The Life of Émile Zola
US (1937): Drama
Another successful Paul Muni biopic as the French man of letters who risked his career and freedom to stand up for an unfairly accused man. Muni stars as the French novelist Émile Zola, who rose from scandal to national treasure, and who threw his reputation and rhetorical skill ("J'accuse!") behind Alfred Dreyfus (Joseph Schildkraut), who had been wrongly accused of treason and sent to Devil's Island.
William Dieterle had previously directed Muni in the historical drama The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936) and would go on to direct him again in Juarez (1939). The fine supporting cast includes Gale Sondergaard (as Dreyfus' wife, Lucie), Donald Crisp, Louis Calhern and Vladimir Sokoloff (as Zola's friend -- and social conscience -- artist Paul Cezanne). (amctv.com)
Use this link to view the original theatrical trailer for The Life of Émile Zola on TCM.com.
· Best Picture 1937: Henry Blanke, producer (Warner Bros.)
· Writing (Best Screenplay) 1937: Heinz Herald, Geza Herczeg, Norman Reilly Raine
· Best Supporting Actor 1937: Joseph Schildkraut
· Actor 1937: Paul Muni
· Directing 1937: William Dieterle
· Writing (Original Story) 1937: Heinz Herald, Geza Herczeg
· Interior Decoration 1937: Anton Grot - Art Direction
· Assistant Director 1937: Russ Saunders
· Music Scoring Awards (Best Score) 1937: Leo Forbstein (Warner Bros. Studio Music Department), Departmental Head, Max Steiner - Score
· Sound Recording 1937: Nathan Levinson
10 nominations, 3 Awards