This lighthearted half-hour adventure series, which aired on the Family Channel from 1990-93, presents Southern California in the early 19th century—a simpler time, when Los Angeles was a dusty peasant town of mud-wall haciendas along with a cantina, a jail, a village square, and corrupt colonial rule taxing the citizens into poverty. Enter Duncan Regehr as Don Diego de la Vega, a Spanish aristocrat, scholar, poet, and man of science who dons the mask and cape to defend the people from tyranny. A low-budget show shot entirely in Spain, Zorro is an unremarkable series that offers up some lightweight action-TV fun. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is all dignity as Zorro's dad in the first stretch of episodes, but he was replaced for the balance of the four-year run by Henry Darrow, who previously played Zorro in live-action and animated TV incarnations. Getting further off the original story origins track, the second season premiere features Adam West as an inventor named Dr. Wayne who gets a peek at Zorro's secret cave (holy masked inspiration, Batman!). Other notable guest stars include Doug McClure, Roddy Piper, Andre the Giant, and Jesse Ventura. Compiling all 88 episodes in a boxed set of 14 discs (the series is also available in individual season volumes), Zorro: The Complete Series also includes an exclusive bonus disc of supplements, such as an unaired alternate version of the pilot episode with a different cast, the original 1920 silent Mark of Zorro with Douglas Fairbanks, the first chapter of the 1939 serial Zorro's Fighting Legion, and a photo gallery. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
Zorro: The Complete Series
A&E, 15 discs, 2,024 min., not rated, DVD: $99.99 April 11, 2011
Zorro: The Complete Series
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