The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

The Life of Emile Zola
Directed by William Dieterle
Written by Norman Reilly Raine, Heinz Herald, Geza Herczeg et al
1937/USA
Warner Bros.
First viewing
#119 of 1001 Films You Must See Before You Die

[box] Émile Zola: What does it matter if an individual is shattered – if only justice is resurrected?[/box]

For some reason I was not wowed by this worthy, well-produced biopic.

The story covers the life of the naturalist French novelist starting with his days as a rebellious youth living in a garret with Paul Cezanne and continuing as he becomes a popular writer.  As Zola (Paul Muni) reaches a prosperous and complacent middle-age, he is approached by the wife (Gail Sondergaard) of Alfred Dreyfus, who has been wrongfully convicted of treason. Dreyfus (Joseph Schildkraut) is languishing on Devil’s Island while the General Staff of the French Army engages in cover-up after cover-up to protect their so-called honor.  Zola writes the famous “J’accuse” letter to the President of France and is tried for libel of the military.  With Louis Calhern as one of the Army conspirators.

Well, there’s nothing exactly wrong with this film but I couldn’t get behind it.  I think it must be the screenplay that bothers me.  It is heavy on very earnest and impassioned speeches arguing for honor and justice.  This is all very well in its place but does not make for complex or interesting viewing.  I think the story may have lost much of it’s bite due to Jack Warner’s ban on the use of the word “Jew” in the dialogue so as not to lose the German market.  Since antisemitism was a key element of the entire Dreyfus affair, this omission waters down the plot.

For a better biopic with Paul Muni, I would go with The Life of Louis Pasteur.

The Life of Emile Zola was honored at the 1938 Academy Award ceremony with Oscars for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Schildkraut) and Best Writing (Screenplay).  It received seven additional nominations including for Best Actor (Muni), Best Director, and Best Art Direction.

Trailer