Articles - New World Zorro

New World Zorro - Articles and Reviews Disclaimer: The comments appearing on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the site owner and are presented for informational and educational purposes.
From Riding the Video Range: The Rise and Fall of the Western on Television, Gary A. Yoggy, 1995: As a kid in Canada, Regehr admitted to having "caught a few" episodes of the original Zorro on television, but while preparing for the new series "purposely didn't watch the old series" because (as he told USA Today's Peter Johnson in January 1990), "If you're going to do Hamlet, you don't want to do somebody else's Hamlet. You want it to be new and different." A total of 88 episodes of the New World Zorro were filmed (25 each of the first 3 seasons, 13 during the fourth). With production values vastly superior to those of Disney (even though his episodes have now been colorized), competent (if not superior) acting and a number of interesting storylines, this version may stand for some time as the "definitive" screen version of Johnston McCulley's acclaimed caped crusader - that is, until someone like Stephen Spielberg or George Lucas decides to develop a version of that wise, brave, charming, cunning, and romantic Western hero. From USA Today, Peter Johnson: With the new "Zorro" series, . . . The Family Channel continues its puzzling habit of shelling out bucks to produce something that looks and sounds just like the primitive reruns that fill the schedule . . . Duncan Regehr . . . plays the hero with enough eye makeup to resemble the silent Zorro, Douglas Fairbanks . . . Everything else about the new "Zorro" appears similarly ancient: the phonily staged action sequences (what few there are!), the stock action of the supporting players.
From TV Guide, Sept. 9-15, 1989: Zorro (The Family Channel): Twenty-two new episodes featuring the famed swashbuckling swordsman (Duncan Regehr) are scheduled to debut in January.
	TV Guide, Jan. 6-12, 1990; article by Larry Closs He never inspired a Prince-penned dance tune, but according to Batman creator Bob Kane, he was the inspiration for Gotham City's Caped Crusader. Who is that masked man? Zorro, and he's back in a new series on The Family Channel starring Duncan Regehr (bottom right, masked and unmasked). Guy Williams (top right), who portrayed the Spanish swashbuckler in the 1957 Walt Disney-produced TV series, proved so popular among America's youth that he set off a Zorro craze rivaling last year's Batmania. Will history repeat itself? We'll have to wait and Z.

Entertainment Weekly

Issue dated 2/16/90

Review by Ken Tucker

"This new version of Zorro features a masterful casting job: Physically, Duncan Regehr is a perfect new Zorro; he looks like a youthful version of the Zorro from the '50s, Guy Williams, right down to a little mustache that resembles a black French fry. And Regehr plays the part well, capturing this masked swordsman's playfulness and romanticism. At the same time, Regehr is careful to keep his interpretation from slacking off into a winking, campy character. That said, however, I'm obliged to report that this new Zorro is dull and humorless, its stories tiresomely didactic. And in what I'll bet is a misguided effort to cut down on TV violence, Zorro doesn't even flick his sword to make a "Z" on the shirt-fronts of his enemies! This is a peaceful Zorro; an earnest Zorro; a Zorro who spends more time lecturing his enemies than crossing swords with them."

New World Zorro - Articles and Reviews