Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection: Zorro Rides Again (1937, 12 chapters), Zorro's
Fighting Legion (1939, 12 chapters) and Zorro's Black Whip (1944, 12 chapters).
Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection (Unrated, 1937-44) - VCI Home Entertainment
(800-331-4077) release of a trio of Zorro serials in a three-disc set is rather a
disappointment.
The fault is not with the serials themselves: Zorro Rides Again and Zorro's Fighting
Legion are among the best chapterplays released by the studio, while Zorro's Black
Whip is an above-average Western.
The problem rests with the quality of the source material used for these DVD
presentations. On all three the night scenes are overly dark, sometimes to the point
that they obscure the actors and all you can do is listen to the action.
Plus on Zorro's Black Whip the sound drops out at times.
It is obvious that the source materials for these serials are not from the Republic
vaults, but from either private collectors or other non-studio outlet.
This is most unfortunate, since these serials are great entertainment, with Zorro's
Fighting Legion considered one of the top offerings among Republic's 66
cliffhangers.
The three-disc offering would be a great sell if VCI could improve on the quality of
the product. Until then, serial lovers will have to look somewhere else for pristine or
even above-average DVDs of these episodic treasures.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Ind. He can be
reached by e-mail at bbloom@journalandcourier.com or at bob@bloomink.com.
Bloom's reviews also can be found at the Journal and Courier Web site:
www.jconline.com
Other reviews by Bloom can be found at the Rottentomatoes Web site:
www.rottentomatoes.com or at the Internet Movie Database Web site:
www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom
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