Those who rave about this 1958 film have obviously not viewed the 1937 Oscar winner, "The Life of Emile Zola," with Paul Muni and best supporting Oscar winner Joseph Schildkraut. That was totally a magnificent film.
In this version, much attention is not paid to Zola. He appears briefly and is portrayed by Emlyn Williams. Ironically, Williams and co-star Felix Aylmer both appeared in 1952's classic "Ivanhoe."
As Dreyfus, Jose Ferrer, who also directed the film, is adequate. He has a very cold veneer, probably because he was always on guard for being a Jew in the French army's general staff. The anti-Semitism is well shown in the film as the reason for Dreyfus's arrest and subsequent conviction as a spy.
The film must be remembered to show what hate can do. Government cover-ups and hate are nothing new to the world.
In this version, much attention is not paid to Zola. He appears briefly and is portrayed by Emlyn Williams. Ironically, Williams and co-star Felix Aylmer both appeared in 1952's classic "Ivanhoe."
As Dreyfus, Jose Ferrer, who also directed the film, is adequate. He has a very cold veneer, probably because he was always on guard for being a Jew in the French army's general staff. The anti-Semitism is well shown in the film as the reason for Dreyfus's arrest and subsequent conviction as a spy.
The film must be remembered to show what hate can do. Government cover-ups and hate are nothing new to the world.