Copyright 1958 by Loew's Inc. An M-G-M picture. New York opening at some 50 neighborhood theaters (as the top half of a double bill, mostly with "The Safecracker"): 5 March 1958. U.S. release: March 1958. U.K. general release: 15 February 1959. London opening: March 1958. Australian release: 17 March 1958. 8,911 feet. 99 minutes. M- G-M cut the film to 90 minutes for Australia.
SYNOPSIS: Captain Alfred Dreyfus' (Jose Ferrer) zealous devotion to his French Army career, as well as the fact that he is a Jew, arouses the antagonism of some of his fellow officers. Consequently, when it is discovered that one of the staff officers has sold secret information to the German embassy, Dreyfus is indicted on the flimsiest evidence as a traitor, and, after a farcical trial, is convicted, stripped of his rank, and exiled to Devil's Island.
NOTES: Other film versions include "Dreyfus" (1930) starring Sir Cedric Hardwicke, "Dreyfus" (1930) starring Fritz Kortner, "The Life of Emile Zola" (1937) with Joseph Schildkraut.
COMMENT: The Dreyfus case again. But this time the emphasis is on Dreyfus himself, and Zola has but a small role. Vidal's script fills in a lot of the background omitted from previous versions and provides a fascinating study of the personal conflicts of bureaucracy. Acting throughout is superb. Ferrer directs himself adroitly in the main role. The film has pace and momentum and is altogether an enthralling 99 minutes.
As usual, M-G-M tried to sell the film to the wrong audience and were completely routed at the box office.
OTHER VIEWS: The action is throughout rather static, but the court scenes are pregnant with drama... Ferrer has directed methodically and with immense attention to detail in characterization. His performance is a wily, impeccable one, but it comes from the intellect rather than the heart... Walbrook gives a splendid performance. — Variety.
SYNOPSIS: Captain Alfred Dreyfus' (Jose Ferrer) zealous devotion to his French Army career, as well as the fact that he is a Jew, arouses the antagonism of some of his fellow officers. Consequently, when it is discovered that one of the staff officers has sold secret information to the German embassy, Dreyfus is indicted on the flimsiest evidence as a traitor, and, after a farcical trial, is convicted, stripped of his rank, and exiled to Devil's Island.
NOTES: Other film versions include "Dreyfus" (1930) starring Sir Cedric Hardwicke, "Dreyfus" (1930) starring Fritz Kortner, "The Life of Emile Zola" (1937) with Joseph Schildkraut.
COMMENT: The Dreyfus case again. But this time the emphasis is on Dreyfus himself, and Zola has but a small role. Vidal's script fills in a lot of the background omitted from previous versions and provides a fascinating study of the personal conflicts of bureaucracy. Acting throughout is superb. Ferrer directs himself adroitly in the main role. The film has pace and momentum and is altogether an enthralling 99 minutes.
As usual, M-G-M tried to sell the film to the wrong audience and were completely routed at the box office.
OTHER VIEWS: The action is throughout rather static, but the court scenes are pregnant with drama... Ferrer has directed methodically and with immense attention to detail in characterization. His performance is a wily, impeccable one, but it comes from the intellect rather than the heart... Walbrook gives a splendid performance. — Variety.