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Paul Muni
Gloria Holden
Gale Sondergaard
Joseph Schildkraut
Erin O'Brien-Moore
Louis Calhern

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The biography of French writer Emile Zola who was a muckraker in the 1860's about anti-semitism.

01/15/2010 (0 of 0 found this helpful)

Good not great

A good although not great Biography picture of french writer Emile Zola. The early scenes involving his start as a writer are more functionary that actually interesting but later when Zola interacts with the Dreyfus affair is where the film becomes incredibly good. The courts scenes involving the dealing with the french army are perfectly done and Zola's final speech in the court room is written incredibly well and played even better by Paul Muni. The movie on a whole is uneven with unnecessary tangents and I wish Dreyfuss got more time on screen but overall it presents an interesting look at the time and at a writer.

Rating of
3/4 

11/10/2007 (0 of 0 found this helpful)

Review - The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

Émile Zola (Paul Muni) was a famous French author known for his government smearing writings, as well as his role in the Dreyfuss affair in the 1890s. His story is very loosely told in the Best Picture winning film, “The Life of Emile Zola.”

Is it a problem with history or a problem with me that so many films are made about people I have never heard of? I suppose Zola was fresh on people’s minds in 1937, but today his writings are not taught in schools or considered essential readings of any kind. It’s funny and yet sad to see what happens to some people through history.

As for this film, while the acting is good and the story is honorable, there is really nothing new or interesting to see. There is nothing groundbreaking about it except maybe the fact that it is the first biography...

Rating of
2.5/4