THE
EROTIC ADVENTURES OF ZORRO (1972)Directors: William Allen Castleman, Robert Freeman
Something Weird Video/Image Entertainment
THE
EROTIC ADVENTURES OF ZORRO (1972)Having successfully transformed Robin Hood into a skin flick hero with THE RIBALD TALES OF ROBIN HOOD, producer David F. Friedman turned his sites on Zorro, marking an end to the softcore market, and making way for the hardcore industry.
A local village is being extorted by the evil Luis Bonsario (THE ADULT VERSION OF JEKYLL AND HIDE's Jude Farese) assisted by the short, rotund Sgt. Felipo Latio (Friedman regular Bob Cresse of HOUSE ON BARE MOUNTAIN fame) who takes advantage of young girls while making wisecracks into the camera. Meanwhile, brave swordsman Don Diego (Douglas Frey) is employed by his father to set things straight. By day he poses as a homosexual, donned in pink attire, while at night he assumes his true identity as the masked Zorro, romancing all the pretty ladies and delivering justice.
With a script that resembles the comic juxtaposition style of Mel Brooks (Zorro? Who the fuck is Zorro?), the film is lavish in production, especially for a cheap sexploiter from the Friedman stable. The period sets and costumes, along with the surprisingly slick cinematography and editing almost give it the feel of a dirty Disney film, with Cresse bellowing lines like, "This Zorro is getting to be a real pain in the ass," after some poor soldier has a huge "Z" inscribed on his rump!
The film's extended softcore sex sequences, courtesy of Robyn Whitting, sexy blond Penny Moran and others, go on way too long, probably to pacify the raincoat crowd, as well as drive-in patrons who could give two shits about the plot. The film painfully clocks in at 102 minutes, and could have been trimmed of at least 20 of those to compliment its better moments.
Often featured on the early days of the Playboy Channel (when Friedman and Russ Meyer flicks were commonly aired), THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF ZORRO has now been given a great treatment due to the care of Something Weird Video and Image Entertainment. Among the extra features is a commentary by Friedman and Something Weird's Mike Vraney, which is worth the price of admission alone. Friedman tells great stories, coaxed by the proficient Vraney, including the fact that the producers of George Hamilton's failed ZORRO THE GAY BLADE (1981) ripped this film off completely. He also shares many enticing anecdotes about making the film, as well as the exploits of its main participants.
The transfer is as good as can be expected. The full frame presentation, culled from Friedman's own negative, is very colorful with very little wear. The mono sound is also very good. Also included is a racy trailer ("The first movie rated Z") for the film, a pinkish/dupey looking trailer for the similar THE LONG SWIFT SWORD OF SIEGFRIED (directed by MARK OF THE DEVIL's Adrian Hoven), and an unusual Latin-made short from the 30s entitled SCARRED FACE. There is also a gallery of Friedman pressbook and poster art. (George R. Reis)