"THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA."

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1938, Page 21

"THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA."

. ' Mr. Paul Muni -takes the title role r of "The. Life "of Emile Zola," 'Warner • ■ Bros. v screen achievement, \vltich will have its opening :in .Wellingtdn: soon. ; ..Muni, assisted by a story, which:: is i both dignified and:>strong, is claimed /to'glve ;the finest performance: of his ,:i career.- '■ Zola was one of France's i g:-ea'hnovelists, and the film traces his lifeI 'through his early struggles to his .-complacent middlerage and through-his fiery; crusade ,on behalf of .Captain Dreyfus in that world-famous scandal. ''Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French . ajrmy, was unjustly accused of betraying. :imilitary secrets and was- sent to Devil's Island-;after' being' stripped of his military rank. • The climax of the 'film'comes when Zola is tried: on a charge of libel-as a result of his vigorous defence of Dreyfus and flees '■ to England. Maintaining liis attacks on ' the, powerful- army, clique, ■ the firei^brand'■ rioy.elist \yas' finally successful in- establishing the irinocencef of, Dreyfus, and the film closes with' Zola's return *rhis native 'land. The early •part of' xlthe'film-shows. him meeting JJana, aw.oman of the'streets, who inspired his \first successful literary effort) and the acting of; Eririj G'BrienMoojje as-Nan'a calls'.fof special atten- ■ lion; '■ Joseph r Schildkraut,, internaticnallyrknown stage star,-gives a iriov- ' iri£ performance as the martyred Dreyfus. Gale' Sondergaard appears / as .Madaune Dreyfus, Gloria^-Holden. ~as 'Alexandrine Zola; Slso prSminently ccst are Donald Grisp.'Grant Mitchell, John>.Litel.- Ralph-. Morgan, -Henry O'Neill; arid many other notable'actors.