The Life of Emile Zola
1937 · Movie · NR · 116 min · ★ 6.7
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.
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Details
- Years
- 1937
- Release date
- 1937-09-09
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 116 min
- TMDB rating
- 6.7/10 (155 votes)
Themes
- biography
- scandal
- historical figure
- black and white
- writer
- miscarriage of justice
- devil's island
- dreyfus affair
- 19th century
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1938
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1938
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1938
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 1938 · nominated
Show all 13 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Score, Adaptation or Treatment · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Story · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · 1938 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1938 · nominated
Cast & crew
Paul Muni
as Emile Zola
Gale Sondergaard
as Lucie Dreyfus
Joseph Schildkraut
as Capt. Alfred Dreyfus
Gloria Holden
as Alexandrine Zola
Donald Crisp
as Maitre Labori
Erin O'Brien-Moore
as Nana
John Litel
as Charpentier
Henry O'Neill
as Colonel Picquart
Morris Carnovsky
as Anatole France
Louis Calhern
as Major Dort
Directed by William Dieterle