Town Hall to screen ‘Zorro’ and sequel ‘Son of Zorro’ over a single weekend March 29-30

WILTON – It’s a rare chance to see the classic silent adventure ‘The Mark of Zorro’ and its popular sequel, ‘Son of Zorro’ all in one weekend.
On Saturday, March 29, the Town Hall Theatre will present ‘The Mark of Zorro’ (1920) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
Then, on Sunday, March 30, the theatre will run ‘Don Q, Son of Zorro’ (1925) on the 100th anniversary of the film’s release–a continuation of the Zorro story and Hollywood’s first-ever big budget sequel.
In ‘Don Q, Son of Zorro,’ Fairbanks plays dual roles: his original sword-brandishing ‘Zorro’ character and also his whip-wielding son.
Both screenings start at 2 p.m. and will be accompanied by live music performed by Jeff Rapsis.
Admission is free; a donation of $10 per person is suggested to defray expenses and support the Town Hall Theatre’s silent film series.
“These two films were among the most popular of the 1920s, and there are many links between them,” Rapsis said. “It’s a rare chance to see them both together, although each is entertaining and enjoyable on its own.”
Douglas Fairbanks Sr., an immensely popular star whose career peaked in the 1920s, served as the model for the George Valentin character in ‘The Artist,’ the silent film that won multiple Academy Awards in 2012, including the Oscar for Best Picture.
‘The Mark of Zorro,’ to be screened on Saturday, March 29, tells the story of young Don Diego Vega, the son of a wealthy ranch owner in Spanish California of the early 19th century.
Witnessing the mistreatment of the poor by rich landowners and the oppressive colonial government, Don Diego assumes the identity of “Señor Zorro,” a masked figure of great cunning and skill, and vows to bring justice to the region.
The film stars Fairbanks, who until ‘Zorro’ had focused on playing traditional all-American leading roles in romantic comedies.
The success of ‘Zorro’ launched Fairbanks on a series of historical adventure films that went on to rank among the most popular spectacles of the silent era, including ‘The Three Musketeers’ (1921) and ‘Robin Hood’ (1922).
The enduring popularity of ‘Zorro’ led Fairbanks to film the sequel, which continues the story to another generation.
In ‘Don Q, Son of Zorro,’ Fairbanks plays Don Cesar de Vega, Zorro’s grown son, a prodigy with the whip who is visiting the family’s Spanish homeland to finish his education.
The trip is no dull semester abroad: Cesar duels with Don Sebastian of the Queen’s Guard (soon to be his rival for the hand of lovely Dolores de Muro), makes love to a general’s daughter, and befriends the visiting Archduke of Austria.
But a quarrel ending in violence gives Don Sebastian the chance to dispose of his rival by framing him for murder. Feigning suicide, Zorro’s whip-wielding son escapes to the family’s abandoned castle, where he makes plans to clear the family name.
Both screenings will be accompanied live by silent film musician Jeff Rapsis.
Rapsis achieves a “movie score” sound for silent film screenings by using a digital synthesizer to reproduce the texture of the full orchestra.
“Each of the ‘Zorro’ films are terrific movies on their own, but the chance to see the original and then the sequel is a great way to present these two films as they were intended to be seen: on the big screen, with live music, and with an audience,” said Rapsis, who provides live music accompaniment for silent film screenings across New England and beyond.
‘The Mark of Zorro’ (1920) will be screened with live music on Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m. Its sequel, ‘Don Q, Son of Zorro’ (1925) will be screened with live music on Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m. Each screening is free and open to the public; a donation of $10 per person is suggested to defray expenses.
Both screenings take place at the Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton, N.H. For more info, visit www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com or call (603) 654-3456. For more about the music, visit www.jeffrapsis.com.