The Life of Emile Zola

Overview

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.

Directed by William Dieterle

Top 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

John Litel

Charpentier

Henry O'Neill

Colonel Picquart

Morris Carnovsky

Anatole France

Louis Calhern

Major Dort

Ralph Morgan

Commander of Paris

Robert Barrat

Major Walsin-Esterhazy

Vladimir Sokoloff

Paul Cezanne

Grant Mitchell

Georges Clemenceau

Harry Davenport

Chief of Staff

Robert Warwick

Colonel Henry

Charles Richman

M. Delagorgue

Gilbert Emery

Minister of War

Walter Kingsford

Colonel Sandherr

Paul Everton

Assistant Chief of Staff

Details