A fictionalized account of famous French writer Emile Zola and his involvement in the Dreyfus Affair. After struggling to establish himself, Zola wins success writing about the unsavory side of Paris and settles into a comfortable upper-class life. However, Zola's complacency is shaken when Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus is imprisoned for being a spy. Realizing that Dreyfus is an innocent victim of anti-Semitism, Zola boldly pens a newspaper article exposing the truth, is charged with libel and must defend himself in a dramatic courtroom testimony.
Paul Muni
as Emile Zola
Gale Sondergaard
as Lucie Dreyfus
Joseph Schildkraut
as Capt. Alfred Dreyfus
Gloria Holden
as Alexandrine Zola
Donald Crisp
as Maitre Labori
Erin O'Brien-Moore
as Nana
John Litel
as Charpentier
Henry O'Neill
as Colonel Picquart
Morris Carnovsky
as Anatole France
Louis Calhern
as Major Dort
Ralph Morgan
as Commander of Paris
Robert Barrat
as Major Walsin-Esterhazy
