The curse of the Spanish masked hero is a legend that has captivated the imaginations of people around the world. Dating back to the colonial era of Latin America, this curse tells the story of a valiant hero who fought for justice and defended the weak. This hero, known as El Capitán, wore a distinctive mask that hid his true identity and struck fear into the hearts of wrongdoers. El Capitán was said to possess incredible strength and agility, allowing him to effortlessly defeat his enemies. He was known for his unwavering commitment to his cause and his determination to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. However, the legend goes that El Capitán's heroics came at a great cost.
Douglas Fairbanks generated a sensation in 1920 with his silent film The Mark of Zorro, an adaptation of McCulley’s first Zorro story, which remains one of the great classics of that era. Two decades later Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone starred in the successful 1940 sound remake of The Mark of Zorro. Zorro also appeared in 1936 in Republic Pictures’ first color film, The Bold Caballero.
The Fox was a character born for serial treatment and Republic wasted no time in making a twelve chapter serial, Zorro Rides Again 1937 , followed by four more Zorro serials over the next twelve years. Internationally beloved author Isabel Allende Paula, Daughter of Fortune, Portraits in Sepia, My Invented Country completed the flagship ZORRO, a novel which as published by Harper Collins in May 2005.
However, the legend goes that El Capitán's heroics came at a great cost. According to the curse, anyone who dons the mask of El Capitán will be forever bound to a life of loneliness and sacrifice. They will be unable to reveal their true identity to others, living a dual life hidden behind their mask.
Johnston McCulley dreamed up Zorro 100 years ago. The masked avenger is still a thrill.
One hundred years ago — on Aug. 9, 1919 — All-Story Weekly published the opening installment of a serial entitled “The Curse of Capistrano.” Set in a highly idealized Southern California during the early 19th century, when Spanish grandees ruled vast estates and Franciscan missions brought Christianity to the indigenous population, the novel introduced a new adventure hero, the masked avenger of the downtrodden and oppressed, the daring and debonair swordsman Zorro.
Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight
A year later, Douglas Fairbanks starred in an acrobatic silent film adaptation of the novel, retitled “The Mark of Zorro.” In the half-century that followed, this wily fox — which is what “zorro” means in Spanish — grew nearly as famous as Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Tarzan, another alumnus of All-Story (the lord of the jungle first appeared in its pages in 1912). In my own childhood, little boys in swimming trunks would inevitably practice Tarzan’s chest-thumping victory cry, just as they would always pick up anything roughly resembling a sword and quickly slash the air with three strokes to make a Z, the sign of the California Robin Hood. In the late 1950s, Zorro grew especially popular because of a Disney television series featuring handsome Guy Williams as the daredevil highwayman. Even now, I can remember the thrilling words of the show’s musical opening:
Out of the night
AdvertisementWhen the full moon is bright
Comes a horseman
Known as Zorro!
When Johnston McCulley published “The Curse of Capistrano,” he clearly didn’t expect to write more stories about its protagonist. At the end of the novel, he reveals — what any reader will have guessed much earlier — that the languid aesthete Don Diego Vega is actually Zorro. What’s more, McCulley obviously copied this central plot device (as well as Zorro’s league of noble caballeros) from Baroness Orczy’s “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” In that thrilling swashbuckler, the foppish, slightly dim Sir Percy Blakeney is secretly the intrepid Scarlet Pimpernel, whose guerrilla actions help save the innocent from the guillotine during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.
Over the course of his pulp-writing career, McCulley (1883-1958) created many unlikely crime fighters, the most improbable being the Crimson Clown, a costumed avenger who actually dresses in a red clown outfit. You really can’t make this stuff up. Still, he regularly returned to his masked hidalgo. In 1922’s “The Further Adventures of Zorro,” the villainous Captain Ramon is resurrected from “The Curse of Capistrano” so he can plot with a band of pirates and kidnap Lolita Pulido on the eve of her wedding to Don Diego. To rescue her, Zorro must ride again. In terms of pure adventure, “The Further Adventures” is even more exciting — faster-paced and more varied in its action — than the more romance-oriented original. At one point, Señorita Lolita is offered an unbearable choice: Marry the odious Ramon or watch her beloved Diego be tortured to death.
Share this article ShareAs a prose stylist, McCulley isn’t likely to be mistaken for the creator of a far more famous Lolita. He’s also blithely inconsistent. In the later stories, the identity of Zorro has again become a mystery (except to Don Diego’s aged father, Don Alejandro, the family’s mute servant Bernardo and the old monk Fray Felipe). Fat Sergeant Garcia can appear as either a buffoon or an implacable enemy (eventually branded with the dreaded Z on his forehead) or even as a self-sacrificing friend. In “The Sign of Zorro,” Lolita turns out to have died of a fever shortly after her wedding to Diego, who subsequently mopes around the hacienda until the beautiful Panchita Canchola begs for his help and he dons his mask once more. At that novel’s end, the lovely señorita appears set to become a second Señora Vega, but her flashing eyes must have lost their dazzle since we never hear of her again. In the short stories of the 1930s and after, romantic subplots are usually jettisoned for straightforward tales of intrigue and derring-do.
In recent years, some pulp magazine stalwarts, most notably Dashiell Hammett and H.P. Lovecraft, have been canonized by the Library of America. That’s not likely to happen to Johnston McCulley who, except for his luck in creating Zorro, is merely a competent hack — which doesn’t prevent him from being fun to read. Still, you may need to make allowances. McCulley’s blue-blooded caballeros are models of chivalry (except when one goes bad), while his peons and “red natives” are either abused, ignored or treated paternalistically. Zorro’s vigilantism, like that of his comic-book successor Batman, can now appear, shall we say, problematic. It also seems oddly punctilious that an outlaw is always addressed as Señor Zorro and shocking that a Franciscan monk would be whipped in a public square for supposedly swindling a merchant. And are we tacitly meant to regard the poetry-loving Don Diego, with his dainty handkerchiefs and repeated expostulations about “these turbulent times,” as an effeminate gay man? It’s only a step to George Hamilton’s campy cult film, “Zorro, the Gay Blade.”
Zorro debuted in McCulley's 1919 story The Curse of Capistrano, serialized in five parts in the pulp magazine All-Story Weekly. At the denouement, Zorro's true identity is revealed to all.
The curse also brings about misfortune and tragedy to those close to the hero, with loved ones often meeting untimely ends. This curse has been passed down through oral storytelling for generations, becoming a cautionary tale for those who seek to follow in the footsteps of El Capitán. Many believe that the curse serves as a reminder that even the noblest of intentions can have unintended consequences. Despite the curse, there have been those who have dared to take on the mantle of El Capitán. These masked heroes have embraced the sacrifice and isolation that comes with their role, dedicating their lives to fighting for justice. They consider it a small price to pay for the greater good. The legend of the curse of the Spanish masked hero continues to inspire and intrigue. It reminds us of the power of storytelling and the enduring appeal of heroes who fight for what is right, no matter the personal cost. Whether the curse is real or simply a cautionary tale, it serves as a reminder that every heroic act comes with its own set of sacrifices..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Spanish Masked Hero: From Generation to Generation"
1. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars
I was extremely disappointed with "The Curse of the Spanish Masked Hero." The storyline was confusing and lacked depth, leaving me feeling completely disconnected from the characters. The acting was subpar, and it felt like the actors were simply going through the motions without any real emotion or passion. The special effects were also underwhelming and failed to enhance the overall experience. Overall, I found this film to be a complete waste of time and would not recommend it to anyone.
2. Jason - 2 out of 5 stars
While "The Curse of the Spanish Masked Hero" had potential, it ultimately fell flat for me. The plot was cliché and lacked originality, and the pacing was inconsistent, leading to a lack of engagement. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters or become invested in their journeys. Additionally, the film relied too heavily on mediocre action sequences and failed to deliver any real substance or depth. Overall, I found this film to be mediocre at best and did not live up to my expectations.
3. Emily - 2.5 out of 5 stars
I found "The Curse of the Spanish Masked Hero" to be underwhelming. While the cinematography was visually pleasing, the story itself felt disjointed and poorly executed. The pacing was uneven, with moments of unnecessary slow-motion that dragged the film down. Additionally, the character development was lacking, making it difficult to fully invest in their struggles and triumphs. The dialogue felt contrived and lacked depth, failing to evoke any real emotion. Overall, I believe this film could have been much better with a stronger script and more attention to detail.