterwards. A true comic classic.

Peter Medak directs this HILARIOUS film based on the character created by Johnston McCulley. After his AMAZING SUCCESS in spoof Bram Stoker's "DRACULA" in 'LOVE AT FIRST BITE', George Hamilton returned to film this picture. Hamilton plays 'DON DIEGO VEGA', the son of the original 'ZORRO'. When he returns to California for the funeral of his father, 'DIEGO' soon learns that he has inherited the mantle of "ZORRO". Not ONLY THAT, he ALSO learns that he has a LONG LOST IDENTICAL TWIN BROTHER. After an accidental fall, which leaves him with a swollen foot, 'DIEGO' is soon reunited with his brother, 'RAMON'. (Who turns out to be a foppish homosexual). George Hamilton is EXTREMELY HILARIOUS in the dual role of 'DON DIEGO VAGA' & 'RAMON VEGA/BUNNY WIGGLESWORTH'. Ron Liebmann is also very good as the villain. Brenda Vaccaro and Lauren Hutton round out the cast as the female leads.

This is a cult classic to be ranked right up there with Monty Python"s Holy Grail and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Each time you watch it just gets funnier. I know this because...
Last year while visiting my sister, my 17 yr old neice, who had watched Holy Grail w/her girlfriends and roared, insisted I watch Napoleon Dynamite from which she and her 12 yr old brother were constantly reciting lines. It was funny but not what I would call a classic.
I started reciting lines from Zorro the Gay Blade and they both thought it was hilarious without even seeing the moving. So, at a recent family gathering I decided to treat them to a true classic. I think we watched it about half a dozen times over the course of a week. My brother was so excited to see it again that he persuaded me to give him my copy so he could have movie nite with all his friends back home.
About a week ago my nephew called just to say "Help, help the Alcalde took all my money." To which I replied "Never fear, El Zorro is here." And we both laughed.
When a movie transends generations and is still funny you know it's a classic. But do yourself a favor and watch it again and again. There are just too many funny lines that you will miss if you only watch it once.

We have watched this many times,each time notice something new.Often quote lines from movie."red like a rose or red like a rdish". This- blazzing saddles-young frankenstein-and down perascope are my take with movies to laugh troubles away.

This is not a movie that is well known by the general public. But I consider it one of the "classical" comedy movies as a spoof on the legend of Zorro. George Hamilton does a great part playing both the dashing & romantic "Diego de la Vega" and also playing his half-brother who brings "a lot of color" as the "gay blade"!

If you want to see Zorro from another perspective and have a few laughs I recommend this one.

Peter Medak directs this HILARIOUS film about the masked 'ROBIN HOOD' of early California. After his AMAZING success of spoofing 'DRACULA' in "LOVE AT FIRST BITE", George Hamilton returned to portray Johnston McCulley's masked hero. Hamilton plays "DON DIEGO VEGA" the son of the original 'ZORRO'. He also plays "RAMON VEGA/BUNNY WIGGLESWORTH" Diego's homosexual long lost twin brother. After an accidentally fall which gives him a swollen ankle,Diego persuades his brother to take over the role of Zorro, which Diego has adopted from their father, until he heals. George Hamilton is HILARIOUS in his dual role, Ron Liebmann is EQUALLY HILARIOUS in his role of Diego's arch rival. Brenda Vaccaro and Laurn Hutton round out the cast as the female leads.