I Accuse! (1958)
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Synopsis of I Accuse!
The still-controversial L'Affair Dreyfuss of the late 19th century is the focal point of I Accuse! Jose Ferrer (who also directed) stars as French Army captain Alfred Dreyfus, who is chosen as the fall guy for a major military scandal for no other discernable reason than his Jewishness. Wrongly accused of treason, Dreyfus is stripped of his rank and shipped off to Devil's Island. Friends and family members, bolstered by the support of novelist Emile Zola (Emlyn Williams), force a retrial, to no avail. When their mistake and subsequent coverup is revealed, the Army tries to save face by offering Dreyfuss a pardon, even though they will not rescind their accusation of treason. Left with no alternatives, Dreyfuss accepts, returning to France in disgrace. Only the confession of the genuine traitor enables Dreyfuss to clear his name and have his rank restored. Many of the facts of the case that had been glossed over for legal reasons in 1937's Life of Emile Zola are herein presented on film for the first time. The screenplay for I Accuse! was adapted from the Nicholas Haasz' book by Gore Vidal, who manages to make several allusions to America's own McCarthy-era "witch hunts". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast of I Accuse!
- José Ferrer - Alfred Dreyfus
- Viveca Lindfors - Lucie Dreyfus
- Emlyn Williams - Emile Zola
- Donald Wolfit - General Mercier
- Harry Andrews - Maj. Henry
- Peter Illing - Georges Clemenceau
- Carl Jaffe - Col. von Schwarzkoppen
- John Chandos - Drumont
- Anthony Ireland - Judge, First Dreyfus Trial
- Laurence Naismith - Judge, Estterhazy Trial
- Keith Pyott - Judge, 2nd Dreyfus Trial
- Charles Gray - Capt. Brossard
- Arthur Howard - Capt. Lauth
- Malcolm Keen - President of France
- Anton Walbrook - Maj. Esterhazy
- Leo Genn - Maj. Picquart
- David Farrar - Mathieu Dreyfus
- Herbert Lom - Maj. DuPaty de Clam
- Felix Aylmer - Edgar Demange
- George Coulouris - Col. Sandherr
- Eric Pohlmann - Bertillon
- Ernest Clark - Prosecutor, 1st Dreyfus Trial
- John Phillips - Prosecutor, Esterhazy Trial
- Michael Hordern - Prosecutor, 2nd Dreyfus Trial
- Ronald Howard - Capt. Auril
- Michael Anthony - Capt. Leblanc
- Michael Trubshawe - English Publisher
- Director(s):
- José Ferrer
- Writer(s):
- Gore Vidal
- Producer(s):
- Sam Zimbalist
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