THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA

US, 1936, 116 minutes, Black and white.
Paul Muni, Gale Sondegaard, Joseph Schildkraut, Donald Crisp.
Directed by William Diertele.

The Life of Emile Zola is one of the best of Warner Bros biographies so popular in the 30s. It is once again a tour de force for Paul Muni who portrayed Louis Pasteur and the Mexican, Juarez, amongst other historical personages. The film was directed by William Dieterle, director of many of these biographies including that Louis Pasteur.

The film traces the background and career of Zola as a novelist, as an influence on French society in the late 19th century. However, it eventually focuses on the notorious Dreyfus case and the involvement of Zola. It gives the background of French military arrogance, anti-Semitic prejudice, legal cover-ups.

Muni give a persuasive, rhetorical performance as Zola. Joseph Schildkraut won the Oscar for best supporting actor as Dreyfus. Many of the regular Warner Bros cast appear. Interesting, topical.

1. Entertaining biography? Recreation of a period? Understanding the central characters? Their influence on society? French crisis?

2. Warner Bros production values: Black and white photography, atmosphere and sets, the strong cast? The director add his experience of biographies?

3. Audience knowledge of Emile Zola? His writings? His place in French society and history? The Dreyfus case? Attitudes towards the military, the 'Law, cover-ups? Anti-Semitic? prejudice?

4. Paul Muni as Zola: His place in mid-19th century France, a young man with ambitions, his writings, his friendship with Sayzurm? Saydurm's influence on him, advice? Meeting Alexandrine and the happy marriage and her support? His being in need of money? The encounter with the prostitute, his sympathy, his writing his novel, Nana? The publication, the reaction? His becoming a celebrity, the book a best seller? The quality of his life, growing in status? people deferring to him? Sayzurm warning him? The succession of novels, essays, critics of society? His age and reputation? The encounter with Madame Dreyfus? His unwillingness to intervene? The challenge and his response? Investigation His sense of outrage? His writing "I Accuse"? The repercussions on him the military and the libel suit? His defence? The behaviour of the judges their prejudices? His having to be patient? His support of Madame Dreyfus? The ultimate success? His going to England - and his reputation? The return to France, the release of Dreyfus? His writing - and the drama of his death? Zola's achievement?

5. The portrait of Sayiurm, his reputation as a painter, his career, friendship with Zola, advice?

6. Alexandrine, initial encounter with Zola, in love with her, the marriage, her continued support?

7. The background of the literary world of 19th century France? Victor Hugo and the reputation of the novel? Zola and his place? Book sellers, the French Academy? Zola's achievement?

8. The Dreyfus case: the background of the military, the wars and revolutions of the 19th century? The military as an elite caste? Their inefficiency, cover-ups? Esterhazy as a spy? The decision to blame Dreyfus? The fabrication of the evidence? The expose, the trial? The harsh treatment of Dreyfus, his lack of appeal? Sentenced to Devil's Island?

9. Dreyfus, his position in the army, Jewish background? His wife and family? The arrest, the accusations, his helplessness, the loss of the case? To Devil's Island, embitterment? The years of imprisonment? Going grey? Scraps of news from France? Eventually being let out - and his almost fear of being free? The return, the vindication, the celebration and the honours? The support of his wife - and her pleas to Zola affecting the case?

10. The presentation of the military; Esterhazy as a spy, his still being welcomed by the officers? The plans and the lies? His final accusations and his fleeing? The officers in charge, their lies, moral, conspiracy? Fabricating letters? The subordinate officers and their role in the drama? Their presence in the court, their lies? The popular support of the military? Their plea for national security? The officer sent to investigate, his knowing the truth, his wanting to bring it to public attention, the transfer to Africa? His being silenced in the court The revelation of the letter, the unravelling of the plot? The expose? The minister of justice and his calling in of the officers, their confessing, their being dismissed and resigning? The films comment on the military?

11. Zola and his speeches, Paul Muni and the rhetoric of the speeches about society, human nature, justice and right? Forty years after the events? in the light of Europe in the 30s? The relevance of lathe film in its time? Now?