History Trivia / TheMaskOfZorro

** This film came out in a wave of modern {{swashbuckler}} adventure films that updated classic stories following the success of ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves'', with bonus points for also having a love ballad/pop song made for it that's weaved into the orchestral score. Although in terms of its story whilst ''The Mask of Zorro'' may have inspired the film version of ''Film/{{The Count of Monte Cristo|2002}}''; ''Zorro'' itself seems to be a JustForFun/{{re|cycledINSPACE}}telling of the ''Monte Cristo'' story (it's actually a retelling of ''The Curse Of Capistrano'').

** Spielberg offered Spanish cult movie director Álex de la Iglesia (''Film/TheDayOfTheBeast'', ''Film/LaComunidad'', ''Film/TheLastCircus'') the chance to direct the film, but Iglesia left the project due to creative differences, most likely for reasons similar to Rodriguez's given his resume of bizarre and violent fare.

** Spielberg offered Spanish cult movie director Alex de la Iglesia (''Film/TheDayOfTheBeast'', ''Film/LaComunidad'', ''Film/TheLastCircus'') the chance to direct the film, but Iglesia left the project due to creative differences, most likely for reasons similar to Rodriguez's given his resume of bizarre and violent fare.

** Spielberg offered cult movie director Alex de la Iglesia (''Film/TheDayOfTheBeast'', ''Film/LaComunidad'', ''Film/TheLastCircus'') the chance to direct the film, but Iglesia left the project due to creative differences, most likely wanting a darker approach similar Rodriguez's given his resume of bizarre and violent fare.

* Lampooned as the [[AnachronismStew horribly anachronistic]] film "[[ShowWithinAShow The Poke of Zorro]]" in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E5EIEIAnnoyedGrunt E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)]] (at the end, Zorro is made King of England by Myth/KingArthur). The [[SignatureScene undressing scene with a sword]] is directly parodied.
* Literature/PussInBoots in the ''Franchise/{{Shrek}}'' films is a direct parody of Zorro voiced by Creator/AntonioBanderas himself, and became so popular he got two [[WesternAnimation/PussInBoots2011 spinoff]] [[WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish movies]] and [[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfPussInBoots a TV series]] all to himself.

* ReferencedBy: Lampooned as the [[AnachronismStew horribly anachronistic]] film "[[ShowWithinAShow The Poke of Zorro]]" in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E5EIEIAnnoyedGrunt E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)]] (at the end, Zorro is made King of England by Myth/KingArthur). The [[SignatureScene undressing scene with a sword]] is directly parodied.

* YouLookFamiliar: Pedro Armendariz Jr. plays Don Hector in ''Mask'' and Governor Riley in ''Legend''. In addition Creator/TonyAmendola plays Don Luis and Father Quintero, the name of the villain in the Creator/TyronePower film was Don Luis Quintero.

* GeniusBonus: Potentially a coincidence, but "The Mask of Zorro" is also the title of the last original Zorro story that his creator, Johnston [=McCullley=], published. Fitting, given that Don Diego de la Vega is also Zorro's real name from those stories (something that carried over into the other adaptations prior to this one(, [[spoiler: and tragic since Don de la Vega ends up losing his life at the end of the film.]]

* GeniusBonus: Potentially a coincidence, but "The Mask of Zorro" is also the title of the last original Zorro story series creator Johnston [=McCullley=] wrote. Fitting, given that Don Diego de la Vega is also Zorro's real name from those stories, something that carried over into the other adaptations prior to this one, [[spoiler: and tragic since that Don de la Vega ends up losing his life at the end of the film.]]

* GeniusBonus: Potentially a coincidence, but "The Mask of Zorro" is also the title of the last original Zorro story series creator Johnston McCullley wrote. Fitting, given that Don De La Vega is also Zorro's real name from those stories.

* FollowTheLeader: This film came out in a wave of modern swashbuckler adventure films that updated classic stories following the success of ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves'', with bonus points for also having a love ballad/pop song made for it that's weaved into the orchestral score. Although in terms of its story whilst ''The Mask of Zorro'' may have inspired the film version of ''Film/{{The Count of Monte Cristo|2002}}''; ''Zorro'' itself seems to be a JustForFun/{{re|cycledINSPACE}}telling of the ''Monte Cristo'' story (it's actually a retelling of ''The Curse Of Capistrano'').

** In the deleted scenes, Mexican general Santa Anna is played Portuguese actor Creator/JoaquimDeAlmeida.

** In Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's original draft of the screenplay, [[spoiler:Don Diego was not killed, and lived to tell the story of Zorro's adventures to his granddaughter]].

* DawsonCasting

** Both Don Diego and his daughter Elena are played by Welsh actors, Alejandro is a Mexican (technically a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californios Californio]]) played by a Spaniard, and both villains (the probably Spanish Montero and the French Armand) are played by {{E|vilBrit}}nglishmen.

* CaliforniaDoubling: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]]. The film is set in what is now California, then called "Alta California", which was at the time a part of Mexico. It was shot on-location in Mexico, but further south, in the states of Hidalgo, Durango, Sonora, and Tlaxcala.

* FollowTheLeader: This film came out in a wave of modern swashbuckler adventure films that updated classic stories following the success of ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves'', with bonus points for also having a love ballad/pop song made for it that's weaved into the orchestral score. Although in terms of its story whilst ''The Mask of Zorro'' may have inspired the film version of ''Film/{{The Count of Monte Cristo|2002}}''; ''Zorro'' itself seems to be a {{re|cycledINSPACE}}telling of the ''Monte Cristo'' story (it's actually a retelling of ''The Curse Of Capistrano'').

** Both Don Diego and his daughter Elena are played by Welsh actors, Alejandro is a Mexican played by a Spaniard, and both villains (the probably Spanish Montero and the French Armand) are played by {{E|vilBrit}}nglishmen.

* YouLookFamiliar: Pedro Armendariz Jr. plays both Don Hector and Governor Riley. In addition Creator/TonyAmendola plays Don Luis and Father Quintero, the name of the villain in the Creator/TyronePower film was Don Luis Quintero.

* CaliforniaDoubling: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]]. 19th-century California is played by Hidalgo, Durango, Sonora, and Tlaxcala, Mexico.

* ReleaseDateChange: The film was initially set for release on December 19, 1997 before the release date was changed to March 1998. There was speculation within the media about whether [=TriStar=] changed the date in an attempt to avoid competition with ''Film/Titanic1997''. In reality, ''Zorro'' had encountered production problems that extended its shooting schedule. In addition, Sony Pictures Entertainment, [=TriStar=]'s parent company, wanted an action film for its first quarter releases of 1998.

** Alejandro is in his late-20s throughout the movie. Antonio Banderas was 36 when he played him.

* NoStuntDouble: Antonio Banderas was extremely adamant about performing many of his own stunts for authenticity.

* ShoutOut: The character of Cpl. Garcia was introduced in the [[Series/{{Zorro}} Guy Williams series]].

* YouLookFamiliar: Pedro Armendariz Jr. plays both Don Hector and Governor Riley. In addition Creator/TonyAmendola plays Don Luis and Father Quintero, the name of the villain in the Creator/TyronePower film was Don Luis Quintero.

** The original draft also averted Raphael's BondVillainStupidity and WhyDontYouJustShootHim approach at the beginning, the guards assume he died in the fire and send Diego off to a HellholePrison. It is only then that Raphael emerges, nearly dead from rescuing Elena and ready to execute his foe, only to be told Diego has been taken away.

* CaliforniaDoubling: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]]. California is played by Hidalgo, Durango, Sonora, and Tlaxcala, Mexico.

* ShoutOut: The characters of Cpl. Garcia and Don Diego's persona of Bernardo the manservent were introduced in the [[Series/{{Zorro}} Guy Williams series]].