FilmIndia (Dec 1937 - Apr 1938)

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PAUL MUNI'S OWN CAREER PARALLELS LIFE OF ZOLA Actor and Writer both Started Life as Dreamers Clung to their Ideals Despite Intense Poverty Rose to Greatest Heights In Chosen Careers Were Paul Muni a writer instead of an actor, he probably would be a present day Emile Zola. The characters of the two men are remarkably similar in many ways, and it seems particularly fitting that Muni, the actor, should portray Zola, the jwriter, on the screen in the Warner Bros, production of "The Life of Emile Zola," which opens next Friday at the Strand Theatre. Zola, as a boy, was a dreamer whose poor circumstances made him determined that some day he would be famous and have enough money for the many comforts denied him. Muni, too, was a dreamer as a boy and early made a resolution that he would be a well known citizen with enough of Mr. Paul Muni the world's goods so that he wouldn't have to worry about finding jobs. Zola knew real poverty in the siums of Paris, once being in such desperate straits for food that he pawned his only pair of pants to buy a loaf of bread. Muni grew up on the East Side of New York and knew the seamy side of life from living it. He knew what hunger was. too, when stage engagements failed to materialize. Zola had high ideals of service and with his inborn talent for writing, could have succeeded long before he did if he had wanted to take the "easy way" by writing for popular consumption. Instead, he clung to his ideals and became the first great realist in literature. Muni could have attained the aim of all actors, Broadway, much sooner than he did had he consented to compromise his ideals and accept roles in light, frothy plays which had no purpose except entertainment. Instead, he clung to the Yiddish Theatre and the serious drama until finally his big chance came to do "We Americans" on Broadway, and prove his artistry by a magnificent performance. Recalling his early days of struggle and observing much misery in the world caused by the exploitation of weaker men by unscrupulous opportunists, Zola was always on the side of the oppressed and through his writings exposed many conditions that were remedied as a result. A friend of the poor man, of victims of circumstances, and environment. Muni too has been on the side of the downtrodden, and virtually all of his screen plays have been great human documents as well as excellent entertainment. Zola always looked forward to the day when he could retire, lay down his heavy load and just take things easy but when that day came and he tried it, he was perfectly miserable and soon was back in harness. Muni for years has been threatening to retire from the As "Emile Zola 31