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THE FAMILY CHANNELNEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release |
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He's a master swordsman, a defender of the poor, a romantic
hero, and a mystery. Zorro, who flourishes a retort as gracefully as his epee, returns to the screen in an all-new, original series, "Zorro," on The Family Channel. The half-hour series will debut at 6 p.m. Eastern/Pacific time Friday, Jan. 5, 1990, only on The Family Channel. It will air regularly at 6 and 11 p.m. Fridays and 6:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, all times Eastern/Pacific. |
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Duncan Regehr (Errol Flynn in My Wicked, Wicked Ways)
brings athletic prowess, good looks and his own charm to the role
immortalized by previous Zorros Douglas Fairbanks, Tyrone Power
and Guy Williams. Joining Regehr in starring roles will be Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as his father; Patrice Camhi as his love interest, Victoria Escalante; James Victor as Sgt. Mendoza; and Michael Tylo as the Alcalde. Various television veterans will direct the series. Their joint credits include "Magnum P.I.," "Cagney and Lacey," "Hunter," "Dynasty," and scores of other hits. Executive producers are Gary Goodman and Barry Rosen. |
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To capitalize on the dramatics of fencing, Peter Diamond was hired as fight director/stunt coordinator. Diamond, an accomplished fencing master, staged the laserlight sword fights for all three Star Wars films, the swashbuckling sword play of The Princess Bride, and trained Bob Hoskins for his role in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. | |
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Story editor is Philip John Taylor whose writing credits
include episodes of "All in the Family," "Mork and Mindy," "The
Incredible Hulk," and "The Fall Guy." Recreating the 18th Century world of Spanish dons and seņoritas of the rancho society of early California was aided by researchers from the Spanish National Archives and the California Historical Society. Provided were volumes of manuscripts on manners and customs, wardrobe sketches, photographs, military uniforms and weapons of the period. Art directors constructed a detailed recreation of the pueblo of Los Angeles circa 1820 on a 34-acre lot outside Madrid. The exterior set is complete with church plaza, military garrison, rancho haciendas, adobe structures, cantina and a main street. |
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| "Zorro" is a co-production of New World Television, The Family Channel and Canal Plus of France. | ||
"ZORRO" Debuts on
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Daring Adventure stories set against the romance
of early California, filled with the presence of dashing
caballeros, beautiful seņoritas, and America's original
caped crusader, ZORRO, premieres this January on the
THE FAMILY CHANNEL in an all new series. "ZORRO" is an international co-production of New World Television, The Family Channel and Ellipse Programme/ Canal plus of France. |
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"ZORRO" stars Duncan Regehr in the title role,
who brings his distinctive style and personality to the classic
mold set by such previous Zorros as Douglas Fairbanks, Tyrone
Power, and the late Guy Williams. Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. also
stars as his father Don Alejandro; Patrice Camhi is the
beautiful Seņorita Victoria Escalante; James Victor is
Sgt. Mendoza; and Michael Tylo is the tyrranical Alcalde of
early Los Angeles. 22 half hour episodes are currently in production at studios outside of Madrid, Spain for airing on the THE FAMILY CHANNEL beginning in January, 1990 on a weekly first run basis. Gary Goodman and Barry Rosen are executive producers and Robert McCullough is supervising producer of New World Television's "ZORRO." This is the first new major Zorro television series commitment in over 30 years and the first filmed in color. |
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"ZORRO" who fights against injustice and is the defender of the poor, is not just a recreation of the old, but takes the classic spirit of this character into a new generation. Don Diego will not be portrayed as a "fop and dandy," but as an educated man, well versed in both the arts and sciences, who uses his knowledge to solve the problems he faces in his adventures. In contrast to the earlier series, Zorro will now have a continuing love interest portrayed by Patrice Camhi, a beautiful seņorita attracted to the dashing Zorro , but not to Zorro's alter ego self, Don Diego. Another character twist will be Zorro's sidekick, who was portrayed as a middle aged deaf mute in the original series. Now the sidekick will be a mute young man, played by Juan Diego Botto, who can hear but is thought by all to be deaf. | |
| Executive producers Goodman and Rosen note that "the plots of the episodes, while still filled with the kind of swashbuckling adventure that is the hallmark of the Zorro legend, will also historically mirror actual problems that plagued the pueblo of Los Angeles in the early 1800's. These include drought, earthquakes, and municipal corruption." | ||
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A special four-part episode will air during the
initial run of the series detailing the origin of Zorro,
showing how and why Don Diego became the masked swashbuckling
hero. " 'Zorro' is a program that parents can enjoy watching
with their kids," says Executive Producer Barry Rosen.
"The emphasis will be on action, story and characterization." New World Television is one of today's leaders in quality programming as evidenced by the highly rated, critically acclaimed, Emmy Award nominated series, "The Wonder Years," "Tour of Duty," and "Santa Barbara." New World brings that same commitment to quality with the production of "ZORRO." Art Directors have constructed a detailed recreation of the Pueblo of Los Angeles circa 1820 on a 34-acre studio lot outside of Madrid with the aid of researchers from the Spanish National Archives and The California Historical Society. |
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| What is ZORRO without exciting swordplay, chases on horseback, and leaps from balconies or garrison walls? In order to insure that audiences are treated to the best in screen action, the producers have secured the services of veteran stunt coordinator and fencing master Peter Diamond, who lists among his credits the spectacular laser light swordfights in "The Star Wars Trilogy" and the traditional swashbuckling in The Princess Bride. |  |
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Executive story editor Philip John Taylor is a former Associate Director of the American Shakepeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut and has written episodes for such diverse series as "All in The Family," "Mork and Mindy," "The Fall Guy," and "Knight Rider." Executive producers for the series are Gary Goodman and Barry Rosen, whose credits include "Quarterback Princess" and "Going for The Gold: The Bill Johnson Story" for CBS; "Secret Weapons" for NBC; and the theatrical features "Easy Prey" and "Longshot." Robert McCullough, supervising producer of "Zorro" is a former supervising producer of "Falcon Crest" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and wrote/produced/directed such diverse shows as "BJ & the Bear," "Sheriff Lobo," "Battlestar Gallactica," "The Class of 65," and "Ohara." | |
| "ZORRO" is an international co-production of New World Television, The Family Channel and Ellipse Programme/Canal Plus of France, which will air in the United States on THE FAMILY CHANNEL. All text is taken from the press kits for "Zorro." | ||
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