Now available on DVD for the first time in the
USA!
Zorro's
Black Whip
and
El Coyote
Republic
1944 / 12 Chapters
Directed by: Spencer Bennet, Wallace
Grissell
Starring
Linda Stirling
as Barbara Meredith/The Black Whip
George
J. Lewis
as Vic Gordon
Lucien
Littlefield
as Tenpoint
Criminals who wish to retain power are attempting to
block Idaho's entrance into the Union. Standing almost
alone against them is Randy Meredith, who dons a
caballero outfit and mask for his missions. When Randy
dies after returning to his headquarters behind a
waterfall, his sister Barbara takes his place and helps
undercover agent Vic Gordon fight the outlaws. Linda
Stirling is convincing as the confident newspaper owner
who doubles as a masked avenger. Because her character,
Barbara Meredith, is already known in the community, she
is precluded from assuming a cover personality, as
earlier Zorros had with their foppish poses. Pressed into
hero service for this wartime chapter play, George J.
Lewis is excellent as the secret investigator who is
saved from death several times by the Black Whip but is a
formidable fighter in his own right. (Dressed in a cowboy
costume typical of those worn by Robert Livingston,
Lewis, sans scowl and standing with shoulders high, could
remind many viewers of that popular Western star.) While
respected townsman Dan Hammond, well-played by Francis
McDonald, is behind the outlawry, the swaggering Baxter
of Hal Taliaferro is a field leader to contend with, in
both brawn and brain. Even when the versatile Taliaferro
is cast as a bad guy, it is a delight to watch him handle
a horse. Veteran John Merton is Henchman #2.
Distinguished citizens are played by Tom London, John
Hamilton, and Tom Chatterton. Jay Kirby is seen briefly
as the first Black Whip, while comedy relief is supplied
by Lucien Littlefield--the worrying newspaper helper
called Tenpoint.
3-Disk
Collector's Set
includes:
All
12 Chapters, super-sharp
in beautiful black and white, with readable opening title
and recap sequences, and
in-synch sound
(it's 6 frames off on the Republic
laserdisc)
Animated
menu screens
Theatrical trailer
Linda
Stirling Mini-Documentary
including rare glamour shots of Linda
"The
Face Behind the Mask"
mini-documentary on stunt woman Helen Thurston (the lady
who was really in the costume and did the
riding/whip-cracking!)
Special
Bonus:
The complete rare half-hour
El Coyote
1958 half-hour TV pilot which also featured a female
Zorro-like character
List
price $24.95
Special
Sale Price $9.95