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IMDbPro

The Life of Emile Zola

  • 1937
  • Approved
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
9.6K
YOUR RATING
Paul Muni in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
The biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfus Affair.
Play trailer4:19
1 Video
29 Photos
BiographyDrama

The biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfus Affair.The biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfus Affair.The biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfus Affair.

  • Director
    • William Dieterle
  • Writers
    • Norman Reilly Raine
    • Heinz Herald
    • Geza Herczeg
  • Stars
    • Paul Muni
    • Gale Sondergaard
    • Joseph Schildkraut
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    9.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Dieterle
    • Writers
      • Norman Reilly Raine
      • Heinz Herald
      • Geza Herczeg
    • Stars
      • Paul Muni
      • Gale Sondergaard
      • Joseph Schildkraut
    • 78User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 11 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

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    Trailer 4:19
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    Photos28

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    Top cast53

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    Paul Muni
    Paul Muni
    • Emile Zola
    Gale Sondergaard
    Gale Sondergaard
    • Lucie Dreyfus
    Joseph Schildkraut
    Joseph Schildkraut
    • Capt. Alfred Dreyfus
    Gloria Holden
    Gloria Holden
    • Alexandrine Zola
    Donald Crisp
    Donald Crisp
    • Maitre Labori
    Erin O'Brien-Moore
    Erin O'Brien-Moore
    • Nana
    • (as Erin O'Brien Moore)
    John Litel
    John Litel
    • Charpentier
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Col. Picquart
    Morris Carnovsky
    Morris Carnovsky
    • Anatole France
    Louis Calhern
    Louis Calhern
    • Maj. Dort
    Ralph Morgan
    Ralph Morgan
    • Commander of Paris
    Robert Barrat
    Robert Barrat
    • Maj. Walsin-Esterhazy
    Vladimir Sokoloff
    Vladimir Sokoloff
    • Paul Cezanne
    Grant Mitchell
    Grant Mitchell
    • Georges Clemenceau
    Harry Davenport
    Harry Davenport
    • Chief of Staff
    Robert Warwick
    Robert Warwick
    • Maj. Henry
    Charles Richman
    Charles Richman
    • M. Delagorgue
    Gilbert Emery
    Gilbert Emery
    • Minister of War
    • Director
      • William Dieterle
    • Writers
      • Norman Reilly Raine
      • Heinz Herald
      • Geza Herczeg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews78

    7.19.5K
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    Featured reviews

    9Bunuel1976

    THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA (William Dieterle, 1937) ***1/2

    Of Paul Muni's three biographical films made at Warner Bros. and directed by William Dieterle (the others were THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR [1936] and JUAREZ [1939]), this was the only one which had never been shown on TV in my neck of the woods; ironically, it was the first to make it to DVD - but, then again, it is the most highly-regarded of them! Still, given the film's reputation (Best Picture Oscar Winner, Leonard Maltin rates it **** in his "Movies & Video Guide"), I somehow expected a masterpiece - but, personally, I feel that Dieterle's THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER (1941) and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939) are greater achievements. Even so, it's been sometime since I watched a vintage old-style Hollywood film; of late, I've mostly been concentrating on Euro-Cult and World Cinema stuff - but, really, there's no beating the professionalism and sheer entertainment value of a product from the cinema's Golden Age!

    The film strikes a good balance between Zola's literary career and his struggles for social justice: the latter is mostly devoted to the Dreyfus affair, a veritable cause celebre at the time (cinematically treated two more times in DREYFUS [1931] and I ACCUSE [1958], neither of which I've watched though the latter had turned up some years back on late-night Italian TV!), culminating in one of the finest courtroom scenes ever filmed. Production values are top-notch, the Oscar-winning script appropriately literate (though the constant speechifying and the film's two-hour length - by contrast, LOUIS PASTEUR had been less than 90 minutes but, then, the epic and star-studded JUAREZ was longer still - make for a somewhat heavy-going experience) and Dieterle's handling virtually impeccable; the only unpersuasive aspect, perhaps, is the one-dimensional portrayal of the corrupt French military who callously sent Dreyfus to Devil's Island for treason, and left him there to rot for years - even after they had found absolute proof of his innocence, because that would have meant admitting to a mistake!

    The cast is filled with wonderful characters actors whose familiarity - and reliability - allows utmost audience involvement every step of the way, despite Hollywood's typically idealized viewing of events. Best of all, naturally, are Muni as Zola (simply brilliant, especially during his show-stopping speech at the trial, and who even ages convincingly!) and Schildkraut (a touching Dreyfus who, in spite of his relatively brief appearance, managed to walk off with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar - though, personally, I would have voted for H.B. Warner in LOST HORIZON [1937]!).

    Unfortunately, the audio level on Warner's otherwise exemplary DVD is rather low; the supplements include three vintage shorts (described in more detail below), as well as the full 1-hour broadcast of a radio adaptation of the script (obviously compressed but also including some minor additions) - presented by Leslie Howard (who, at the end, even interviews William Dieterle!) and featuring Muni himself, accompanied by Josephine Hutchinson (stepping in for Gloria Holden, who had played Zola's wife in the film).
    7Erich-13

    Fine acting, poor history

    I highly recommend "The Life of Emile Zola" for the brilliant performances of Paul Muni, Gale Sondergaard, and Joseph Schildkraut. (Although I still must admit I'm surprised by Schildkraut's Oscar victory...although he certainly does a good job as Alfred Dreyfus, the role doesn't really give him much opportunity to demonstrate his talents. Dreyfus is not shown in any depth; his role consists almost entirely of protesting his innocence and languishing in prison.)

    Strong performances aside, though, I do have some problems with the film. It strikes me as very odd that a film that makes such a big deal about "the truth" is so hesitant at actually depicting it. One of the key issues of the Dreyfus affair, anti-semitism, is never even brought up. The only reference to Dreyfus' Judaism is a passing glimpse on his personnel papers. The filmmakers' reluctance to address such an important part of the story does a disservice to history.
    7wes-connors

    Ruffling Feathers in France

    In 1862 Paris, struggling writer Paul Muni (as Emile Zola) is happy working with a book publisher. Because he writes about corrupt officials, Mr. Muni is called a "muckraker" and loses his job. However, fame and fortune are around the corner. Muni meets sad prostitute Erin O'Brien-Moore (as Nana) and writes her story. The book "Nana" is the first of many best-sellers. Years later, Muni sacrifices everything to defend Joseph Schildkraut (as Alfred Dreyfus), a Jewish man made a scapegoat by French authorities...

    Led by Muni's carefully constructed lead performance, "The Life of Emile Zola" was a huge success with audiences and critics. Muni won a "Best Actor" award from the "New York Film Critics" and Mr. Schildkraut received an "Academy Award" as "Best Supporting Actor". Those organizations named "Zola" best film of the year; adding its #1 placement on the annual "New York Times" and "Film Daily" lists, it was clearly the consensus winner for 1937. Disney's "Snow White" was the only real challenger...

    The Dreyfus affair is almost the whole film, making the title seem inappropriate. Also, the film seems shy about naming Schildkraut's character as Jewish. If you blink, you'll miss the piece of paper listing "Religion - Jew". Considering the looming World War, filmmakers likely wished the point was made more clearly. Despite its flaws, the production is excellent, with great roles from the cast and crew at Warner Bros. Sometimes overlooked among the more well-known names are outstanding art director Anton Grot and supporting actor Vladimir Sokoloff as Muni's drafty attic apartment roommate (acclaimed painter Paul Cezanne).

    ******* The Life of Emile Zola (8/11/37) William Dieterle ~ Paul Muni, Joseph Schildkraut, Vladimir Sokoloff, Gale Sondergaard
    8carleeee

    Rooting for the Underdog

    Émile is like the Julian Assange of 19th Century France, though certainly less dramatic. He comes under intense criticism as his books gain popularity and the censors are under pressure from the government and the French Army to stop them. The Dreyfus Affair was still well-known at the time of the film's release, but as a person watching for the first time 75 years later I got a little lost. I failed to see the connection between the two seemingly unrelated sub-plots and the ensuing period where there was little to no appearance of the film's namesake. This was eventually cleared up for me but the reliance on assumed knowledge was not very forward-thinking. One quibble is that the women did not seem to age, I had a similar complaint watching Cimarron; throughout the decades covered by the film Zola got older and cuddlier, Dreyfus aged even more...yet their wives hardly aged a day. I wish I knew their secret. Snaps for Joseph Schildkraut whose portrayal of Captain Alfred Dreyfus scored him an Oscar® for Best Supporting Actor. It was a good film and certainly highlighted the level of corruption in France at that time, as well as rooting for the underdog. I must procure one of Zola's books and check him out.
    7jenevere-heading

    Immersive and historically interesting

    I only watched this because it won an Academy Award for best picture (1937). I didn't expect it to be very good, so my intention was to watch it over two nights, but I watched it in one sitting, because it was quite immersive.

    The movie could be described as being comprised of two parts - the first, a snapshot of who Emile Zola was, and the second, his involvement in the Dreyfus Affair (which I knew nothing about until I watched this movie).

    I thought this movie was immersive and historically interesting. I enjoyed it.

    Oscars Best Picture Winners, Ranked

    Oscars Best Picture Winners, Ranked

    See the complete list of Oscars Best Picture winners, ranked by IMDb ratings.
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was the first film to break double digits in Academy Award nominations, receiving an astonishing ten nods.
    • Goofs
      Zola is shown as not wanting to get involved in the Dreyfus Affair until he is won over by an emotional plea from Mme. Dreyfus following the Esterhazy trial. In fact, he had interested himself in the affair for some time before that and had written articles denouncing the anti-semitism that had condemned Dreyfus.
    • Quotes

      Émile Zola: Paul.

      Paul Cezanne: Hmm.

      Émile Zola: Will you write?

      Paul Cezanne: No. But I'll remember.

    • Connections
      Featured in Breakdowns of 1938 (1938)
    • Soundtracks
      La Marseillaise
      (1792) (uncredited)

      Written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle

      Variations often in the score

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 2, 1937 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La vida de Emilio Zola
    • Filming locations
      • Goff Island, Laguna Beach, California, USA(Devil's Island scenes)
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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