In a strange combination of The Mark of Zorro and The Count of Monte Cristo, John Derek stars as a masked hero out for revenge for his father's murder in Mask of the Avenger. There's really no suspense, though, because in the beginning scene, Anthony Quinn is revealed to be the murderer. It would have added a little intrigue, even if it were just fifteen minutes or so, if John didn't know who killed his father. There's also a watered-down romance between John and Jody Lawrance added into the plot. With the cheesy script, B-movie production values, and tv-esque music, this movie isn't one I'd recommend adding to your list. There are so many other better 1950s adventure movies to choose from.

Although no literary source is stated in the credits, some critics feel that this eye-catching Technicolor swashbuckler was based on The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I disagree. If the movie has a literary source at all, it's The Mark of Zorro that deserves the credit. Although Anthony Quinn is okay as the heavy, he's nowhere in the Basil Rathbone league. Arnold Moss, however, makes such a fine sub-villain, it's a shame he gets killed two-thirds of the way through. The other leads, John Derek and Jody Lawrance, are no more than adequate. Miss Lawrance, in fact, is occasionally less than competent. Phil Karlson's direction is also a bit slack, although he was obviously hamstrung by a tight budget and the need to pad the movie out to "A"-feature length. However, he does employ some effective running inserts at the finale. I also liked the idea of the hero backing into a horse during the duel and losing his sword as the animal rears, causing our heroine to take over briefly. Now that's certainly an innovation – if an unlikely one! And for all the script's jingoistic platitudes about "freedom", the film is nothing more than pure escapist nonsense – but most agreeably dressed up with attractive costumes and sets!

Italy in 1848 is the setting for MASK OF THE AVENGER, which borrows heavily from every Zorro-like swashbuckler or "Count of Monte Cristo" film ever made. Columbia's fledgling stars, JOHN DEREK and JODY LAWRENCE play the romantic leads with ANTHONY QUINN lending his presence to a colorful supporting role. He was on the verge of his own big-time stardom.Derek is the masked aristocrat who must engage in swordplay with military tyrant Quinn. Although given Technicolor and some appropriate sets, it has the look of a second-rate epic indistinguishable from a dozen other such stories.Nor is it any help that JODY LAWRENCE is a strictly one-note actress who brings nothing but a pretty face to her role as the lovely heroine.JOHN DEREK fares slightly better but it's no more than a cardboard, by-the-numbers sort of adventure done countless times in more inventive ways. This one stirs up only a moderate amount of interest and can be easily forgotten.Obviously designed to give Derek's teen-age fans a thrill since he gets solo billing over the title.

It's a pretty good movie, with swordplay, secrets, murder, and horseback riding...reminiscent of the old Zorro movies. There's a bit of romance, too. Good over all.