The Life of Emile Zola

The Life of Emile Zola is a 1937 film directed by William Dieterle and starring Paul Muni in the title role. It's the second biographical film to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

From the New York Times:

Paul Muni's portrayal of Zola is, without doubt, the best thing he has done. Fiery, bitter, compassionate as the young novelist; settled, complacent, content to rest from the wars in his later years; then forced into the struggle again, although he resisted it, when the Dreyfus cause whispered to his conscience—Mr. Muni has given us a human and well-rounded portrait.

Empire Online concludes, "Perhaps not a completely reliable historical document this is however a moving evocation of an era and a heroic deed." Rotten Tomatoes has a critics score of 75%. It's listed in the book 1.001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.