The Life of Emile Zola
The Life of Emile Zola

Movie·1937·1h 56m

The Life of Emile Zola

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

Directed By

William Dieterle

Country

United States of America

Language

English

CineAI Pitch

Why watch this?

Tap below for a spoiler-free 3-bullet take.

// overview

The Story

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.

Written By

Norman Reilly Raine

Producer

Henry Blanke

Cinematography

Tony Gaudio

Music

Max Steiner

Editor

Warren Low

Themes

biographyscandalhistorical figureblack and whitewritermiscarriage of justicedevil's islanddreyfus affair19th century

Production House

Warner Bros. Pictures

Audience Score

67%

155 votes

Skip11%
Timepass25%
Go for it38%
Perfection26%

Where to watch

Region: US

Streaming data via JustWatch / TMDB. Click a provider to open in TMDB.

// cast

Cast

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

John Litel

John Litel

Charpentier

Henry O'Neill

Henry O'Neill

Colonel Picquart

Morris Carnovsky

Morris Carnovsky

Anatole France

Louis Calhern

Louis Calhern

Major Dort

Ralph Morgan

Ralph Morgan

Commander of Paris

Robert Barrat

Robert Barrat

Major 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

Colonel Henry

Charles Richman

Charles Richman

M. Delagorgue

Gilbert Emery

Gilbert Emery

Minister of War

// crew

Crew

Heinz Herald

Screenplay, Story

William Dieterle

William Dieterle

Director

Norman Reilly Raine

Norman Reilly Raine

Screenplay

Henry Blanke

Producer

Max Steiner

Max Steiner

Original Music Composer

Warren Low

Editor

Geza Herczeg

Screenplay, Story

Tony Gaudio

Tony Gaudio

Director of Photography

// more like this

You Might Like