Why was The Story of Louis Pasteur important to Paul Muni's career?

The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936) was a pivotal project for Paul Muni because it solidified his reputation for portraying historical figures and ultimately earned him his only Academy Award for best actor.

Although the film was produced on a shoestring budget, Muni had to fight Warner Brothers to get the project made. Its success as a major hit validated his commitment to high-quality, research-intensive biopics and reinforced his status as the studio's most prestigious star, granting him significant creative influence during the studio system era.12