 An unmistakable insignia – a master swordsman leaves his mark…. The Real ZorroEveryone loves a good swashbuckling film! It’s the one solid style of storytelling that’s by the numbers but makes you feel so good at the end of it. It’s comedy, it’s romance, it’s action, and there’s likely to be a range of merchandise that appeals to everyone. The hero, who’s fighting for the downtrodden, manages to outwit the villain, foil his plan, rescue the damsel and ride off into the sunset. Other than Zorro, our very own Robin Hood follows this style. One could argue that James Bond follows a similar style (although often with gadgets and not always swordplay, and usually riding off in an Aston Martin car). It’s a familiar setting that appeals to many people. That’s why there have been many incarnations of Zorro over the years. 
To name but a handful: Zorro the Avenger, The Sign of Zorro, The Ghost of Zorro, The Shadow of Zorro, Son of Zorro, Nephews of Zorro, Grandsons of Zorro, Who’s Afraid of Zorro, In the Way of Zorro, Red Hot Zorro, and Zorro the Gay Blade.
Where did they all come from? The origins of Zorro are perhaps less than familiar, and, I dare say, less than noble. Whilst the TV shows and films have depicted Don Diego de la Vega as the secret champion of California’s oppressed common-folk, the true story is only hinted at unless you delve a little deeper into the history books.   An Irish Zorro?One account is that “The Fox” was an Irish nobleman named William Lamport, born 1615 in Wexford. In the 1640’s he enlisted in Spanish service under the name of Guillen Lombardo to fight against France and was commended for bravery. After that, he travelled to the then Spanish colony of Mexico and whilst there developed a compassion for those less fortunate. He especially had sympathy for the native Indians. He lived with them and studied their medicinal talents and skills.For what was considered “religious incorrectness” he was hunted by the Spanish Inquisition - he didn’t expect that! – so he rose to become the leader of an underground but scattered movement to reclaim Mexico as independent. He became renowned for his steamy affairs with Spanish noblewomen, both married and unmarried. Eventually he was caught and arrested, and sent to jail for a ten year term. However, he managed to escape and waged a nighttime campaign of anti-Spanish graffiti on the walls of Mexico City until he was captured again by the Inquisition when found in the bed of the wife of the Spanish Viceroy of Mexico. On November 19, 1659, he was burnt at the stake in the central square of Mexico City, although some reports say that as the fire burnt up the stake, he was able to remove his bonds and strangle himself.  Or perhaps a Mexican Zorro?The legend starts during the Californian Gold Rush in the 1850’s…. On 24th January 1848, a small nugget of gold weighing about a third of a troy ounce was discovered in a river on the construction site of a sawmill in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The nugget was appraised at $5.12. Over time, nearby Mexican workers also found gold, and then the rumours started. When a San Francisco newspaper published the story, the region saw the inevitable wave of immigrant fortune hunters. However, they barely found enough gold to pay for their daily food.One of these prospectors seeking his fortune was a Mexican named Joaquin Murietta. (Now for those not-in-the-know about pronunciation, Joaquin is pronounced Wah-KEEN. Now you won’t insult Joaquin Phoenix if you ever meet him!) Murietta arrived in California in 1850, eager to make his fair share of the profitable gold rush. Unfortunately, his attempts were met with racism and he couldn’t find employment. Unable to pay for food, he pursued a life of banditry. His right hand man was Manuel Garcia, otherwise known as Three Fingered Jack. Murietta and his gang plundered over $100,000 in gold and horses, as well as killing almost twenty Chinese mine workers. Not quite the Robin Hood of El Dorado! 
The Governer of California formed a band of lawmen called the Rangers, who managed to allegedly hunt Murietta and Three Fingered Jack down within two months. The Rangers took Murietta’s head and Three Fingered Jack’s hand and charged spectators the opportunity to view them. They were after all preserved in brandy. However, a young woman who claimed to be Murietta’s sister denied that it was his head. Soon after, numerous sitings were reported. Were they new bandits taking up the reigns of the hero, or had Murietta not been killed after all?
Later, in 1854, a glamourised account of Murietta’s life was printed in a San Franscisco newspaper. It told the tale of how Murietta’s wife was raped and killed, his brother hanged for a crime he did not commit and how Murietta swore to avenge them by killing all the Yankees or gringos he could find. Many similar things happened to the Mexicans in the area, which is perhaps why a man so motivated by events became someone they could identify with, someone who would make a difference because of it. In the 1998 film “The Mask of Zorro”…...Three Fingered Jack and Joaquin Murietta were featured, but neither of them became Zorro. You’ll recall it was actually the supposed brother of Joaquin, Alejandro, played by Antonio Banderas, who rose to fame after seeing his brother killed by one of the Rangers. Also, to tie in the story, if you’ve seen the film you’ll remember the Ranger Captain kept Joaquin’s head in a jar. So perhaps this latest story is more true to the original legend. Of course, before Alejandro took up the reins, there was another Zorro – played by Anthony Hopkins. Don Diego de la Vega.His origins are perhaps best left to storytelling and fable… Article by: Dave Lowry HAVE YOUR SAY!!Cinemas Online Forums |
| advertising | privacy policy | links | contact |