Zaza | 1923 | Romantic Drama

Title: Zaza | 1923 | Romantic Drama Director: Allan Dwan Studio: Famous Players-Lasky / Paramount Pictures Starring: Gloria Swanson, H. B. Warner, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Lucille La Verne, Mary Thurman, Yvonne Hughes, Riley Hatch, L. Rogers Lytton, Ivan Linow, Helen Mack Based on: Play *Zaza* by Pierre Berton and Charles Simon Release Date: September 16 1923 (New York) / October 21 1923 (United States) Runtime: Approximately 84 minutes Format: Silent black and white, 35mm Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Romantic Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction of Zaza in the music hall 00:15:00 Arrival of diplomat Bernard Dufresne 00:30:00 Zaza and Bernard’s romance blossoms 00:45:00 Rivalry and injury at the theater 01:00:00 Revealed secrets and heartbreak 01:15:00 Resolution of love and future --- Summary: Zaza is a 1923 American silent romantic drama about a vivacious French music hall performer who captures the attention of diplomat Bernard Dufresne when he visits her small town. Their passionate affair faces social and personal challenges when it is revealed that Bernard has an existing family, prompting Zaza to sacrifice her happiness for his honor. Blending melodrama with spirited performance, the film follows Zaza’s emotional journey from carefree entertainer to self-sacrificing lover, portraying the contrasts between public glamour and private heartache. --- Background: Directed and produced by Allan Dwan, Zaza was filmed at Paramount’s Astoria Studios in New York and is based on a popular late-19th-century French stage play. The 1923 version stars Gloria Swanson in one of her defining silent-era roles, showcasing her dramatic range and star power amid lush set designs and expressive cinematography by Harold Rosson. --- Trivia: Zaza was adapted from a French play and had earlier and later film versions, including a 1915 silent and a 1939 sound remake starring Claudette Colbert. Gloria Swanson’s performance as Zaza was noted for its intensity and charisma. Prints of the 1923 film survive in archives such as the George Eastman Museum and the Library of Congress. The story contrasts music hall spectacle with personal sacrifice and romantic turmoil. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: September 16 1923 / October 21 1923 Original Studio / Distributor: Famous Players-Lasky / Paramount Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #Zaza1923 #AllanDwan #GloriaSwanson #SilentFilm #RomanticDrama #Paramount #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain