Close on the heels of his second movie team-up with KC Concepcion, GMA Films/Regal Films’ When I Met U (after their first, Star Cinema’s For The First Time), Richard Gutierrez will soon be back in another swashbuckling role as Zorro, one of the movies’ well-loved legendary heroes featured in a few Hollywood movies.
“I’m thrilled,” said Richard who is currently shooting for the action-adventure in Bataan.
Zorro was first played in a Hollywood movie by Douglas Fairbanks in a silent movie, followed by Yakima Camutt in Zorro Rides Again, Tyrone Power in The Mark of Zorro, George Hamilton in the spoof Zorro The Gay Blade and then twice by Antonio Banderas (The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro, both with Catherine Zeta-Jones).
According to the book The Movie Guide, the best Zorro was Tyrone Power. On US TV, Zorro was played by Frank Langella in 1974.
“Wow,” exclaimed Richard, “it’s a big challenge.”
Except for the Banderas’ starrers, Richard hasn’t seen the earlier Zorro films.
Zorro affirms Richard’s reputation as local television’s Superhero who played the title roles in other GMA fantasy-action-adventures, kicked off by Mulawin (later made into a movie), Captain Barbell, Lupin, Sugo, Kamandag and Asero.
“I take every role seriously,” said Richard, “whether for a movie or for TV.”
For most of his past TV starrers, Richard had to train under martial artists, some of whom came from abroad.
For Zorro, he studied fencing under Benny Garcia who coached Richard Gomez for the SEA Games.
“I realized that fencing is an intricate sport. The movements have to be precise. You must be graceful because it’s like choreography.”
It was Reiner Matias, a horse-owner from Lipa, who trained Richard and Rhian Ramos in horseback-riding. Zorro marks the second team-up of Richard and Rhian. The first was in Captain Barbell, Rhian’s TV debut.
The training was as rigorous as the previous ones but it’s worth it.
“You will see why when you see Zorro,” said Richard who fits to a T the icon’s tight-fitting black outfit, complete with a mask.
“Feeling ko nga expert na ako sa paghawak ng sword, eh.”
Directed by Mark Reyes and Dominic Zapata, Zorro also stars Jomari Yllana, Michelle Madrigal, Bianca King, TJ Trinidad, Jaclyn Jose, Ricky Davao, Bubbles Paraiso, Maureen Larrazabal, Mark Gil, Epi Quizon, Leo Martinez, Robert “Buboy” Villar, Antonio Aquitania, Joel Torre and Sandy Andolong.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)