Ron Leibman, born in 1937, made a memorable appearance in Zorro: The Gay Blade (1981) as a key player in this comedic take on the classic hero. His career spanned decades, with a notable transition from stage to screen, where he showcased his range in both serious and comedic roles. Leibman's performance in Zorro: The Gay Blade reflects his ability to blend humor with a sharp wit, making him a fitting presence in the realm of cult cinema. His work continues to resonate with fans of genre films, adding a layer of depth to the film's quirky narrative.
Zorro: The Gay Blade
Mexico, 1840s. When the new Spanish Governor begins to grind the peasants under his heel, wealthy landowner Don Diego Vega follows in his late father's footsteps and becomes Zorro, the masked man in black with a sword who rights wrongs and becomes a folk hero to the people of Mexico. When Vega sprains his ankle and cannot continue his campaign against the corrupt Captain Esteban, his long-lost twin brother Ramon arrives to visit. Bunny was sent off by their father to the British Royal Navy to make a "man" of him, for he is flamboyantly gay, and now known as Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth. 'Bunny' agrees to temporarily take his brother's place as Zorro, but opts make changes in the established Zorro persona. Bunny becomes "the Gay Blade," and his new costumes are lemon, plum, and scarlet colored. He insists on using a whip. Bunny also becomes the liaison between Don Vega and the liberal American activist/feminist Charlotte, a long-time critic of Captain Esteban's policies, and who has a crush on her masked hero.
