I Accuse! (1958)

Director:

José Ferrer

Writers:

Nicholas Halasz (book)
Gore Vidal (writer)

Release Date:

29 September 1958 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

The famous "Dreyfus Case" where a Jewish captain in the French Army is falsely accused of treason. He is sentenced to imprisonment on Devil's Island...

Plot Keywords:

Anti Semitism | Falsely Accused | France | Historical | Falsely Convicted

Cast

José Ferrer	...	Capt. Alfred Dreyfus
Anton Walbrook	...	Maj. Esterhazy
Viveca Lindfors	...	Lucie Dreyfus
Leo Genn	...	Maj. Picquart
Emlyn Williams	...	Émile Zola
David Farrar	...	Mathieu Dreyfus
Donald Wolfit	...	Gen. Mercier
Herbert Lom	...	Maj. DuPaty de Clam
Harry Andrews	...	Maj. Henry
Felix Aylmer	...	Edgar Demange
George Coulouris	...	Col. Sandherr
Peter Illing	...	Georges Clemenceau
Michael Hordern	...	Prosecutor, second Dreyfus trial
Laurence Naismith	...	Judge, Esterhazy trial
Ernest Clark	...	Prosecutor, first Dreyfus trial

Runtime:

USA:99 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Trivia:

The first film of Charles Gray.

Quotes:

Émile Zola: This Esterhazy is one of the most glorious liars that ever drew breath. Why, the authority of it, the poise; the man's a genius!

Good historical drama

This film is based on the true story of Captain Dreyfus of the French Army who, based on weak evidence, is wrongly accused of treason. The film takes place over a seven year period beginning in 1894 Captain Dreyfus comes from a wealthy industrial family but because of love of his country, joins the military rather than help run the family business. His family are Jewish and originally come from an area of Germany. It is discovered that a spy within the officers assigned to a leading General is selling military secrets to foreign agents. Dreyfus is a dour, by-the-book, military Beauregard who has no friends within the command and because of his Jewish and German heritage the military makes him a scapegoat to the crime. Jose Ferrer stars and directs an international cast. Based on the book by Nicholas Halasz, I Accuse is adapted by novelist Gore Vidal in the 2nd screenplay of his career. Photographing this film is veteran cinematographer Freddie Young, whose career lasted 57 years and included three Oscars for Doctor Zhivago, Ryan's Daughter and Lawrence of Arabia. Vivica Lindfors, who was my 4th cousin, plays Dreryfus' wife Lucie. Also among the cast are Anton Walbrook, Donald Wolfit and Herbert Lom. Ferrer is kind of dry and one dimensional and plays the entire film with one emotion. There is not a lot for Lindfors to do. Several of the cast turn in fine performances in this film that was made to mirror the recent McCarthy era witch hunts. There are no closeups and the entire film uses heavy shadows in every scene, indoor and out. This film was remade with Richard Dreyfus who is said to be a family descendant of Captain Dreyfus in the starring role. It's a good historical drama but as a film it falls a little short. I would give it a 7.5 out of 10.