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Staring:
Paul Muni,
Gale Sondergaard,
Joseph Schildkraut,
Gloria Holden,
Donald Crisp
Director:
William Dieterle
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $4.03
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 9780790793078
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
ISBN: 0790793075
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2005-02-01
Running Time: 116
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1937-10-02 |
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Description
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 successful French author who risks all his success and comfort to come to the defense of the unjustly jailed Capt. Dreyfus (Oscar winner Joseph Schildkraut). Winner of three Oscars overall-and of immense critical and popular success-this distinguished film is a must-see portrait of a life that's "a moment of the conscience of man." Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Year: 1937 Director: William Dieterle, Irving Rapper Starring: Paul Muni, Gale Sondergaard, Joseph Schildkraut, Gloria Holden, Donald Crisp, Erin O'Brien-Moore, Henry O'Neil, Morris Carnovsky, Louis Calhern.
Amazon.com
Still as potently relevant today as it was in 1937, The Life of Emile Zola is a marvelously entertaining slab of Hollywood social issue-mongering. The life of the French writer is broadly sketched in the early going, but the film settles into its groove with the Dreyfus affair: the scandalous railroading of a military captain for treason, which shook France to its foundation in the 1890s. The elderly Zola's gradual involvement in the case, climaxing with his electrifying "J'accuse!" essay and subsequent trial for libel, is the heart and soul of the picture. Warner Bros.' version of this story, directed by William Dieterle, carries over the passion (and hokum) of the previous year's Story of Louis Pasteur. It also retains that film's leading man, Paul Muni, who turns in an elaborately theatrical performance. The result was a box-office smash and three Oscars, for best picture, script, and supporting actor (Joseph Schildkraut, who plays Dreyfus). While the film occasionally creaks with Hollywood artifice, the clarion call of truth and outrage come through surprisingly strongly--indeed the film looks prescient as a warning about governments closing ranks to cover up mistakes. Mostly sidestepped is the anti-Semitic vitriol of the campaign against Dreyfus (his Jewishness is referenced only in a written report glimpsed for a moment). This is an old-fashioned barnburner that encourages the viewer to fan the flames. --Robert Horton
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 Vive la France!, 2009-10-27
If you don't know who Emile Zola is, you should! See this movie and learn! And Paul Muni never fails to deliver! A wonderful movie!
Emile Zola DVD, 2010-01-11
DVD came wrapped in brand new condition. Happy I found this title on Amazon as it was a gift for a family member who collects Oscar Best Picture Winners.
Lacking one ingredient, 2010-05-27
When this movie was first shown (1937), Hitler held absolute power in Germany, and his agenda and anti-Semitism were well known. In less than two years (1939) Germany and France would be at war against each other. Thus, it is surprising that this movie seems intent upon not annoying Hitler or the widespread anti-Jewish sentiments in this country.
The star and Academy Award winner of ...Zola (Muni) was Jewish. And anyone remotely aware of the Dreyfus Affair knows that Dreyfus was a Jew. In fact, the reason he was accused and convicted of treason was primarily because of his being Jewish. Anti-Jewish epithets were hurled at him from start to finish. And yet this film does not even hint that anti-Semitism had anything to do with his conviction and sentencing to Devil's Island, the hell-hole of the world in French Guiana on the coast of South America. I can only guess why this is so, and none of my conjectures are complimentary to Warner Brothers.
But despite this, ...Zola is a far better than average movie. It is a bit slow to get going, but once it gets to the Dreyfus Affair, the film is gripping, especially the long courtroom scene. Zola took a great chance in attacking the veracity of the French military and nearly ended up in prison for his courage. His speech at the trial is a fine moment in movie history.
I only wish the studio had exhibited the same courage in telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Alas, people will watch this film today and wonder why on earth Dreyfus was selected as the victim of an elaborate plot.
the life of Emile Zola, 2009-11-24
This is a very old classic. It is for people that enjoy inspirational themes, and history. It was WB's first academy award winner, and it also won the film critics award. Because the modern films are so full of sensationalism, special effects, and lack of dialog, I think this film should be kept alive as an example of great works. It is a wittness as to what could be done with a hint of intelligence, and discretion.
Award Winner, 2010-06-16
This movie won an Academy Award many, many years ago. It is great being able to watch these movies - thanks to DVD's.
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