Cursed with an unmarketable title, The Life of Emile Zola is an outstanding biographical film about the muckracking French writer. The story concentrates on the Dreyfus affair, which was a major political scandal in France during the late 1890s. Since it is a movie and not a documentary, some of the characterizations and events do not match the historical record. But the film hits the right notes emotionally. The script, direction, and cast are of the highest quality.
Versatile actor Paul Muni plays Emile Zola, whose story begins as a struggling French author. He finds wealth and fame writing controversial books, and becomes the conscience of France. In his middle age, he becomes complacent and materialistic, disappointing those who see him as an agent of social change. Meanwhile, the French army discovers that a high ranking officer is giving military secrets to the Germans. Dreyfus is arbitrarily found guilty of treason, is publicly humiliated, and sentenced to miserable imprisonment at Devil's Island. Soon thereafter, military officers learn the true identify of the agent, but begin a massive and determined campaign to cover up their mistake, which includes exonerating the guilty officer.
After encouragement by his politically active friends, Zola finally takes up the cause of Dreyfus. His accusations lead to conflict with the Army and the conservative government, which has the power to strip Zola of his wealth and imprison him.
Muni completely immerses himself in his role as Zola. The actor is unrecognizable under the heavy makeup. He delivers several passionate speeches that are the film's highlights. Joseph Schildkraut and Gale Sondergaard, who play Alfred Dreyfus and his wife Lucie, are also entertaining but in an unexpected way. Their heavily romanticized characters provide endless unintentional comic relief, especially during a prison reunion scene that is dampened by an unsympathetic guard.
The film is extremely effective because it demonstrates how those who are in a position of power will use this power first and foremost to protect themselves. Threatening opposition, right or wrong, must be ruthlessly crushed. Bigotry and nationalism are cynically manipulated. As an Alsatian Jew, Dreyfus is an ideal scapegoat. The tide is turned only when a liberal government is installed, which the Dreyfus scandal helped to bring about.
The Warner Bros. studio was best known for its gangster films, and was seeking prestige projects that would improve its image. The Life of Emile Zola fit the bill, and the title role was an ideal cast for one of studio stars. Although Paul Muni is obscure today, he had recently won a Best Actor Oscar for The Story of Louis Pasteur. This was another highbrow film set in nineteenth-century France, and it had a similar 'man against the system' theme.
Surprisingly, The Life of Emile Zola was a major box office hit. Critical praise certainly helped, as did the numerous Academy Awards and nominations. The film won Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (Schildkraut). William Dieterle was nominated as Best Director, and Muni picked up one of his five career nominations for Best Actor. Further nominations arrived in Best Art Direction, Best Assistant Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Sound categories.
While generally accurate, the story does take a few liberties with the truth. There are spoilers associated with these, and this is the time to avert your eyes if such things are important to you. After his reprieve from Devil's Island, Dreyfus was imprisoned in France, and convicted of treason for a second time in 1899.
Dreyfus did not have his military rank restored (with promotion) until 1906, four years after Zola's death. The film dramatically depicts Zola dying the day before Dreyfus' formal exoneration. Zola also had two children through a house servant, while his marriage to the saintly (as depicted in the film) Mrs. Zola was childless.
Alfred Dreyfus died in 1935, shortly before production of the film began. His wife was forced to go into hiding in 1941, when the Nazis conquered France and began a search for Jews. She died of natural causes in 1945. (95/100)
Paul Muni stars as Emile Zola giving possibly his best performance in this excellent biography of the great writer which won three Oscars including Be...More at Family Video
The Life of Emile Zola episodically explores the career of the novelist who championed the cause of France s oppressed. Zola (Paul Muni) is a hugely s...More at Buy.com
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