The Life of Emile Zola

1h 56min

Drama

History

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

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
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
Walter Kingsford

Walter Kingsford

Colonel Sandherr
Paul Everton

Paul Everton

Assistant Chief of Staff
Montagu Love

Montagu Love

M. Cavaignac
Frank Sheridan

Frank Sheridan

M. Van Cassell
Lumsden Hare

Lumsden Hare

Mr. Richards
Marcia Mae Jones

Marcia Mae Jones

Helen Richards
Florence Roberts

Florence Roberts

Madame Zola
Dickie Moore

Dickie Moore

Pierre Dreyfus
Rolla Gourvitch

Rolla Gourvitch

Jeanne Dreyfus
Franklyn Farnum

Franklyn Farnum

(uncredited)

Release date

9th Sep 1937

Status

Released

Spoken languages

English