Where to watch Zorro: The Gay Blade
4 Stars
Mexico, 1840s. When the new Spanish Governor begins to grind the peasants under his heel, wealthy landowner Don Diego Vega follows in his late father’s footsteps and becomes Zorro, the masked man in black with a sword who rights wrongs and becomes a folk hero to the people of Mexico. When Vega sprains his ankle and cannot continue his campaign against the corrupt Captain Esteban, his long-lost twin brother Ramon arrives to visit. Bunny was sent off by their father to the British Royal Navy to make a “man” of him, for he is flamboyantly gay, and now known as Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth. ‘Bunny’ agrees to temporarily take his brother’s place as Zorro, but opts make changes in the established Zorro persona. Bunny becomes “the Gay Blade,” and his new costumes are lemon, plum, and scarlet colored. He insists on using a whip. Bunny also becomes the liaison between Don Vega and the liberal American activist/feminist Charlotte, a long-time critic of Captain Esteban’s policies, and who has a crush on her masked hero.
Oddly enough, Zorro, The Gay Blade was the ‘Zorro’ movie of my childhood. I was aware of the 1947 black and white movie by Rouben Mamoulian that would occasionally air on the local TV station late on Saturday afternoons, and I was a big fan of the animated cartoons released on videocassette by Filmation Studios. But the only live-action ‘modern’ iteration around was Zorro, The Gay Blade. I had recorded the movie during one of its initial network broadcasts, and it became a favorite of mine, regardless of the innuendo, satire, and comedy that went over my 8-year-old head—it was Zorro!
I had actually forgotten just how many times I watched Zorro, The Gay Blade, pre-Antonio Banderas’ incarnation of the iconic character, and revisiting it as an adult is a delight. The plentiful jokes land solidly during the film’s perfect first act, showcasing swordplay, clever wordplay, and playful spirit. George Hamilton is absolutely perfect as the dim-witted, arrogant, noble but oblivious De La Vega/Zorro and in the dual role of his homosexual cousin Bunny Wigglesworth. Matching Hamilton’s charismatic and amusing performance is equally solid work from Brenda Vaccaro as a horny ex-lover of De La Vega, now married to the power-hungry and hilarious Ron Leibman as Captain Esteban.
Donovan Scott is the mute sidekick who keeps Hamilton befuddled, and their miscommunication produces quite a few chuckles. Credit is due to Peter Medak for establishing a light tone while paying homage to Tyrone Power’s established silver screen persona.
Directed by: Peter Medak
Written by: Hal Dresner, Greg Alt, Don Moriarty
Starring: George Hamilton, Lauren Hutton, Brenda Vaccaro