Why was The Life of Emile Zola significant for Warner Brothers?

The Life of Emile Zola (1937) was a significant milestone for Warner Brothers because it became the studio’s first film to win the Academy Award for best picture.1

Directed by William Dieterle, the film was a major box-office success and a prestige property for the studio. It featured Paul Muni as the famous French writer Emile Zola, who famously challenged the unjust treason conviction of Alfred Dreyfus. In addition to the best picture win, the film earned Dieterle his only Oscar nomination for best director.1