The Life of Emile Zola
1937 · directed by William Dieterle
- Rating
- 82/100
- Hit
- yes
- Prestige lists
- Oscar Winner
A fictionalized account of famous French writer Émile Zola and his involvement in the Dreyfus Affair. After struggling to establish himself, Zola wins success documenting the unsavory side of Paris and settles into a comfortable upper-class life. However, his complacency is shaken when Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus is imprisoned for espionage. Realizing that Dreyfus is an innocent victim of anti-Semitism, Zola boldly pens an exposé, only to be charged with libel and now he must defend himself in a dramatic courtroom testimony.
The Life of Emile Zola (1937), directed by William Dieterle, rates 82/100 — a hit. See how its director, cast and crew rate across their careers.
Cast
- Paul Muni
- Gale Sondergaard
- Joseph Schildkraut
- Gloria Holden
- Donald Crisp
- Erin O'Brien-Moore
- John Litel
- Henry O'Neill
- Morris Carnovsky
- Louis Calhern
Crew
- Tony Gaudio — Director of Photography
- Warren Low — Editor
- Max Steiner — Original Music Composer
- Geza Herczeg — Screenplay
- Heinz Herald — Screenplay
- Norman Reilly Raine — Screenplay
More from William Dieterle
- All That Money Can Buy (1941) — 84/100 · hit
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) — 83/100 · hit
- Portrait of Jennie (1948) — 82/100 · hit
- The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936) — 79/100
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) — 76/100
- Salome (1953) — 58/100
How these numbers work: Methodology