Don Juan + Opening Shorts (DVD)

Before movies talked; they clacked with swords; gonged with wedding bells and pulsed with perfectly matched orchestral accompaniment. The process that made it happen was Vitaphone; a sound-on-disk system that made its feature-film debut in this lavish 1926 classic. Starring in this swashbuckling tale of the world's most famed lover is the greatest actor of his day: John Barrymore. As Don Juan; he pursues his conquests with rakish abandon. But one glimpse of exquisite Adriana (Mary Astor) and he finds true love. Alas; the poisonous Borgia clan (including Warner Oland and as a handmaid; Myrna Loy) wants her to wed one of its own. So Don Juan duels (in one of the greatest swordfights ever filmed); carries out a daring dungeon escape and rides like the wind to win her. BEFORE THE FEATURE -- THE AUGUST 6; 1926 OPENING NIGHT VITAPHONE SHORTS PROGRAM: Will B. Hays Introduction to Vitaphone; Overture to Tannhauser -- New York Philharmonic; Mischa Elman -- Humoresque and Gavotte; Roy Smeck in His Pastimes; Marion Talley -- Caro Nome; Efrem Zimbalist and Harold Bauer -- Theme and Variations from The Kreutzer Sonata; Giovanni Martinelli -- Vesti La Giubba; Anna Case -- La Fiesta

• drama
• silent