Customer Reviews

Zorro Unmasked: The Official History

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I've been a fan of Zorro's since I first saw Guy Williams cross the screen in the Disney version. I look back now and see why he appealed so much to me back then and why to this day he still does. What he stood for is something that means so much to me, fighting against those that dare take advantage of others etc.

This book just filled me in more on things that I didn't really know, but only sort of knew. The connection between Zorro and Batman, well I sort of always thought there was something there. I guess my re-interest in Zorro was brought back to me because of the Mask of Zorro, which I loved. So now I'm re-discovering it all again because my company is working with Zorro Productions on making Zorro even more visible on the internet and so it has been an honor to speak with Sandra Curtis on these new ventures. She did a great job on the book, and she has so much to draw from and because of all that, it just made the book even more special. I'd like to thank you for doing this book. Sometimes I feel everyone gets caught up in the "super heroes" of today with all their super powers. And really all we need to do is look at the heroes that are like Zorro. A man who just used his skill and brains to help right the wrongs. Thanks again Sandra for the book and your helping with what my company is trying to do to keep Zorro in the forefront of everyone's mind.

This is a must read for any Zorro fan, or anyone who just wants to know about the character and how he came about.

I was always a Zorro fan ever since I saw Guy Willums in the Disney Version.I just couldn't get enough of this masked avenger.I always wanted to be as fast and quick and smart as he was. I am taking Riding Lessions soon and maybe Fencing Lessions too. I might not be as quick as he is, But I know one thing he will always be No# 1 in my book.

This "inside" history of Zorro, written by the wife of one of the franchise's current owners, is, overall, an interesting and entertaining read. It contains several delightful stories and gives lots of production information about various film and television interpretations. The book covers the original Zorro stories and compares the films and TV programs based on them, and also discusses the history of California and real-life bandits who may have served as an inspiration to Johnston McCulley. It contains snippets of interviews and mini-biographies of many of those who were involved in Zorro productions over the past century.

Unfortunately, this book is not the be-all and end-all of Zorro history, having noticeable gaps in the coverage. There were one or two items that I, as a longtime fan of Zorro, knew that were not discussed in the book. The importance of some of the "history" seemed arbitrary; some versions were barely mentioned, while others had scores of pages dedicated to them. Others were missing from the text, except for a reference listing in the appendix. At least one version was completely absent. A few long-standing legends and rumors were never addressed. As seen in other reviews, the book has also incited wrath among some fans for its opinionated claims about various actors who have portrayed Zorro -- for example, Curtis strongly criticizes Duncan Regehr's interpersonal skills, but has only glowing reports of Antonio Banderas' personality, kindness and enthusiasm. This presentation comes across as biased and petty for a book claiming to be an "official history" of the franchise, even if this was the author's true perception of the actors; it gives the impression that Zorro Enterprises' official opinion is that one actor is nicer than another.

On a note less analytical and more editorial, the book is riddled with typos and misspellings. I find this irritating in any publication, but imagine how distracting it is when an actor's name changes spellings twice on the same page, or when, in a paragraph about the history of the California territory, the date suddenly switches from the mid-1800s to the 1900s and back.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of any version of Zorro; it is interesting, and you're likely to learn something new, even if the volume is somewhat disappointing as a complete history of Zorro. However, I would also suggest reading some of the other Zorro histories or cast biographies for a more complete picture. (I'll add Britt Lomond's Chasing After Zorro to the titles already suggested by other reviewers.)

"Zorro unmasked: The Oficial Hisotry" by Sandra R. Curtis is the history of the Zorro character from the conception of of the character by Johnston McKulla who created and first introduced the character in a pulp fiction magazine in a story title"The Curse of Capastrano."

The author also talks of who the Zorro character was based on. In the 1800's, there was a bandit who once was a land owner, but lost his land when California came under the rule of the United States. He moved into the hills where he lived and hid away ina hidden cave int eh mountains.

The U.S. Army sent an officer by the name of Captain Love (in which the Speilberg movie "The Mask of "Zorro" was loosely based on). Love captured the bandit and killed the bandit, and to make an example of him, Captain Love had the head of the bandit cut off and put in a jar to be preserved, which is what ended up happening to one of the characters in Speilberg's movie.

Hollywood actor Douglas Fairbanks had piccked up the pulp fiction magazine that the story "The Curse of Capastrano" was published in along with a number of other magazines to read on a trip he was going on.

Douglas Fairbanks became interesteed int he Zorro character in the story of "The Curse of Capastrano" and felt that the character had possibilities and wanted to have a movie based on the character made with him playing the part of Zorro.

And so the first Zorro movie was made in the silent era, which wa a success.

The author then progresses along the history of the Zorro chaacter in movies like the first talkie version which stared Tyrone Power as Zorro. The author goes into the theatrical cliffhanger movies serials based on Zorro made by Republic in the 1940's and early 1950's. Then going into the popular Walt Disney TV series from the late 1950's taht stared Guy Williams as Zorro.

The author goes on to cover other Zorro movies and TV series and even cartoon series. The author talks of the TV movie that aired on ABC in the 1970's in which Ricardo Montalban played the villainous Commandante.

The 1980's Zorro TV series taht aired on the Family Network in the 1980's is covered. Along with the Filmation Zorro Saturday morning cartoon series.

This book was written after the Stephen Speilberg movie "The Mask of Zorro" came out, which was successful making Catherine Zeta Jones a known name.

So this book goes up onto that period in time after the Speilberg Zorro movie came out and was a hit in the box office. So whatever comaes afterwards like the sequel to "The Mask of Zorro" and the most current Spanish Zorro TV series is not mentioned in the book.

An update of this book would definitely be great. I'm all ready to pick up a copy should it be published.

Questions: I would love to know if the book displays pictures of Guy Williams and has a consequent part about the disney Zorro. THANKS FOR HELPING ME and providing me with any info.

This is the definitive book about the history of Zorro. It goes into detail about the masked hero from his humble pulp fiction beginning in 1919 to the present day new retelling in "The Mask of Zorro." It also delves into the background of all the actors behind the mask. The author really has the inside track on the charactor, being married to John Getz, co-owner of Zorro Productions! A must read for any fan of the "Fox".

Sandra did a stunning job writing this book! Ooodles of stuff on our Guy!! ;-) Great work with the synopsis of the movies, found out stuff on Zorro I never knew existed! This is definitely the book for ANY Zorro fan....Beginner or long time!