Zorro Rides Again is Republic’s 12-part serial that mixes the slugfests, cliffhangers, dangerous stunts, and derring-do in a 1930s-modern actioner. Yakima Canutt goes all out to deliver the thrills. In one famous gag he transfers from saddle to moving truck, which looks smooth onscreen, but any misstep would have led to serious injury or death. Moving from horse to speeding train, no problem either. One gag for a cliffhanger had his foot caught in a track switch with a train heading in, closer and closer. His whip-work snags the track switch and disaster averted just in time. His straight-from-the-shoulder punches are also a highlight, as well as those taking them on the receiving end, making it look exceptionally punchy. Canutt did all the heavy lifting for John Carroll who played Zorro. With the mask on, Canutt could do the action scenes, saving Carroll from calamity and bruises. Duncan Reynaldo provided the comedy relief bits. Reynaldo played the Cisco Kid on television from 1950 to 1956, with filming done at Pioneer Town, California. Zorro Rides Again filmed at Bronson Canyon, the Iverson Movie Ranch, and other locations. Some shooting also took place in Cochilla, Mexico.
