DON Q., SON OF ZORRO
starring Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Astor
PHOTOPLAY
August, 1925
If the little boys in the front row promise not to scream, Douglas Fairbanks will blindfold his eyes and, with one flick of the whip, put out a candle . . . "
That's the sort of picture "Don Q" is; it is guaranteed to drive little boys into frenzies of stunts until they break an arm or a new fad comes along. It is romance all snapped up with vaudeville tricks, adventure told in terms of athletics.
In case you haven't heard, Don Q is the son of our old friend, Zorro. There are, of all things, a few scenes from the first adventures of Zorro and the old man, played by Mr. Fairbanks himself, in a white wig, appears in the story so you have a double-barrelled climax with two sword fights. The young Don Q, however, is most of the show. And the joy of all the stunts - the new ones and the old ones - is the feeling you have that Mr. Fairbanks really knows his stuff. It's all real and no fooling.
The story is lively but clumsy; it is full of over-seeing and over-hearing and dark doings. But as it is laid in the beautiful and mythical Spain of romance, it has the advantage of taking place in a rich and gorgeous background. And Mr. Fairbanks, in Spanish clothes doing a Spanish dance, is a sight to behold. In fact, in all his pantomime, he's really more of a dancer than an actor.
Next in interest to Mr. Fairbanks is Warner Oland, who gives a splendid performance of a gay Archduke. When the Archduke dies, the story never quite recovers from the blow. Mary Astor is so beautiful as the heroine that she doesn't seem quite human. She is the ideal lady for romance. Donald Crisp, the director, makes a swell sneaking villain.
And now, Mr. Fairbanks, won't you tell us the adventures of old man Zorro's grandson?
DON Q., SON OF ZORRO
starring Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Astor
MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE
September, 1925
Douglas Fairbanks has left the field of fantasy for melodrama - to bring forth a stirring, swinging, rollicking picture - one destined to be among his most popular canvases. He appears as Zorro's son - a Californian, who returns to Spain to brush up his education, but stays to encounter all kinds of adventure. There is a snap and go about this picture. It has a fine pace, excellent humor, plenty of color and atmosphere. It permits Fairbanks, as dynamic as ever, to cut high jinks as an expert of the whip. Exceptional acting is contributed by Warner Oland, Donald Crisp, and Jean Hersholt.
DON Q., SON OF ZORRO
starring Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Astor
MOTION PICTURE CLASSIC
August, 1925
Doug Fairbanks' sequel to his popular "Mark of Zorro" of some seasons ago has reached New York as "Don Q." While this story of Zorro's son lacks much of the spontaneity of "The Mark of Zorro," it is pleasant and entertaining. Too long, however, in its present ten reels.
Don Cesar de Vega, otherwise Don Q., goes to the ancestral home of the de Vegas in Spain and there becomes involved in as lively a series of adventures as once confronted his father in the Southwest. However, he is a little more dexterous than Zorro. He can ride, leap from buildings, and do all the other acrobatics of Zorro - and he wields a deadly long whip, which flecks swords from pursuers' hands, trips up opponents and even binds them at one whirl. Fairbanks plays Don Cesar with much gusto. He also plays the elderly Zorro in a few scenes. Thus as the white-haired Zorro, he applauds himself as the brisk and militant Don Q. A situation after an actor's own heart, indeed.
I want to go on record as endorsing "Don Q." as quite cheery entertainment, very well done. Donald Crisp's direction is keyed to a nice pace. The performance of Warner Oland as the archduke (a distinct departure for the usually scoundrelly Mr. Oland), is admirable.