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| writer = {{plain list|1=
* [[Johnston McCulley]]
* [[Hal Dresner]]
* Greg Alt
* Don Moriarty
}}
| starring = {{plain list|1=
*
* [[Lauren Hutton]]
* [[Ron Leibman]]
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| cinematography = [[John A. Alonzo]]
| editing = Lori Jane Coleman
| studio = [[Melvin Simon Productions]]<br />Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.
| distributor = [[20th Century Fox]]
| released =
| runtime = 93 minutes
| country = United States<br />Mexico
| language = English
| budget = $12.6 million<ref>Aubrey Solomon, ''Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History'', Scarecrow Press, 1989 p259</ref>
| gross = $5.1 million (US/Canada)<ref>Solomon p 235. Figures are rentals not total gross.</ref>
}}
'''''Zorro, The Gay Blade''''' is a 1981 American [[swashbuckler film|swashbuckling]] [[comedy film|comedy]] film from [[20th Century Fox]], produced by C.O. Erickson and [[George Hamilton (actor)|George Hamilton]], directed by [[Peter Medak]], that stars Hamilton, [[Lauren Hutton]], [[Ron Leibman]], and [[Brenda Vaccaro]].
The film's opening prologue states: "This film is dedicated to [[Rouben Mamoulian]] and the other great filmmakers whose past gives us our future".
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The prologue quickly establishes that ''Zorro, The Gay Blade'' is a tongue-in-cheek sequel to 20th Century Fox's swashbuckling [[adventure film]] ''[[The Mark of Zorro (1940 film)|The Mark of Zorro]]'' (1940), directed by Mamoulian.
Hamilton was nominated for a [[Golden Globe]] award for playing the [[dual role]] of Don Diego de la Vega ([[Zorro]]) and his gay twin brother Bunny Wigglesworth, aka Ramón de la Vega.
==Plot==
In 1840s [[Madrid]], [[Spain]], Don Diego de la Vega is in bed with a married woman. They are caught by her husband, Garcia, and Diego must sword fight with him and his five brothers. During the altercation, Diego's [[muteness|mute]] servant Paco reads (via gestures) a letter from Diego's father ordering Diego's return to [[California]]. Diego and Paco jump from a high wall into a waiting carriage.
When the two arrive in [[Los Angeles]] months later, they are met by Diego's childhood friend Esteban, who is now [[Kapitan (rank)|capitán]] of the guard. He has married Florinda, for whom the men competed when they were boys. Diego learns that his father was killed in a riding accident, his horse "frightened by a turtle". Esteban is the acting [[alcalde]] until the [[Don (honorific)|Dons]] elect a replacement.
Esteban is elected by acclamation and then gives a speech to the assembled peasants. He is interrupted by Charlotte Taylor-Wilson, a wealthy [[political activist]] from [[Boston]]. She and Diego meet, and despite their political differences, Diego is smitten.
Diego is invited to a [[masked ball]] celebrating Esteban's elevation. He also receives his inheritance: Zorro's black cape, hat, and sword, along with a letter from his late father revealing that he was Zorro. That legacy now falls to Diego. He decides the masked ball is the perfect place to announce Zorro's return. On his way there, Zorro witnesses a peasant being extorted. He confronts and defeats Esteban's tax collector, then instructs the
Diego, in Zorro costume, dances with Florinda at the ball. Velasquez, the tax collector, reports the theft to Esteban, pointing to Diego as Zorro. A duel ensues with Esteban, and Zorro escapes by again jumping from a high wall, but this time injuring his foot and hobbling away.
Later that night, a
A reign of terror begins, including [[torture]] and increased [[taxation]]. Diego is frustrated because, being injured, he cannot fight Esteban's tyranny. Fate intervenes when Diego's gay, [[fop]]pish, and British-educated twin brother Ramón de la Vega, a [[Royal Navy]] officer
The colorful Zorro always eludes capture. Esteban hatches a plan to lure Zorro to the alcalde's residence with another ball to show off Florinda's expensive new necklace. Seeing through the plan, Diego arrives dressed as Zorro. So do the rest of the Dons and male party guests, saying that a message from Esteban instructed them all to dress that way. Adding to the confusion, Bunny appears in [[drag (clothing)|drag]], masquerading as "Margarita" Wigglesworth, Diego's cousin from [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]]. Esteban is smitten upon meeting her. Bunny spills a drink on Florinda, and in the resulting chaos attempts to clean her dress, and makes off with the necklace. As Bunny leaves to return to the Royal Navy, he tells Diego that Charlotte Taylor-Wilson has confessed her love for Zorro.
At the plaza, Diego (as Zorro) and Charlotte meet again, falling into each other's arms, but they are observed and Esteban is informed. As a ruse to lure Zorro, he has Charlotte arrested, and she is sentenced to be executed. Don Diego as Zorro surrenders to Esteban to save her, and he is sentenced to death.
Seconds before the firing squad opens fire, Bunny, this time wearing a bright metallic gold costume, announces the return of Zorro
==Cast==
* [[George Hamilton (actor)|George Hamilton]] as Don Diego Vega / Zorro / Bunny Wigglesworth / Ramón Vega<ref>{{cite news|title= Masked Zorro Returns Friday to Make His Mark on Cable TV |first=Jay |last=Sharbutt |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 1, 1990 |url=
* [[Lauren Hutton]] as Charlotte Taylor-Wilson
* [[Brenda Vaccaro]] as Florinda
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* [[Eduardo Noriega (Mexican actor)|Eduardo Noriega]] as Don Francisco
* [[Pilar Pellicer]] as Don Francisco's wife
* [[Jorge Russek]] as Don Fernando
* Eduardo Alcaraz as Don Jose
* Carlos Bravo y Fernández as Don Luis Obispo
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==Development==
The film began life as a screenplay by future screenwriter and teacher [[David Trottier]], titled ''Zorro, the Comedy Adventure''. Trottier had little involvement with the finished film, barring some minor additions, so was not credited.<ref>{{Cite
==Film score==
The opening credits read: ”Music conducted and adapted by Ian Fraser” and the end credits: “Music adapted from ''[[
==Critical reception==
[[Vincent Canby]] gave a mostly positive review in ''[[The New York Times]]'', praising many of the performances in particular. "[George Hamilton] has energy and extreme good will. He also has surrounded himself with some very attractive and funny actors, particularly Mr. Leibman, Brenda Vaccaro, as the alcalde's sex-hungry wife, and beautiful Lauren Hutton".<ref>[http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9405EFDA113BF937A15754C0A967948260 "Zorro The Gay Blade (1981): George Hamilton, Comic Zorro"] Vincent Canby, ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 24, 1981. Accessed January 11, 2013.</ref>
The film holds a rating of 50% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] from 16 reviews.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zorro_the_gay_blade|title=Zorro, the Gay Blade | Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref>
==References==
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==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{
* {{
* {{
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=zorro_the_gay_blade|title=Zorro, The Gay Blade}}
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[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]
[[Category:American adventure comedy films]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:
[[Category:1981 LGBT-related films]]▼
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Peter Medak]]
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[[Category:1981 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Johnston McCulley]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Stinkers Bad Movie Award winning films]]
[[Category:English-language Western (genre) comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language adventure comedy films]]
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