ZORRO SWINGS AGAIN
US, 1981, 89 minutes, Colour.
George Hamilton, Lauren Hutton, Brenda Vaccaro, Ron Liebman, Donovan Scott, James Booth.
Directed by Peter Medak.
Zorro Swings Again, originally Zorro the Gay Blade, is a satirical spoof on the serious hero of comic strips and films. Tyrone Power was Zorro in the 1941 Mark of Zorro, directed by Rouben Mamoulian, to whom this film is dedicated. There have been many minor variations on the theme. A particularly good version was made with Alain Delon and Stanley Baker in the mid-70s. George Hamilton had great success with his spoof on Dracula, Love At First Bite. This film is in that vein with Hamilton playing Diego, Zorro's son, and discovering that he has a twin brother - nicknamed Bunny - who has spent some time with the English navy and is a gay blade. The contrast that Hamilton makes in portraying the masculine hero Zorro with the effeminate Bunny is a very good comic interpretation - and he has the opportunity also to present himself in drag with Bunny dressed up as Cousin Margaret. Ron Liebman screeches his way through the part of Estaban and is quite grating. Lauren Hutton is an attractive heroine and an enlarging Brenda Vaccaro enjoys herself as Estaban's would-be glamorous wife.
Costumes, decor and action sequences are well done - even making an audience long for a more serious treatment of the theme. Direction is by Peter Medak who has had a mixed career including film such as Negatives and The Ruling Class and The Changeling.
1. The popularity of spoofs on formula films in the '70s and '80s? The respect for the original - manifested in the initial dedication and the adaptation of Max Steiner’s score for The Adventures of Don Juan for this film? The insight into the original for quality send-up? Audience response to memories of the original as well as the parody? The success of this spoof?
2. The film as a production by George Hamilton and starring himself? Acting skills, Errol Flynn-type hero? His enjoying himself as Latin lover with dashing appearance, jokes about the heavy accent, acting as Zorro? His contrast with Bunny and his camp style and the mock-English accent? The sequence as Cousin Margaret? Hamilton's skill with the variety of styles and humour?
3. The dedication to Rouben Mamoulian, the use of Max Steiner's music? The imitation of points of the original? Audience familiarity with the conventions, plot, styles and happy acceptance of these?
4. The Spanish influence in California? The lifestyle in California on Spanish models with Alcalde and the caballeros? The wealthy exploitive government? The criticisms of the other states of America? The presentation of the Boston do-gooder criticising the Spanish exploitation? Humorous images of contemporary situations with echoes of the Third World?
5. The introduction to Diego in the prologue with another man's wife, the swordfights - and the comic routines with the many swordfighters? His return to California? Encountering Estaban and Florinda? The assistance of Paco? His father's bequeathing the Zorro outfit to him? His becoming Zorro by accident? Helping the beleaguered peasants? Attacking the tax collector? His delight in his skills? His injury - and his absence from the ball and having to demonstrate his health for Estaban (in such a painful way)?
6. Bunny and the contrast with Diego? The satire on the British fop? His decision to help Diego? The point made in showing the two sides of Bunny's face - one as Bunny. the other as Diego? The range of his costumes, his whip? His impersonation of Margaret at the ball and stealing the necklace? His dashing return to rescue Diego?
7. Estaban and his corruption, shouting, his pressurising the caballeros to elect him, Florinda's despising him, his torturing the peasants and exploiting them, his fight with Zorro at the ball, his encounter with the tax collector, his plans to discover the true Zorro, Diego arranging for everyone to come to the dance as Zorro, his infatuation with Margaret, his arrest of Charlotte and the preparations for the execution, the confrontation by Diego as friar, his come-uppance with Bunny's help?
8. Charlotte Taylor- Wilson as the Boston do-gooder, her arrival, speeches and handouts, infatuation with Diego, flirting with Bunny and her dismay, the romantic interludes, her arrest, almost execution, rescue and the happy ending? Lauren Hutton's vigour as heroine?
9. Florinda and her wanting to be glamorous and wealthy, her throwing herself at Diego, hiding in the coffin and almost being killed? Her parties? Her dislike of Cousin Margaret? Her being robbed? Her final disdain of Estaban?
10. Paco and the Harpo Marx style comedy of the mute? Dressed as a bear. riding behind Zorro? His help in difficult situations?
11. The film's reliance on spectacle - decor, costumes, balls, executions? The fights?
12. The parody of romance? And the parody of the effeminate gay subculture?
13. The blend of the serious and the send-up?
