DramaHistory

The Life of Emile Zola

- He'll hold you in silence as deep as your emotions!

A fictionalized account of famous French writer Emile Zola and his involvement in the Dreyfus Affair. After struggling to establish himself, Zola wins success writing about the unsavory side of Paris and settles into a comfortable upper-class life. However, Zola's complacency is shaken when Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus is imprisoned for being a spy. Realizing that Dreyfus is an innocent victim of anti-Semitism, Zola boldly pens a newspaper article exposing the truth, is charged with libel and must defend himself in a dramatic courtroom testimony.

Release Date : 1937-09-09

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Emile Zola

Original Name : Paul Muni

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lucie Dreyfus

Original Name : Gale Sondergaard

Gender : Female

Character Name : Capt. Alfred Dreyfus

Original Name : Joseph Schildkraut

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alexandrine Zola

Original Name : Gloria Holden

Gender : Female

Character Name : Maitre Labori

Original Name : Donald Crisp

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nana

Original Name : Erin O'Brien-Moore

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charpentier

Original Name : John Litel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Colonel Picquart

Original Name : Henry O'Neill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anatole France

Original Name : Morris Carnovsky

Gender : Male

Character Name : Major Dort

Original Name : Louis Calhern

Gender : Male

Character Name : Commander of Paris

Original Name : Ralph Morgan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Major Walsin-Esterhazy

Original Name : Robert Barrat

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paul Cezanne

Original Name : Vladimir Sokoloff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Georges Clemenceau

Original Name : Grant Mitchell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chief of Staff

Original Name : Harry Davenport

Gender : Male

Character Name : Colonel Henry

Original Name : Robert Warwick

Gender : Male

Character Name : M. Delagorgue

Original Name : Charles Richman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Minister of War

Original Name : Gilbert Emery

Gender : Male

Character Name : Colonel Sandherr

Original Name : Walter Kingsford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Assistant Chief of Staff

Original Name : Paul Everton

Gender : Male

Character Name : M. Cavaignac

Original Name : Montagu Love

Gender : Male

Character Name : M. Van Cassell

Original Name : Frank Sheridan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Richards

Original Name : Lumsden Hare

Gender : Male

Character Name : Helen Richards

Original Name : Marcia Mae Jones

Gender : Female

Character Name : Madame Zola

Original Name : Florence Roberts

Gender : Female

Character Name : Pierre Dreyfus

Original Name : Dickie Moore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jeanne Dreyfus

Original Name : Rolla Gourvitch

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Franklyn Farnum

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-05-13

Emile Zola liked nothing better than an opportunity to cause a bit of scandal and over the years that made him a wealthy man, but earned him the enmity of pretty much all of the Establishment. France was still finding it's political feet with the second empire giving way to the third republic, the Germans were across the border heavily armed and the French military under considerable pressure to keep their country safe. It was this last point that led to the infamous "Dreyfus" affair. The High Command essentially framing a young officer (Joseph Schildkraut) for treason and banishing him to the aptly named Devil's Island. There's some disquiet about this process in Paris and Zola (Paul Muni) decides that only he has the profile (and the wit) to make some accusations that will see him in court defending a libel action whilst giving him a well publicised platform to criticise the army's behaviour. The busy courtroom drama that ensues serves well to illustrate the difficulties in fighting for the truth when the state and the generals have no interest in perpetuating this story. It's also at this stage that the film is at its most entertainingly combative. Donald Crisp is quite effective as his defence solicitor and the assemblage of familiar faces on the unformed side - notably Louis Calhern, show us just how devious and malevolent these people can be when they are turned upon. It's a bit verbose at times, but then it is about a writer, and the ending is all a bit rushed. It's not really a story about the life of this acclaimed author, it's more a critique on the trial and on the state of France justice. I could have done with a little more about what made him tick but William Dieterle chose the more dramatic and straightforward path. That's a pity, but Muni and the sparingly used Schildkraut both deliver well.