FAQ for
The Mask of Zorro (1998) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for The Mask of Zorro can be found here.

It would be hard to base this movie on Allende's novel, since the movie was released in 1998 and Allende's novel, Zorro, didn't come out until 2005.

Because it is about Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins) passing on the identity of Zorro, along with the mask that goes with it, to Alejandro Murietta (Antonio Banderas). Murietta without the mask is just a vindictive swordsman. With the mask, he becomes the hero, larger than life, greater than merely mortal...he becomes Zorro, the Fox.

No. Zorro debuted in 1919 in the pulp magazine All-Story Weekly as a character in the five part series The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley [1883-1958]. Since then, McCulley has written over 60 additional Zorro stories.

In 1821, Spain's three hundred year domination of Mexico was about to come to an end. A people's rebellion, led by General Santa Anna, spread from the arid mountains of the south to the rich and fertile northern province known as California. Peasants gathered in the streets, calling for the blood of the last Spanish governor, Don Rafael Montero. Although under orders to return to Spain, Montero refused to relinquish power without one final reckoning.

The first scene takes place on the day when Spain granted independence to Mexico, i.e. September 27, 1821. The action then jumps 20 years in the future, so the rest of the movie is set in 1841, five years before the Mexican-American War.

The music is credited as Spanish Tango. It has also been referred to as Malaguena, said to be derived from an old folk song called El Sombrero Blanco. As for the dance, those who are familiar with the tango say that the dance was definitely not a tango, at least not a classic tango. Other dances that have been suggested include the Paso Doble, the Flamenco, and the Fandango, or some variation of them.

To an extent, Zorro cut off Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones)'s dress to humble her during a moment in the fight when she was powerless to prevent him from doing so, thus showing her that she was not the unstoppable fighter she thought she was, as well as the fact that he wished to see her unclothed. Though initially angry and shocked, Elena also appeared to be secretly pleased by Zorro seeing her unclothed due to her strong attraction to him.

It's the Romneya coulteri, commonly called the Matilija poppy. The flowers in the movie, however, were most likely artificial. Once picked, poppies very quickly wilt and drop their petals, not a good characteristic for a delicate flower that might have to withstand hours of shooting and reshooting.

The tricks on horseback were done by a trick rider named Tad Griffith. Check out his website here. There's a photo of him with Antonio Banderas.

You're right. It's not Spanish. In Martin Campbell's commentary on the DVD, he says that she is speaking Narwack, one of the 62 indigenous Indian languages that are still spoken today in Mexico.

He carved an M instead of a Z to represent his last name...Murrieta. He wanted Captain Love (Matt Letscher) to know that his death was personal. Love was responsible for the death of Alejandro's brother Joaquín Murrieta.

Tornado is referred to in the movie as a black Andalusion. However, those who know their horses say that he is actually a Friesian. See a photo of a black Andalusion here and compare it to a black Friesian here. They do look very similar.

It wasn't a full stemmed rose, more of a bud. Its stem was pinched between his fingers with the rose behind his hand so it couldn't be seen when he shows his empty palms. Then he just curls his fingers to bring it into view. [This description was provided by a magician.]

Joaquin...after Alejandro's brother.

A sequel, The Legend of Zorro, was released in 2005. It has Antonio Banderas returning as Zorro and Catherine Zeta-Jones back as Elena.