Although the great ziegfeld was in many ways better received during the 30s in part because of the high quotient of spectacle in the production the more sedate the life of emile zola has better stood the test of time. It was directed by william dieterle and stars paul muni as zola and joseph schildkraut as alfred dreyfus emile zola is a poor young writer in the paris of napoleon iii, sharing a tiny attic garret with the. The famed writer risks his reputation to defend a jewish army officer accused of treason. Rent the life of emile zola 1937 starring paul muni and vladimir sokoloff on dvd and bluray. The life of emile zola was the studios first best picture academy award winner 10 nominations and three wins. The life of emile zola tells the story of the famous french author and agitator emile zola. The story of emile zola, french writer and social commentator. A worthy highbrow classic awarded the best picture oscar for 1937, the life of emile zola is still a vital and moving drama and interesting from several angles. He was noted for his theories of naturalism, which underlie his monumental 20novel series les rougonmacquart, and for his intervention in the dreyfus affair through his. Interesting to see that paul muni was in an academy award perfornmance.
The life of emile zola 1937 is, as i mentioned and as the title suggests. The life of emile zola is a 1937 american biographical film about 19thcentury french author emile zola, starring paul muni and directed by william dieterle, a german emigre. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central. You can find more information regarding this film on its imdb page. These frces of star and humanism converged in a 1937 movie landmark. Complete national film registry listing film registry. The life of emile zola watch online christie books.
If the film had lingered more on the fact the dreyfuss was a jew, then maybe the historical parallel would become more apparent. Screenplay by norman reilly raine, heinz herald, geza herczeg, based on the book zola and his time by matthew josephson. Rent the life of emile zola 1937 on dvd and bluray. So its no surprise to find him playing emile zolaand wonderfullyin this fine film. The film might better be titled emile zola and the dreyfus case. Nonetheless, the other performers do very well and the film tells a very interesting tale. It is notable as the second biographical film to win the academy award for best picture. The life of emile zola full frame, subtitled on tcm shop. The life of emile zola paul muni 1937 dvd for sale online. Paul was educated in new york and cleveland public schools. I jaccuse you to not like this biographycourtroom film.
The life of emile zola might not be a perfect film and probably wouldnt win an oscar if it were made todaybut its still a solid film. Wellwritten, wellmeaning and solidly acted, the life of emile zola film may ultimately be more earnest than dramatically engaging. Emile zola film complet en francais streaming complet. The life of emile zola film the life of emile zola 02 october 1937. Released october 2nd, 1937, the life of emile zola stars paul muni, joseph schildkraut, gale sondergaard, gloria holden the movie has a runtime of about 1. It won best picture, best actor in a supporting role joseph schildkraut as captain alfred dreyfus and best writing, screenplay. The life of emile zola is a courtroom drama, so i might not rush to check it out under normal circumstances, but this is also a film that took home three oscars in 1937, including best picture. Complete national film registry listing sort films by title, year of release, and year inducted into the registry by using the up and down arrows at the top of each column. Its a compelling film that demands no previous knowledge of the title. Well written, wellmeaning and solidly acted, the life of emile zola film may ultimately be more.
The life of emile zola 1937 g 10021937 us drama 1h 56m user score. Literate and powerful, the life of emile zola was a huge boxoffice. These forces of star and humanism converged in a 1937 movie landmark. Regarder en hd biopic of the famous french writer emile zola and his involvement in the dreyfus affair. The life of emile zola is a 1937 american biographical film about 19thcentury french author emile zola, starring paul muni and directed by william dieterle. It was the second year in a row that a biographical film after the great ziegfeld for 1936 won best picture. Much of the films presentation of zolas life is some what fictionalized. We track his life from his days as a struggling artist, sharing an apartment with paul cezanne, to his first bestselling book, and resulting elevation from poverty, to his forays into social and political commentary through his books, to his involvement in the dreyfuss affair. Credits and other information from the internet movie database. Official video content provided by mgm home entertainment or one of its authorized agents. This biographical film opens with french novelist emile zola starving in a. Although the title of this film is called the life of emile zola, this film is more of a broad stroke version of his life with specific detail given to his late in life affiliation with the dreyfus affair. Biopic of the famous french writer emile zola and his involvement in the dreyfus affair. As portrayed in the film, he was a penniless writer sharing an apartment in paris with painter paul cezanne when he finally wrote a bestseller, nana.
Dvd cover design may change due to manufacturer and may have korean on it. Set in the mid 1800s to the early 1900s, muni plays zola, first as a young man struggling to earn a living while staying true to his art. With paul muni, gale sondergaard, joseph schildkraut. When first we meet french novelist and essayist zola, he is starving in a parisian garret with his painter friend, paul cezanne. That sense of confinement can drive a movies tense atmosphere, but if poorly handled, can also sink a movie. The life of emile zola trailer directed by william dieterle and starring paul muni, joseph schildkraut, donald crisp, john litel, henry oneill. John garfield and gale sondergaard join the illustrious cast of this epic, directed by william dieterle a midsummer nights dream, the life of emile zola and set against a backdrop of revolution and royal ambition, with mexico as the prize. The life of emile zola 1937 after struggling to establish himself, author emile zola paul muni wins success writing about the unsavory side of paris and settles into a comfortable upperclass. Warners most ambitious film production of many months, the life of emile zola, is a vibrant, tense and emotional story about the man who fought a nation with his pen and successfully championed. The life of emile zola william dieterle, paul muni, gloria.
The second of paul munis biographical films for warner bros. It is an excellent film, for all that, containing some fine acting and sets. The life of emile zola 1937 the movie database tmdb. This is a fictonalized account of the life of the french novelist emile zola, best known for his naturalistic. Instead, it is about events in his life, particularly those created by his own pen, fiction and non. Perhaps not a completely reliable historical document this is however a moving evocation of an era. He was nominated for best actor for his role in the life of emile zola. Popular actor paul muni was on a run of biopics at this time, but the scripting here is solid, especially in the later stages of the story. I have to agree with trevor willsmer, this film 1937 lasting nearly 2 hours can only be regarded as a very abridged life of emile zola. Fictionalized account of the life of famed french author emile zola. The first biopic to actually win was the life of emile zola, which has the noted french author and activist at the center of the story, but which curiously isnt about monsieur zola.
Pretty good trailer for zola here, featuring all the pomp and circustance for such a film as this one though i doubt i would see this. Starting in paris in 1862 it deals, among other events, with the dreyfus affair and antisemitism in france. The movie presents an erratic take on its subject, and i believe its lead performance from paul muni is radically overrated. In 1937, the life of emile zola was nominated for the largest number of awards, ten. The life of emile zola was the second biographical motion picture to win the best picture oscar, following the previous years the great ziegfeld. The anarchist film archive presents the life of emile zola 1937 wiilliam dieterle with paul muni as emile zola, watch online now. And of a woman, empress carlota bette davis, driven to madness. The life of emile zola 1937 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. All worldwide region free 0 you can paly this dvd on all dvd players. Download pdf copies of the entire list of registry titles sorted alphabetically or by year of release. Warners most ambitious film production of many months, the life of emile zola, is a vibrant, tense and emotional story about the man who fought a nation with his. Read the full synopsis of the life of emile zola, 1937, directed by william dieterle, with paul muni, joseph schildkraut, gale sondergaard, at turner classic movies. This powerful film about the activist french author also won the new york film.
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