Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Maria Jose Alfonos is Manuela de la Riva, headed to Santa Barbara for a reunion with her father, the governor.

Her stage is attacked by rebels. Only timely arrival of Zorro (Tony Russel) saves Manuela and her traveling companion Elisa from the brutes.

And, just like that, Manuela is smitten. With Zorro, of course. Not those uncouth rebels.

During a stop at a way station, a handsome man named Alfonso arrives and immediately begins flirting with the governor’s daughter.

She flirts back, until she learns upon arriving at her destination that Alfonso is one of her father’s butlers.

And her attitude toward Alfonso completely sours when rebels take over the governor’s palace, and he begins serving Gen. Esteban Garcia (Roberto Paoletti) instead.

In truth, Alfonso and Zorro are the same person.

And Zorro turns out to be a master of disguise as he fights to free Manuela’s father, his supporters, then the pretty lass herself, from the rebels’ grip.

Tony Russel as Alfonso, a butler to the governor by day, a masked avenger by night in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Maria Jose Alfonso as Manuela de la Riva, sure Zorro will come to the aid of her jailed father in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Review:

A light-hearted entry into the glut of Zorro films. Unfortunately, the comedy here is likely to elicit groans than chuckles.

The rebels manage to take over the palace with the help of a traitorous butler and a Trojan hay wagon.

Which is a bit surprisingly seeing as how Gen. Garcia and his commanders play their parts like the village idiots. All of the general’s good ideas come from someone else.

The cast also include Jose Rubio as an entomologist who travels the West collecting prized cockroaches.

The rebels wind up believing he’s the real Zorro when he proves quite handy with a sword.

Which merely means that Zorro will need to save him as well.

Roberto Paoletti as Gen. Esteban Garcia, who sets himself up as the new governor in Santa Barbara in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Jose Maria Seoane as Don Antonio de la Rivera, an ousted governor destined for the gallows in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Directed by:
Riccardo Blasco
as Richard Blasco

Cast:
Tony Russel … Alfonso / Zorro
Maria Jose Alfonso … Manuela de la Riva
Roberto Paoletti … Gen. Esteban Garcia
Jesus Puente … Capt. Gomez
Mirella Maravidi … Elisa
Jose Rubio … Professor Marcel de Fregonal
Angela Rhu … Maria (maid)
Agustin Gonzalez … Ambo
Sancho Gracia … Juan, Manuela’s fiance
Enrique Navarro … Jeronio Montson
Rosita Yarza … Serafina Montzon
Rafael Cores …. Governor’s aide
Enrico Salvatore … Alonzo
Aldo Cecconi … Lt. del Sol
Maria Luisa Arias … Dona Leonor de la Riva
Jose Maria Seoane … Don Antonio de la Riva

Runtime: 106 min.

aka:
Zorro Rides Again
The Oath of Zorro
El Zorro cabalga otra vez
Il giuramento di Zorro

Agustin Gonzalez as Ambo, one of Gen. Esteban Garcia’s chief lieutenants, even if he is susceptible to female charm in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Agustin Gonzalez as Ambo, one of Gen. Esteban Garcia’s chief lieutenants, even if he is susceptible to female charm in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Memorable lines:

Capt. Gomez to Manuela de la Riva: “We don’t kill pretty young girls. There seems to be a shortage of them!”

Professor Marcel de Fregonal, admiring his cockroach: “There are many rare specimens in this country. They aren’t very easy to capture. But I find that I always manage.”

Alfonso, after the stagecoach hits a bump, practically throwing Manuela into his arms: “I must remember to thank the governor for the condition of his roads.”

Professor, as widespread swordplay breaks out and he’s about to engage: “Oh, how stupid of me? First of all, I must secure the safety of …”
Elisa, his admirer, pushing him back toward the fray: “Don’t worry about me. You must fight.”
Professor, pulling in the opposite direction: “I can’t allow my insects to fall into the hands of those barbarians.”

Maria Luisa Arias as Dona Leonor de la River, Maria Jose Alfonso as Manuela, Jose Rubio as the professor and Mirella Maravidi as Elisa in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Tony Russel as Zorro, making a last-night visit to the balcony of Manuela (Maria Jose Alfonso) in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Zorro to Ambo: “I’ll carve a slice off your bald head that will teach you to treat women with respect.”

Alfonso, drawing scorn from Manuela when he begins serving as butler to the rebels: “Times change, my lady, and so do governors. But a good butler, never deserts his post.”

Manuela: “Our troubles have finally ended.”
Alfonso: “From the look in your eyes, mine are just beginning.”

Rosita Yarza as Serafina, a Zorro confidant, amused by Manuela’s infatuation with the masked avenger in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Maria Jose Alfonso as Manuela and Tony Russel as Zorro with a wounded patriot named Juan (Sancho Gracia) in Behind the Mask of Zorro (1965)

Trivia:

An American who was the son of Italian immigrants, Tony Russel wound up enjoying most of his success as an actor there. In addition to being leading man in a handful of films there, he founded the English Language Dubbers Association, ensuring the same person dubbed a specific actor or actress. According to the Westerns All’Italiana blog, he was also the English voice of Fernando Sancho in several films.

Russel auditioned for the role of Zorro in the Disney TV series that aired in the U.S. from 1957 to 1959. The part went to Guy Williams. Russel still appeared in three of “Zorro’s” 83 episodes.

Though she has more than 100 screen and TV credits to her name, this marked the only Euro Western for María José Alfonso. Nearly 15 years younger than her co-star in this film, she was still acting into the 2020s.