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Paul Muni stars as Emile Zola, the famous French author whose critical writings brought the scorn of the French government, especially when he came out in support of a wrongfully-condemned army officer. The first half of this film, directed by William Dieterle (The Devil and Daniel Webster), offers a high level overview of Zola’s penniless beginnings and his breakthrough success with the novel Nana. But before the mid-point, the script shifts to the main storyline of the condemned officer, Alfred Dreyfus (Joseph Schildkraut), who was sentenced to prison on Devil’s Island even though evidence of his innocence was later known to all the army generals. At the behest of the officer’s wife (Gale Sondergaard), Zola enters the fray with a scandalous newspaper article entitled “I Accuse,” forcing a libel trial that would stick Zola’s neck on the line right alongside Dreyfus’.

I love the story of an author raging against the political machine to save a condemned man. Muni disappears into his role. I especially love when he calls the French public ‘cannibals’ under his breath. Joseph Schildkraut took home the best supporting actor Oscar for his performance as Dreyfus, and the film also won Oscars for best picture and best screenplay.

If The Life of Emile Zola falters in any way, it’s in title only, because it’s not really about Zola’s life. It’s really about the Dreyfus scandal — so much so, that the inclusion of Zola’s death feels somewhat out of place after the Dreyfus storyline has concluded.

Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Joseph Schildkraut)

Oscar Nominations: Best Director, Best Actor (Paul Muni), Best Original Story, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Recording, Best Assistant Director, Best Score