The Mask of Zorro

The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Timing: 2:16 (136 min)

6.581/10
4300

7.525/10
64215

6.8/10
209000

All about film

Video 4

Photo 93

Actors and characters

Release date

1998-07-16

Country

United States, Germany, Mexico

Production

Amblin Entertainment, TriStar Pictures, David Foster Productions, Zorro Productions, Sony Pictures Studios, Global Entertainment Productions

Genre

Action, Adventure

Budget

$95 000 000

Revenue

$250 288 523

Website

Director

Martin Campbell

Actors

Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stuart Wilson, Matt Letscher, L.Q. Jones, Diego Sieres, José María de Tavira, Tony Amendola, Emiliano Guerra
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Doug Claybourne, David Foster, Steven Spielberg, Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald

Operator

Phil Meheux

Composer

James Horner

Artist

Tomas Owen

Audition

Pam Dixon

Editing

Thom Noble, Nancy Jane King
All team (87)

• Initially, Sir Anthony Hopkins declined the role of Don Diego de la Vega due to back pain, but surgery and treatment allowed him to participate in filming.
• Elena's dress appears to fall from her body thanks to invisible wires attached to it.
• Legendary fencing coach Bob Anderson, who once trained Errol Flynn (1909-1959), stated that after Flynn, actor Antonio Banderas became the most skilled swordsman. Banderas trained with the Spanish Olympic team for 4 months.
• Initially, it was intended that Don Diego de la Vega would be played by Raúl Juliá (1940-1995), but the actor passed away before filming began.
• There are significant differences between the Zorro #1 costume, i.e., Don Diego de la Vega's, and the Zorro #2 costume, i.e., Alejandro's. As the costume designer explained, de la Vega's costume reflects his Spanish origin, while Alejandro is of Mexican birth, and his costume is accordingly.
• The role of Elena was offered to Colombian singer Shakira (birth name – Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll).
• Steven Spielberg was filming the war drama «Saving Private Ryan» (1998) and therefore declined the offer to direct the film.
• The swords used in the film were made of aluminum, so the sounds in the fight scenes had to be dubbed to make them more resounding.
• When Steven Spielberg was offered the opportunity to direct the film, the role of Zorro was intended for actor Tom Cruise.
• Initially, Robert Rodriguez was appointed as the director, but the studio disagreed with his vision for the film, which was full of cruelty and violence. Robert Rodriguez wanted Salma Hayek to play Elena.
• Martin Campbell turned down the opportunity to direct "Tomorrow Never Dies" in favor of this film, as did Anthony Hopkins, who was considered for the role of the main villain.
• During post-production, director Martin Campbell and producer Steven Spielberg realized that Don Diego de la Vega’s death at the hands of his daughter made the film’s ending overly bleak. Scenes showing Alejandro and Elena with their newborn son were filmed three months later.
• Steven Spielberg filmed the war drama "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) and therefore declined an offer to direct the film.
• Martin Campbell turned down the opportunity to direct "Tomorrow Never Dies" for this film, as did Anthony Hopkins, who was considered for the role of the main villain.