Zorro Unmasked: The Official History [Paperback]

Sandra R. Curtis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1998

To coincide with The Mask of Zorro, the blockbuster film produced by Steven Spielberg and starring Antonio Banderas, Hyperion presents a complete, illustrated history of the character--from 1920's pulp fiction to the present. 75 photos & illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A must-read for Zorro aficionados, Sandra Curtis's thorough compendium offers a rich historical cross section of one of pop culture's most influential icons. Beginning with his debut in 1919 in a pulp magazine to Antonio Banderas's high-profile impersonation in The Mask of Zorro, every factoid and trivial tidbit about the masked muchacho is included. For example, did you know that Zorro, which means "fox" in Spanish, was based on an actual California bandido? Or that Batman and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, are spinoffs of the legendary Latino? Curtis's husband inherited the rights to Zorro, which subsequently gave the author access to a vast archive of information not available to other writers. That, coupled with her own extensive research, lends to some interesting synthesis, especially when she touches upon early Californian history. Replete with film, TV, and historical photos and coupled with balanced film and television reviews, Zorro Unmasked is a satisfying reference guide for those who can't get enough of the sexy swordsman. --Rebekah Warren

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap); 1st edition (July 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786882859
• ISBN-13: 978-0786882854
• Product Dimensions: 4 x 2.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fair effort.., August 28, 2000

By 

sjso1 (MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zorro Unmasked: The Official History (Paperback)

I bought this book because I am a long standing Zorro fan, and must have everything Zorro. I was filled with anticipation thinking it would be a true 'inside scoop' on the film and literary history of Zorro. While it did have good information, very little of it was new and unique. Most was reprinted from various books, articles, or tv specials. While it was nice having it all in book form, I was rather disappointed there was not that much 'New' information. I thought Bill Yenne's book was better, and had much better photographs, although admittedly he did have the advantage of a Zorro series being in production at the time he wrote it. As a previous reviewer wrote, there were many innaccuracies in the book, and while it would not serve anything to list them, they are there. In any other book we would just shrug and go on, as no one can get everything right. But in a book put out by the wife of the owner of 'Zorro,' we do expect a bit better. I certainly didn't expect to see the tacky, mean-spirited (and untrue) comments about Duncan Regehr. It was quite a jarring chapter in the midst of an otherwise enjoyable book. (I felt that I had opened a supermarket tabloid by mistake)One should never forget the Zorro fandom spans the globe, and we all share information and experiences. Many people had opportunities to visit the set, and become friends with the actors and crew. All of them were generous with their time, and were very enthusiastic about the program and the Zorro legacy. Even now they are all delighted to talk about their experiences and autograph 'Zorro' photos. (Especially John Hertzler and Duncan Regehr) I guess my final word on the book would be, nice information that is mostly accurate, but take the personal comments with a grain of salt.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of Zorro, January 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Zorro Unmasked: The Official History (Paperback)

This book is informative when it comes to the history of Spanish California and Zorro. It would have been nice if there was more information about Guy Williams as Zorro and more photos of him than the author provided. But if you want to know the history of Zorro this book good base to start.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable history of the bold renagade of old California., July 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Zorro Unmasked: The Official History (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful overview of Zorro, his roots and his world. It is the perfect starting point for new fans and a treasure trove of detail for long time admirers of The Fox. I really enjoyed the chapter devoted to the real history of Spanish Californa. It made me appreciate the swashbuckling romance of Zorro even more. I also loved the section devoted to the definitive Zorro: Guy Williams. This book belongs in the library of every lover of multi-media adventure fiction. The author does a wonderful job and I will treasure this book for years to come.