The Life of Emile Zola poster

The Life of Emile Zola

1937·116'

William Dieterle

DramaHistory

★ 6.7

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.

Stills

7

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

Screenings in Brussels

No upcoming screenings.