The Life of Emile Zola

Oscar™ Best Picture - Winning Movies

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Original title: The Life of Emile Zola
Year: 1937
Running time: 116 min.
Country: United States
Director: William Dieterle
Screenwriter: Norman Reilly Raine, Heinz Herald, Geza Herczeg
Music: Max Steiner
Cinematography: Tony Gaudio (B&W)
Cast: Paul Muni, Henry O'Neill, Joseph Schildkraut, Gale Sondergaard, Gloria Holden, Donald Crisp, Louis Calhern, Robert Barrat
Producer: Warner Bros
Genre: Drama | Biography. Historical. Based On A True Story. Courtroom Drama. 1900s
Synopsis / Plot: The biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfuss Affair. Paul Cezanne and Émile Zola were friends when both were starting their careers. Through ups and downs Zola became financially successful long before Cezanne. He was married and had a successful career as an author. Paul Cezanne then decided to live in the country far away from the city, and told Zola not to be part of the establishment but to fight for truth and justice again. He is approached by Lucie Dreyfus, who's husband was unjustly court martialed and sent to Devil's Island because he was accused of betraying his country by disclosing military secrets.

Awards: 1937: 3 Academy Awards: Best Movie, Supporting Actor (Joseph Schildkraut), Screenplay. 10 Nominations

1937: New York Film Critics Circle: Best Film, Best Actor (Paul Muni)

Critics' reviews

"A vibrant, tense and emotional story about the man who fought a nation with his pen (...) The picture is Muni’s all the way, even when he is off screen."

John C. Flinn Sr.: Variety
"The most distinguished and most important contribution to the screen this year (...) A magnificent picture."

Kate Cameron: New York Daily News
"It isn't so much bad as utterly, magisterially bland."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Reader
"Rich, dignified, honest and strong, it is at once the finest historical film ever made and the greatest screen biography"

Frank S. Nugent: The New York Times
"It offers little more than a simple story told well, with a skillful blend of narrative and universal themes (...) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"

James Berardinelli: ReelViews
"A movie which is probably the outstanding prestige picture of the season. It is also one of the best shows."

Time
"Perhaps not a completely reliable historical document this is however a moving evocation of an era and a heroic deed (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

David Parkinson: Empire
"The great strength of the film is the re-creation of the Dreyfus case and the marvellous moment as Muni begins 'J'accuse...' (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

Tony Sloman: Radio Times

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