The Governor, with armed guards
Governor Guillermo Alvarado, The Governor of California is an antagonist of The Mark of Zorro (1920). He is characterized as greedy, licentious, and arrogant, and rules the region with an iron fist. Alvarado will do anything to fulfill his desires, including mistreating people or throwing them in jail for no legal reason.
Background[]
The governor is seen at the beginning of the film, informing an envoy of his that Zorro has been causing too much trouble in Capistrano, and that he and his men shall go to Southern California to bring Zorro to justice.
Alvarado eventually arrives to Capistrano, with him overseeing the whipping of the innocent priest Fray Felipe, who was accused by a local noble of the crime of selling rotten hides. While the carrying out of the sentence occurs, Don Carlos Puilido steps in and protests the governor, with him throwing the entire Pulido family in jail for interrupting his whipping of the priest. After the noble who accused Felipe is whipped by Zorro, the governor hires a group of Caballeros to hunt down the vigilante and kill him. These efforts were ultimately fruitless as Zorro turned the caballeros to his side at Don Alejandro de la Vega's hacienda.
Eventually, after Zorro breaks the Pulido family out of prison, the governor, Capitan Juan Ramon, Sergeant Pedro Gonzales and all the other soldiers who were chasing Zorro corner Zorro at the De La Vega Hacienda. After Don Diego de la Vega defeats Ramon in a duel, he forces Alvarado to abdicate from his role as governor, and to take the defeated Ramon with him.
Trivia[]
- The character first appears in live-action in the 1920 film The Mark of Zorro, although his first real appearance was in The Curse of Capistrano a year earlier.
Quote[]
- "This Zorro poses as a protector of the poor and breed rebellion. Order out my troopers, I'll go to the South myself-"
- All this is my domain and I will be supreme in authority. Let those who oppose me beware-"
- "Caballeros, as loyal supporters of my administration, I call upon you to help capture this insolent dog!"
- "Arrest them-throw them into jail. I've had quite enough of these blue-blooded Pulido's."