Zaza Blu-ray Movie

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Zaza Blu-ray Movie United States

Kino Lorber | 1923 | 84 min | Not rated | Jun 06, 2017

Zaza (Blu-ray Movie)

Price

List price: $29.95
Third party: $48.00
Listed on Amazon marketplace
Buy Zaza on Blu-ray Movie

Movie rating

6.5
 / 10

Blu-ray rating

Users0.0 of 50.0
Reviewer3.0 of 53.0
Overall3.0 of 53.0

Overview

Zaza (1923)

Zaza is a spirited French music hall star who battles her rival and chases after a rich man only to get her comeuppance in the end.

Starring: Gloria Swanson, H.B. Warner, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Lucille La Verne, Mary Thurman
Director: Allan Dwan

Drama100%
Romance94%
Melodrama5%

Specifications

  • Video

    Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
    Video resolution: 1080p
    Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
    Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1

  • Audio

    English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

  • Subtitles

    None

  • Discs

    Blu-ray Disc
    Single disc (1 BD)

  • Playback

    Region A (B, C untested)

Review

Rating summary

Movie3.5 of 53.5
Video3.0 of 53.0
Audio5.0 of 55.0
Extras1.5 of 51.5
Overall3.0 of 53.0

Zaza Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 31, 2017

“Zaza” was originally a 19th century French play concerning the relationship between the titular musical hall entertainer and a married man. The material caught on in a big way, adapted for stage and screen multiple times over the decades, with one of those efforts a 1923 feature from director Allan Dwan, who cast Gloria Swanson in the lead role. Granted, the idea of a play with a certain level of timing transformed into a silent movie is very strange, but this “Zaza” has plenty of spirit thanks to Swanson, who delivers a full-body performance to make sure the camera picks up her emotional range and comedic abilities, sold without the use of verbal wit.


“Zaza” is a character piece, but Dwan keeps it lively through grand recreations of music hall entertainment, allowing Swanson to strut (well, swing) her stuff through stage numbers, giving viewers a sense of Zaza’s amplification, which is soon tested through a problematic relationship. However, “Zaza” is rarely mopey, engaging in some edgy confrontations, including some rough cat fights between local ladies, and grand turns of fate that keep the main character struggling to keep up with the pace of her life. If Dwan can’t play with dialogue, he can certainly visualize a social and romantic obstacle course for Zaza, maintaining pace throughout.


Zaza Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality  3.0 of 5

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Zaza" does okay for a nearly century-old movie. Wear and tear is evident throughout, resulting in jumpy frames, points of damage, scratches, and speckling, but concentration on the filmmaking basics is rarely broken. Detail is struggles with blurriness, finding source materials varying in quality, locating greater clarity in the second half. Delineation isn't problematic, but pure blacks aren't readily found here.


Zaza Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality  5.0 of 5

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix contains a score composed and performed by Jeff Rapsis, and he brings a hearty piano mood to the feature, doing a considerable job supporting onscreen activities. It's a simple track, but clear and commanding, with ideal balance and presence, without any dips in quality.


Zaza Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras  1.5 of 5

  • Commentary features Frederic Lombardi, author of "Allan Dwan and the Rise and Decline of the Hollywood Studios."
  • Booklet (10 pages) offers an essay by Imogen Sara Smith.


Zaza Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation  3.0 of 5

"Zaza" isn't completely satisfying, often unable to secure relationships in a meaningful way, but Swanson keeps the production on the move, showcasing a bright personality through an expressive performance, and she's game to go wherever the material leads. And boy, does it lead to a few volatile places.