Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 10:00am

Zorro: Foe of Big Government?

When I was a small boy, I loved watching the old Walt Disney show Zorro.  I have read recently that Disney, a political conservative, used the Zorro show to argue against big government.  There are some episodes that support this, involving outrage by the people over unjust taxes.  The fictional character Zorro fought against tyrannical government in Old California, and I guess Disney decided that this was  a good storyline for how he viewed big government. 

 The video above is a colorized episode.  Normally I do not like colorization of old black and white movies or tv shows, but in this case I think it is well done.  I am intrigued by how well the show holds up.  Guy Williams played the title role with panache, and he was surrounded with good supporting actors.  The show had some sharp writing, and was a first rate mix of comedy and drama.

I also enjoyed the respectful manner in which the Church was portrayed in the series.  Priests and friars are portrayed as good and honest men, helping the poor and opposed to tyranny.  In one episode Don Diego remarks to a friar that a cruel landlord is attempting to undo all the good work that the Church had done among the Indians.  The following is a synopsis of an episode from the first season, which was broadcast on 10/24/57 :

“Don Torres’ safety at the mission is imperiled when a peasant informs Monastario of his hiding place and the lancers ride to surround the church. Monastario tries to enter the mission but is blocked by Padre Felipe, who demands that the soldiers leave without violating the sanctuary of the church. Otherwise, he warns, Monastario will face the wrath of the people. Instead, the capitan forces the local Indians to build a road through a rocky area, vowing to continue the work until Torres surrenders.

The cries of the slave workers are soon heard at the mission and Torres decides to surrender to spare them further hardship. Just as Torres walks out to give himself up, Zorro arrives and frees the Indians, who flee into the hills.”

The working title of this episode was “Zorro Goes to Church”.

 All of the episodes of Zorro are available in DVD collections and make first rate family entertainment.

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Tito Edwards
Sunday, September 5, AD 2010 2:16pm

Red like a Rose?

One of my favorite deviations of Zorro!

Don Luis Obispo of Bakersfield!

Der Wolfanwalt
Sunday, September 5, AD 2010 3:26pm

I really don’t know how hot to trot I would be to claim Walt as a conservative, all things being equal.

Joe P.
Joe P.
Monday, September 6, AD 2010 2:09pm

I remember watching it as a kid. Zorro also had a decent incarnation in the early 90s on The Family Channel.

Jay Anderson
Monday, November 8, AD 2010 2:51pm

Wow, I’m impressed with the way TAC has expanded its readership into unexpected market segments. Now Don has “Hardcore MILFs” commenting on his posts.

😉

Jay Anderson
Monday, November 8, AD 2010 2:54pm

To echo the title of Chris’ most recent post:

“The New Evangelization”?

😉

RL
RL
Monday, November 8, AD 2010 2:59pm

LOL Jay

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