The Life of Emile Zola - 1937

The Life of Emile Zola is a 1937 American biographical film of famous French author Émile Zola.

It depicts his friendship with noted painter Paul Cézanne, and his rise to fame through his prolific writing, with particular focus on his involvement in the Dreyfus affair. The film had its premiere at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles and was a great success both critically and financially; contemporary reviews cited it as the best biographical film made up to that time. It is still held in high regard by many critics. It is the second biographical film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

In 2000, The Life of Emile Zola was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

The film was shot in reverse order; Paul Muni grew his own beard for the role, and it was trimmed and darkened as he proceeded to scenes where Zola is younger. His makeup took 3-1/2 hours to apply each morning.

The first biographical picture to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Cast of The Life Of Emile Zola

Paul Muni as Émile Zola
Gale Sondergaard as Lucie Dreyfus
Joseph Schildkraut as Captain Alfred Dreyfus
Gloria Holden as Alexandrine Zola
Donald Crisp as Maitre Labori
Erin O'Brien-Moore as Nana
Vladimir Sokoloff as Paul Cézanne
Grant Mitchell as Georges Clemenceau
Morris Carnovsky as Anatole France.