The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

My Review

The Best Picture of 1937 is…..”The Life of Emile Zola.” Paul Muni gives a tour-de-force performance as a French writer who campaigned for various causes, the most famous being his defense of an Army captain who is falsely accused of treason by the French Army. The heavy drama proceeds from there, well directed by William Dieterle (“The Story of Louis Pasteur” 1936) from a good screenplay by Heinz Herald, Geza Herczeg, and Norman Reilly Rain. It was adapted from the 1928 book “Zola and His Time” by Matthew Josephson.

The marvelous performances were delivered by cast members Paul Muni, Gloria Holden, Gale Sondergaard, Joseph Schildkraut, Donald Crisp, Erin O’Brien-Moore, Louis Calhern, Grant Mitchell, Harry Davenport, Robert Warwick, Montagu Love, Marcia Mae Jones, and Dickie Moore. “The Life of Emile Zola” was successful in theatrical release for Warner Bros. Pictures. It was primarily filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, with Goff Island in Laguna Beach doubling for Devil’s Island.

“The Life of Emile Zola” was the first movie to be nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning three – Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Schildkraut), and Best Screenplay. Non-winners include Best Director, Best Actor (Muni), Best Art Direction, Best Musical Score (Max Steiner), Best Sound, Best Story (Herald, Herczeg), and Best Assistant Director.