THE FORGOTTEN WALKING STICK, THE FORGOTTEN ACTOR, AND THE FORGOTTEN MOVIE: ZORRO

ZORRO
Making new movies about the life and the fight of " ZORRO " is still going on. The late American actor, Sean Leslie Flynn (1941-70), has been forgotten a long time ago.
Sorry. The true story of the production and use of walking sticks concealed as weapons are also forgotton. About forty movies have been made about Zorro. The first film was released in 1920. Douglas Fairbanks (1883-1939) was playing Zorro (fox).Zorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by writer Johnston McCulley.
Walking stick with a concealed swordstick for defensive reasons was discovered in a book for old equipments. The walking stick on the photo is decorated by the German eagle with a political symbol used by the National socialist party(1933-1945) in Norway before and during the Second world War.: The sun cross.( The walking stick was sold for about NOK 4800.-, EUR 480)
Walking stick gun or cane gun was a tool designed as a definsive weapon against street ruffians of Victoria era.

SEAN LESLIE FLYNN ( 1941-70)
In year 1984 the mother of Sean Flynn, Lili Damita (1904-94), had to declare him legally dead after having searched for him for years. Sean Flynn was the only son of Errol Flynn(1909-59) and the French actress Lili Damita. Sean Flynn was lost during his time in Cambodia working as a combat photojournalist. He was known as actor, singer, photojounalist, safari guide and big game hunter in Africa.
ZORRO: Der Mann mit den zwei Gesichtern.IL SIGNE DI ZORRO.
The film was released in 1963. The forgotten movie was bought by me in Kiel, Germany. Foreign movies are dubbed in Germany. The result is that American actors like John Wayne and Errol Flynn are speaking German in movies made in USA.I dislike
the dubbing business. The original product is changed too much making American actors Germans. Due to this policy of communications, Sean Flynn is speaking German fluently in the film: Il signe di Zorro.
MEXICO
Mexico is supposed to be the country where the plot takes place. It is a Mexican story.
But the shots are not taken in Mexico.The reason for me approaching the movie was my love for the country Mexico where I have been five times already. A fascinating country with nice people. A sentimental reason you may say. I agree.
ERROL FLYNN
Another reason for me viewing and buying the old and forgotten movie was my interest
for Sean Flynn's father: The tragic Australian - American actor Errol Flynn. The life
of Errol Flynn has always fascinated me. He was of the opinion that he himself was not a good actor. The American actor Kirk Douglas disagree with Mr. Flynn. On the contrary, he was good - too good. Let me quote from his book called: The Ragman's Son
An autobiography. Published in 1988. " ...Errol Flynn was shooting a picture in Albuquerque at the same time. He invited Irene and me to dine with him and Pat Wymore. I was flattered. I was a young star; he was a legend. He selected the most elegant restaurant, ordered the most expensive wines, and was extremely charming. I was quite impressed, and a little gaga, envious of his poise, his great savoir faire.
At the end of the meal, when the check arrived, he graciously handed it to me and said, " Kirk I wouldn't deprive you of the honor of being the host of the evening " and I, with my mouth open, just paid it. Nevertheless, I admired him. He had flair. Some people didn't consider him much of an actor, but J did. I think he had great personal style that you don't see anymore. There are very few actors who could carry off Robin Hood the way he did ". So far the father of Sean Flynn, Errol Flynn: The actor, the master and lover of practical jokes, a womanizer, a sailor, and even a friend of Kirk Douglas after having dined with him - an expensive business.
ZORRO AND THE WALING STICK
After having viewed the film twice, I think Sean Flynn was a good actor too. What about the mentioned walking stick? Sean Flynn is using his walking stick as a weapon. Walking sticks concealed as a weapon has interested me for some years. If you study the use of weapons, you also get an impression of the society as well. I have not seen many films where the actors are using the concealed weapon in action like in this film. During my travellings in Europe, I have tried to buy one myself. Too expensive for my budget, sorry. In 2001 I paid a visit to Malaysia where I bought a walking stick concealed as a weapon. After an unpleasant event with some unfriendly people from the customs of Singapore, the walking stick was forwarded to Norway as a special delivery. Walking sticks concealed as weapon were used in Norway for personal protection for centuries. The Norwegian writer Per Terje Norheim has written about the history of walking sticks in Norway in his book: Våpen i Norge. Fra spyd og luntelåsmuskett, til Krag-Jørgensen og bajonett. 2000. Even before the first world war, small weapons could be bought in Norway. The walking stick as weapon was brought to my attention reading the book about Sir Richard Burton. The title of the book is: "Burton: Snow Upon the Desert. 1990 ". The book is written by
Frank McLynn. Sir Richard Burton was a British explorer, writer, expert in foreign languages speaking about forty languages. " ... it was Burton's invariable practice to go for walks using a long pointed stick as as a walking stick...the custom of Burton's saved his life one morning near the Alexandria slaughterhouse. He has always been wary of packs of semi-savage dogs after having seeing how Montenegrin
mongrels would sneak up to a stranger and suddenly bite him viciously...for five minutes he had conduct a fighting retreat...but for the pointed stick he would undoubtedly have been torn to pieces...".
SOME FINAL WORDS ONLY
Sean Flynn has disappeared in Cambodia. If he is still alive ,he is about 68 years of age?He was only 29 years of age when he was reported lost. His father who also lived a hard life, became about 50 years of age. His mother, Lili Damita was 89 when she passed away. Due to new technology, old and forgotten films are restored and new copies are made for public use. Television programmes, books, radio programmes and music are all an object for the new preservation tool or technology called digitalization. It is important that those who are interested in making use of the mentioned productions for their Master's degree in different fields get access to the audiovisual archives. It is also thrilling to study old films searching for lost and forgotten cars, weapons, books and so on.