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Zoo Gang - The code name of four World War II resistance fighters who
reunited 28 years later to fight criminals throughout Europe on the syndicated
crime series THE ZOO GANG/SYN/1974. Each member had his own individual code
name. Steven Halliday (Brian Keith), an antique dealer was called "Fox";
Monouche Roget (Lilli Palmer), a tavern owner was called "Leopard"; Tom Devon
(John Mills), a jeweler was called "Elephant"; and Alec Marlowe (Barry Morse),
the mechanic was called "Tiger". The characters were based upon the novel "The
Zoo Gang" (1962) written by Paul Gallico.
Zorro - Secret identity of Spanish nobleman, Don Diego De La Vega who
fought the political tyranny of early California in the guise of Zorro (Spanish
for "Fox"), a black costumed swordsman who used the letter "Z" as his trademark.
In the original story "The Curse of Capistrano" written by Johnston McCulley,
Zorro slashed the letter "Z" onto the cheeks or flesh of his opponents. However,
the Walt Disney TV version ZORRO/ABC/1957-59 starring Guy Williams had Zorro cut
the letter "Z" into an enemy's clothing, stopping short of their skin. The
Disney ZORRO theme song (a smash record hit for the Chordettes in 1958) remarked
that Zorro was "a bold renegade" who marked a "Z with his blade, a Z that stands
for Zorro." Some 25 years later the comedy spoof ZORRO AND SON/CBS/1983 starred
Henry Darrow, as an aging Zorro and Paul Regina, as his son Carlos who discarded
the traditional sword for guns, bombs and other modern weapons in defending the
pueblos and peasants. The Family Channel remake THE NEW ZORRO/FAM/1990-93 filmed
in Spain starred Duncan Regehr. Movie adaptations of the Zorro character
included The Mark of Zorro (1920) starring Douglas Fairbanks; The Mark
of Zorro (1940) starring Tyrone Power; The Sign of Zorro (1960)
starring Guy Williams; Zorro and the Three Musketeers (1962) starring
Gordon Scott; and The Gay Blade (1981) starring George Hamilton (in a
dual role) as Zorro's gay brother, Bunny Wigglesworth and The Mask of Zorro
(1998) starring Antonia Banderas.
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