Daryl has provided us with another scoop.
I wasn't certain that I could release this news yesterday so I had to verify it first. ONE of the special features will be on the DVD release is the never before seen pilot episode for the New World (Family Channel) Zorro tv series.
This is spectacular news. As far as I know, no one has ever seen it. The book
Zorro Unmasked: The Original History by Sandra Curtis explains what happened with the pilot to the New World Zorro.
John [John Gertz of Zorro Productions] pitched Nancy's [Nancy Larson, twin sister of John Gertz] treatment to seven production companies in two days...They closed a deal with New World Television....John had insisted on creative consultation rights for the series, but he found himself in conflict with the producers over how much they would be willing to accept him as a creative partner. The problem he confronted with Goodman-Rosen, the line producers, was to be revisited with each new Zorro project....John's concerns regarding the pilot were summarily ignored by Goodman-Rosen. His chief complaint was the violence. The plot involved numerous killings and generally lacked humor, a critical part of the Zorro formula.
Here is a summary of the plot, also from
Zorro Unmasked: The Original History.
Antonio de la Cruz, the nephew of Don Diego, takes up the mantle of his boyhood hero when Zorro is killed by the commandant, Monastario. One element of Nancy's treatment was retained: Antonio played a clumsy scholar with glasses whose heroes were da Vinci and Cervantes.
The pilot featured Patrick James as Zorro and Patrice Martinez as the female lead, Dona Maria Constansa Arrillaga, a spoiled, rich girl to whom Antonio was betrothed. Antonio does not endear himself to his arranged marriage partner, harboring memories of Maria as a fat and homely child. Yet she has grown into a feisty, dark-haired beauty. Maria's feelings about Antonio echo his own about her. She is, however, very impressed with Zorro. In the climax, Antonio uses his knowledge of da Vinci's principles of flight to build a hang glider, which he dramatically sails into the plaza to rescue falsely convicted men from execution.
(snip)
Location shooting took place on the southern coast of Spain near Almeria in November 1987....Gertz fumed on the set, watching a nightmare unfold before his eyes....Based on a disastrous pilot, interest in the revival of Zorro as a live-action hero fell short of attracting the required funding partners. The fox once again seemed headed toward a short-lived revival....The producers went back to the drawing board, revamping the concept and addressing some of Gertz's concerns. The story line reverted to a traditional Zorro scenario without the oppressive violence. The fox had partially been rescued.
The result was the New World Zorro television series that aired on the Family Channel. It will be a special treat to see the original pilot.
14 comments:
Good thing the violence was eliminated entirely for the series. The 1920 silent film "The Mark Of Zorro" established what I like best about the character: that Zorro DOES NOT kill, and that is scrupulously observed in this show. Still, it will be neat to see the unaired pilot episode for this magnificent series. However, I think that the 4-part episode showing how Don Diego became Zorro should have been a 2 hour movie and aired as the first episode (ie. the 2 hour season premieres and finales that some shows have now). Duncan Regehr was PERFECT as Zorro, as were Patrice Camhi and the rest of the cast, though I like Efrem Zimbalist Jr better as Don Alejandro.
I also think that the recent Zorro films with Antonio Banderas misrepresented Zorro, portraying him as motivated primarily by revenge rather than justice, audacious (that scene where he fights with Elena and undresses her with his sword was so out of line with the character) and he kills his enemies. In the 1920 film and the New World series, Zorro never killed anyone.
As far as I'm concerned, Zorro is a family character, which means that he never kills and is always a gentleman.
I tend to agree, although I have enjoyed most versions of Zorro. My favorites are the three major television series: Walt's Disney's Zorro, Family Channel's Zorro, and the Zorro telenovela from Telemundo. The telenovela was less of a family version, but I still greatly enjoyed it.
In order, my favorite versions of Zorro are the Family Channel Zorro, the telenovela, and Walt Disney's Zorro. Next would be the 1974 Mark of Zorro and the Alain Delon film. I refer to the full 120 minute version of the Alain Delon film, since the 90 minute version makes little sense and is awful because all of the important parts were removed.
the 1920 film "The Mark Of Zorro" & the 1940 remake (in black-and-white; there's also a colorized version of the 1940 remake) are also very good. My favourite bit from the 1940 film is the swordfight between Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone (an expert swordsman in real life).
The 1940 sword fight is spectacular.
I'd also like to see Mr. Gertz' original treatment for the show included as a bonus feature.
However, I think that the 4-part episode showing how Don Diego became Zorro should have been a 2 hour movie
Actually it was a 2 hour movie when it first aired on 17 February 1990. I believe the non flashback scenes took place after the episode "Zorro's Other Woman" and of course the flashbacks are pre-"Dead Men Tell No Tales". I think it would have been more confusing to have aired the movie first, well for me anyway, as references are made to events in some of the prior 8 episodes.
It wasn't divided into 4 parts until it later aired in reruns. I have both versions taped plus a copy of the VHS tape which has added scenes (mostly extended chase scenes from later episodes). Pam
I read the original Johnston McCulley story "The Mark of Zorro" earlier this summer and in it Zorro threatened just about everyone with a pistol (even his future father-in-law). I think he shot and killed a couple of the soldiers that were pursuing him if my memory serves.
I'm not sure how this theory that Zorro was non-violent and also asexual (a curious notion considering his romantic image) has developed among so many of his fans. In his creator's original work, he was neither. Pam
Zorro does kill people in most versions. I can see where people who watched the NWZ version first would see Zorro as nonviolent. People are strongly influenced by which version was seen first.
My favourite bit from the 1940 film is the swordfight between Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone (an expert swordsman in real life).
That is one of my favorite all-time movie scenes. Tyrone Power and Errol Flynn were the reigning movie swashbucklers in the 30's and 40's. Basil Rathbone appeared in movies with both of them and bragged that he could have killed them both if their duels have been real. Just an interesting bit of movie trivia!
In the original Zorro story "The Curse Of Capistrano," Zorro does kill the evil Captain Ramon, but it's a good thing Douglas Fairbanks Sr decided to omit that for the 1920 film version. That and the 1990 television series is why I have the idea of Zorro as non-violent. In the movie and 1990 series, he never kills anyone nor is he inappropriate, but always respectful. I've never thought of Zorro as being asexual (a very confusing term to me, though I just looked up the definition); I always thought of him as just as a normal human being who fights evil.
Actually "The Curse of Capistrano" doesn't confirm that Ramon is dead. After Zorro pierces Ramon the Governor cries out: "You have slain him! "You have taken his life, wretch!"
Zorro responds: "Ha! I trust so. The thrust was through the heart, excellency. He never will insult a señorita again."
After a quick exchange of words with the Governor Zorro flees the scene on horseback to be pursued by a large number of soldiers.
It's assumed by the information given that Ramon is dead. In the heat of the moment during the hurried moments that followed the duel very little attention was paid to Ramon. The fact is Zorro's thrust could easily have just missed the heart leaving Ramon seriously wounded but not mortally so. Wounds of this nature would take a long time to heal. That's one explanation as to how Ramon could return in futher stories.
As for the unmasking of Zorro in "The Curse of Capistrano" McCulley forgot a primary rule of writing: Always leave the door open for a sequel. When Zorro was received as a big hit the community was apparently given collective amnesia.
Daryl
I guess McCulley didn't expect the story to be a success, so he ended it there. Good thing the public loved it, and a swashbuckling hero was born, to join the ranks of Robin Hood & The Scarlet Pimpernel. Zorro was also the inspiration for Batman.
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