Movie

The Life of Emile Zola

★ 6.7/10 · 160 votes 1937 1h 56m Released

DramaHistory

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.

Cast

Paul Muni Emile Zola Gale Sondergaard Lucie Dreyfus Joseph Schildkraut Capt. Alfred Dreyfus Gloria Holden Alexandrine Zola Donald Crisp Maitre Labori Erin O'Brien-Moore Nana