Title cards contain the following prologue: "In the long chain of nobel names--warriors, conquerors, statesmen--whose brilliant lives are written in the story of Spanish conquest, the name of De Vega stands well to the fore-- A De Vega stood with Balboa when he discovered the Pacific. A De Vega fought with Pizarro in the conquest of Peru. On 'The Night of Tears,' when Cortes drenched the new world with the best blood of old Spain, a young De Vega died in armor. Though the home of the De Vegas has long been on California soil, the eldest son of each new generation returns to Spain for a period of travel and study."
       Referring to the picture as Don Q, the 24 Dec 1924 Var announced the feature as Douglas Fairbanks’s next starring production, with Donald Crisp directing. Crisp also portrayed “Don Sebastian” onscreen. United Artists Corp. would handle the release. At that time, filming was reportedly planned to take place in Spain. According to the 24 Jan 1925 Moving Picture World, the film was a sequel to Fairbanks’s 1920 feature, The Mark of Zorro (see entry), and also based on the 1925 novel, Don Q's Love Story by Hesketh Prichard and Kate Prichard. Preparations and casting were underway at the Pickford-Fairbanks Studios in Hollywood, CA, and filming was expected to begin soon. Fairbanks’s leading lady was to be decided in the coming week.
       Principal photography began on 1 Feb 1925, as indicated in the 7 Jun 1925 FD.
       The 7 Feb 1925 Exhibitors Trade Review stated that set designs were created by Spanish artist Francesc Cugat and Edward M. Langley. Exteriors were still planned to be filmed in Madrid and Andalusia, Spain, as reported in the 21 Feb 1925 Exhibitors Trade Review, but location filming abroad did not transpire. Fairbanks was coached for his role by famed Spanish bullfighter Manuel de Los Rios, and two bulls were imported by train from Mexico City, Mexico. Three prize-winning horses were also rented from the same Frenchman in Mexico, who refused to sell the valuable animals outright, according to the 9 May 1925 Exhibitors Trade Review.
       On 15 Mar 1925, FD noted that the picture was in its sixth week of production.
       The 18 Mar 1925 Var announced that actor George Blankman died from complications of tuberculosis on 13 Mar 1925, while working on Don Q.
       According to the 25 Mar 1925 Var, Lottie Pickford Forrest, Mary Pickford’s sister and Fairbanks’s sister-in-law, had been given the female lead. The casting had been a kept secret for some time. However, Mary Astor is credited as Fairbanks’s co-star, and Pickford Forrest appears to have been recast in a lesser role as “Lola.”
       The 4 Apr 1925 Exhibitors Trade Review named Percy and Ernest Westmore as persons in charge of “whiskers” on set, as the male characters’ facial hair, including Fairbanks’s sideburns, were an important element to the storytelling.
       The 29 Apr 1925 Var stated that Donald Crisp had suffered an injury to his foot after it was stepped on by a horse, but he had since returned to work. Another news item in the same issue reported that principal photography had completed two days before, on 27 Apr 1925.
       Referring to the picture for the first time as Don Q, Son of Zorro, the 9 May 1925 Exhibitors Trade Review listed an anticipated release date of 30 Aug 1925.
       The 23 May 1925 Exhibitors Trade Review listed Frederick Ritter as head of “technical work” on the picture. The New York City opening was announced for 15 Jun 1925 at the Globe Theatre.
       The 17 Jun 1925 Var review stated, “The suspense element is beautifully maintained throughout,” and declared the film as “Doug at his best.” The “splendid” direction and photography were also noted. According to the review, the picture contained hand colored sequences.
       Voted one of the “Top Best Features” of 1925 by the 1929 Film Daily Year Book, as reported in the 7 Feb 1930 FD.