REGENT THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 127, 23 February 1938, Page 3

REGENT THEATRE

“The Life Of Emile Zola”

Warner Bros.’ great screen achievement. “The Life of Emile Zola,’ will begin at the Regent Theatre on I’nday. This massive and brilliant combination of biographical narrative and historic drama is one of the outstanding productions of the year and it is made' of greater importance by I’tiul Mum s portrayal of the French firebrand novelist Emile Zola, a portrait that outshines his notable Louis Pasteur: The story opens m 1862 with Zola, a struggling young writer, living in poverty with Paul Cezanne, the painter, in a Paris garret, and the first third of the picture is a narrative ot the novelist’s struggle for recognition and his final success, wealth and acclaim. He is ready to rest on his laurels and hie story seems over. Then comes the famous spy scare of 1895, the trial of Captain Alfred Dreyfus mid his exile to Devil’s Island to save the prestige of the French General Staff. On the appeal of Dreyfus’s wife. Zola is at last aroused, and once more gets into action to expose the military clique. The drmnn heightens. Zola, fighting an almost lone hand against the military machine, is brought to trial for libellous writings. Zola is found guilty and flees to England, whence he carries on with unabated zeal Ins campaign to establish the innocence of Dreyfus. And lie lives to see. victory, the silicide of f lic real culprit, and Ibe restoration of Dreyfus to rank and honour. The golden thread of Zola’s. uncompromising love of truth and justice ties the opening episodes together skilfully. He is the arch-foe of shams and hypocrites and their unceasing menace. Muni draws this character, with its French explosiveness. its tenderness and its fighting strength (consistent with early manhood to maturity) with deep insight and unfailing artistry. Also in the film are Gale Sondergaard, Erin O’Brien-Moore, Joseph Schildkraut and many others.