''The Dream of Zorro'' (Italian: ''Il Sogno di Zorro'') is a 1952 Italian

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

adventure film directed by

Mario Soldati Mario Soldati (17 November 1906 – 19 June 1999) was an Italian writer and film director. In 1954 he won the Strega Prize for ''Lettere da Capri.'' He directed several works adapted from novels, and worked with leading Italian actresses, su ...

and starring

Walter Chiari Walter Annicchiarico (8 March 1924 – 20 December 1991), known as Walter Chiari , was an Italian stage and screen actor, mostly in comedy roles. Biography Walter Annicchiarico was born in Verona, Italy on 8 March 1924 to a family originally ...

Delia Scala Delia Scala (born Odette Bedogni; 25 September 1929 – 15 January 2004) was an Italian ballerina, actress and singer who played a leading role in the nascent ''commedia musicale''. Career Scala was born as Odette Bedogni in Bracciano, Lazi ...

and

Vittorio Gassman Vittorio Gassman (; born Gassmann; 1 September 1922 – 29 June 2000), popularly known as , was an Italian actor, director and screenwriter. He is considered one of the greatest Italian actors, whose career includes both important productions ...

. The future star Sophia Loren had a minor role in the film. The film's sets were designed by

Guido Fiorini Guido Fiorini (1897–1966) was an Italian engineer, architect and art director.Poretti p.128 He was associated with the futurist movement. Selected filmography * ''Loyalty of Love'' (1934) * '' Just Married'' (1934) * ''Red Passport'' (1935) * ' ...

Plot

A direct descendant of the legendary Zorro, an elderly gentleman has an only son named Raimondo (Walter Chiari), in whom there is no trace of the original pride of his ancestors. Raimondo is a shy and fearful young man, who has become this way since he was a child, following a terrible fall, in which he hit his head. When the father invites a friend with his daughter to his farm, whom he intends to marry Raimondo, the latter has such a childish and foolish demeanor that everything is upset. Chased out of the house he decides to enter the convent, but on the way he meets a powerful gentleman who conspires against the Governor and, involved in the melee between them and his opponents, Raimondo is hit in the head. Raimondo immediately recovers the daring ancient spirits: he transforms himself into a skilled swordsman - as well as an ardent seducer - and, by throwing himself against the lord's opponents, he routs them and defeats them. Full of gratitude, the gentleman, who is a duke and was wounded, entrusts him with a mission of all trust. Raimondo should go to the palace of a powerful opponent of the duke, whose daughter Estrella (Delia Scala) must marry and pretend to be the duke himself. Raimondo carries out the task, to the point of falling in love with the girl and passing victorious through the limitless traps set by his opponents. Meanwhile, Estrella is kidnapped and, after ups and downs, Raimondo recaptures the girl. With her intervention, the young man makes the duke's cause triumph, who, finally appointed governor, renounces her to Estrella, granting her in marriage to the heroic Raimondo. "Zorro's dream" is finally crowned.

Cast

as Don Raimundo Esteban *

as Gloria / Estrella / Dolores *

as Don Antonio / Juan *

Carlo Ninchi Carlo Ninchi (31 May 1896 – 27 April 1974) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1931 and 1963. He was born in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, and died on 27 April 1974 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Selected filmogra ...

as Don Esteban Contrero * Umberto Aquilino as José *

Anna Arena Anna Arena (June 21, 1919 – August 19, 1974) was an Italian film actress.Smith p.116 Selected filmography * ''Jealousy'' (1942) * '' Vacation with a Gangster'' (1951) * ''The Piano Tuner Has Arrived'' (1952) * '' Beauties in Capri'' (1952) * ' ...

as La Locandiera * Sandro Bianchi as Pablo / Ramon * Pietro Capanna as Manuel * Giorgio Costantini as Capitano *

Juan de Landa Juan de Landa (1894–1968) was a Spanish film actor, who was born in the Basque Country. de Landa entered the film industry in 1930 following the arrival of sound film. He initially acted in Spanish-language versions of Hollywood films, but ...

as César / Pedro * Augusto Di Giovanni as Don Formoso * Giovanni Dolfini as Don Alonzo *

Claudio Ermelli Claudio Ermelli (24 July 1892 – 29 October 1964) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films from 1915 to 1962. Filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ermelli, Claudio 1892 births 1964 death ...

as Maestro di Musica * Giacomo Furia as Panchito * Sophia Loren as Conchita (as Sofia Scicolone) *

Michele Malaspina Michele Malaspina (16 August 1908 – 13 January 1979) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Life and career Born in Bolzaneto, Genoa, the son of two shopkeepers, since childhood Malaspina has a passion for theater and was an actor in a co ...

as Perez * Gisella Monaldi as Luisa / Consuelo * Guido Morisi as Ignazio *

Luigi Pavese Luigi Pavese (25 October 1897 – 13 December 1969) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Asti, Pavese started his career in 1916 working as a silent film actor at 19 years of age. He then began his theatrical debut in 192 ...

as Don Garcia Fernandez * Michèle Philippe as Maria / Marta * Riccardo Rioli as Notaio *

Gualtiero Tumiati Gualtiero Tumiati ( 8 May 1876 – 23 April 1971) was an Italian actor and stage director. Life and career Born in Ferrara, Tumiati studied at the College of the Oaks in Florence and there he attended the acting courses held by Luigi Rasi. He ...

as Don Cesar Alcazan *

Nietta Zocchi Nietta Zocchi (10 July 1909 – 23 April 1981) was an Italian film actress. She appeared in 70 films between 1936 and 1976. Selected filmography * ''The Amnesiac'' (1936) - Zelinda (uncredited) * '' To Live'' (1936) - Una spettatrice al concer ...

as Dona Hermosa Alcazan

External links

* 1952 films 1950s adventure comedy films 1952 Western (genre) films Italian adventure comedy films 1950s Italian-language films Films directed by Mario Soldati Zorro films Films with screenplays by Ruggero Maccari Films scored by Mario Nascimbene 1952 comedy films Films with screenplays by Mario Amendola Italian black-and-white films Films based on works by Johnston McCulley 1950s American films 1950s Italian films {{1950s-Western-film-stub