Zaza

Gloria Swanson is the titular music hall star in this spirited silent film adaptation of the 19th-century play by Pierre Berton and Charles Simon. Zaza, the temperamental main attraction of a 20th-century music hall in a provincial French town, dreams of performing in Paris and she competes with a rival actress for the attentions of the aristocratic Bernard Dufresne (H.B. Warner). But when Zaza discovers that Dufresne is already married (to a social climber who has no affection for him) and has a daughter, she turns her back on him. A lively but thinly-plotted film, Zaza starts as a high-spirited, lavishly produced comedy before veering into romantic melodrama, but what keeps the film buoyant is the charm and spirit of Swanson and the lively direction by Allan Dwan, who moves the story along at a terrific pace, fills it with glamour and spectacle, and brings out the best in his lead actress, who dominates every scene with her sheer star power. Zaza is a trifle but an enjoyable one that illustrates why Swanson was such a huge silent movie star. The piano score is adapted from the original cue sheets of the film's 1923 theatrical presentation and performed by Jeff Rapsis. Extras include audio commentary by film historian Frederic Lombardi, and a booklet. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)