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