The life of Emile Zola / Warner Bros. Pictures presents ; a Warner Bros. picture ; directed by William Dieterle ; screen play by Norman Reilly Rene, Heinz Herald and Geza Herczeg.
Publisher:
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.,
Copyright Date:
2023
Description:
1 videodisc (116 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in.
Container of (work): Life of Emile Zola (Motion picture)
Notes:
Paul Muni (Emile Zola), Joseph Schildkraut (Capt. Alfred Dreyfus), Gale Sondergaard (Lucie Dreyfus), Donald Crisp (Maitre Labori), Gloria Holden (Alexandrine Zola), Erin O'Brien-Moore (Nana), Henry O'Neill (Colonel Picquart), Morris Carnovsky (Anatole France), Louis Calhern (Major Dort), John Litel (Charpentier), Ralph Morgan (Commander of Paris), Robert Barrat (Major Walsin-Esterhazy), Vladimir Sokoloff (Paul Cezanne), Harry Davenport (Chief of Staff), Robert Warwick (Major Henry), Charles Richman (M. Delagorgue), Gilbert Emery (Minister of War), Walter Kingsford (Colonel Sandherr), Paul Everton (Asst. Chief of Staff), Montagu Love (M. Cavalgnac), Frank Sheridan (M. Van Cassell), Lumsden Hare (Mr. Richards), Marcia Mae Jones (Helen Richards), Florence Roberts (Madame Zola), Dickie Moore (Pierre Dreyfus), Rolla Gourvitch (Jeanne Dreyfus). Originally produced as an American motion picture in 1937. Story by Heinz Herald and Geza Herczeg, based on Matthew Josephson's "Zola and his time." Full screen (1.37:1). Special features include: dramatic short, Taking the count (22 min.); musical short, Mal Hallett and his Orchestra (10 min.); audio recording of 5/8/39 Lux radio theater production starring Muni (59 min.); theatrical trailer (4 min.). Educational and home use only.
Contents:
Credits -- Job for Emile -- Official warning -- Injustice all around -- Nana's story -- "Nana's" profits -- "Downfall" -- Defying the censor -- Cezanne's goodbye -- Traitor in their midst -- Arrested for treason -- "I'm innocent!" -- You must survive -- Military maneuvers -- Lucie appeals to Zola -- I accuse -- Inflaming the mob -- On trial -- Picquart testifies -- Written and unspoken -- Intolerance all around -- Let truth conquer -- Another closed case -- Honor of the army -- Homecomings to France -- By force of ideas -- Moment of conscience -- Cast list.
Summary:
In 1862 Paris, Emile Zola is barely scratching out a living writing muckraking articles about the poverty of the French people and the corruption of their leaders. Until "Nana," about the life of a prostitute, becomes a smash hit and turns Zola into a celebrity, champion of the people. As he churns out a string of similar books that make him quite rich, his old friend Paul Cezanne tells him "An artist should remain poor." His determined intervention in the Dreyfus Affair, at the request of Dreyfus's wife Lucie, results in "J'accuse!" his famous denunciation of the Army, and leads to a conviction for libel. He flees to England, where he remains until granted amnesty. Unfortunately, he dies before the news that Dreyfus was exonerated and reinstated to full rank can reach him. Indicative of the mores of its time, during the course of this clear story about institutionalized anti-Semitism, the word "Jew" is never mentioned. And while most Hollywood biographies must be taken with a grain--if not a handful--of salt, the film makes a reasonable effort at accuracy and completeness.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.