Zaza Movie Download

7 / 10

A Gloria Swanson melodrama to remember – before Saddie Thompson, and all thanks to Berton’s French Classic for that.
Zaza (1923) :
Brief Review –

A Gloria Swanson melodrama to remember – before Saddie Thompson, and all thanks to Berton’s French Classic for that. I tried to catch Zaza’s earlier silent version of 1915 but couldn’t find it, and I didn’t want to watch Cukor and Claudette Colbert’s talkie version before this. The second cinematic adaptation of Zaza, by Allan Dwan, came during Swanson’s peak period, which may explain why it is more likeable. In the beginning, I thought Zaza was nothing but a female version of Buster Keaton or Charles Chaplin because there was so much fun for a while. Then it took a melodrama form to convert itself into a romantic drama, but that was predictable for any smart movie buff. Zaza is an actress and a favourite at an open-air theatre in a small French town. When diplomat Bernard Dufresne comes to the village, he stays away for fear of falling for her. But when Zaza is badly injured, he has no choice. They both fall in love, but part their ways when Zaza learns the truth he has hidden from her. Zaza is quite enchanting till halfway, and then it becomes dramatically sentimental in the second half. I might have hated this story in the talkie era (early review of Cukor’s film), but for the 20s, I think it was pretty nice. Though I must say, for the 1915 version, it would have worked better. Gloria Swanson is simply lovable in this all-gay-all-tragic role. The way she fights with Regault (Riley Hatch), I mean, their women-type chemistry, is entertainment. I have seen H. B. Warner’s later films from the 30s and 40s, but this was my first film from the 20s. I kind of liked him, but those talkie roles have a better impact on me, so it’s a little below the mark and I also think it’s a little unfair of me. Overall, it’s a good melodrama for contemporary filmmaking. Allan Dwan delivers a faithful and deserving adaptation of Berton’s French Classic, which we have all loved for years.

RATING – 7/10*

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