Reign of Terror (1949)

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Æneas MacKenzie (story)
Philip Yordan (story)

Release Date:

24 February 1950 (Finland)

Genre:

Adventure | Film-Noir

Plot:

The plot starts in France in the year 1794. Robespierre is sowing panic among his opponents with the only reason to take over the power of the state.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | 1700s | Guillotine | France | French Revolution

Cast

Robert Cummings	...	Charles D'Aubigny
Richard Basehart	...	Maximilian Robespierre
Richard Hart	...	François Barras
Arlene Dahl	...	Madelon
Arnold Moss	...	Fouché
Norman Lloyd	...	Tallien
Charles McGraw	...	Sergeant
Beulah Bondi	...	Grandma Blanchard
Jess Barker	...	Saint Just

Also Known As:

The Black Book (UK)

Runtime:

Spain:88 min | USA:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:16 (nf) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Walter Wanger Productions

Trivia:

Debut of Dabbs Greer.

Quotes:

Madelon: I don't blame you for hating me.
Charles D'Aubigny: I don't like to deprive you of that satisfaction, Madelon, but I don't hate you. I just don't care anymore.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Amérique, notre histoire (2006) (TV)

Unusual and Stunning Anthony Mann Film

I watched REIGN OF TERROR, aka, THE BLACK BOOK last night and I just loved it! It's one of the most unusual films I have come across and an equally strange hybrid of genres or sub-genres. The great Anthony Mann takes a film that would probably play mostly as a colorful, sweeping, epic piece dealing with the French revolution and turns it, with the help of cinematographer John Alton, into a dark, shadowy and claustrophobic film noir/adventure/spy/suspense tale period piece featuring excellent performances from a cast that includes Robert Cummings, Richard Basehart and Arlene Dahl. The plot is pretty simple actually, Cummings plays an operative of the newly formed republic who infiltrates the inner circle of dictator wannabe Basehart. You see, Basehart thinks Cummings is a regional tyrant as bad as he is called the "butcher of Strasbourg" and he wants Cummings to find his black book which contains the names of friend and foe alike who will eventually be lead to execution once Basehart becomes dictator. However, if the book falls into the hands of his enemies, Basehart is dead meat. Cummings is assisted in his quest by the lovely Dahl. Even though the plot may be thin, the suspense and action are on high as danger and one confrontation after another awaits around every dark, gloomy and shadowy Parisian corner. The look of the film is outstanding. Atmospheric, gritty and dark with shadows everywhere in the great noir tradition. Mann's camera is everywhere as we receive his trademark high angle shots, low angle moments and jarring and disjointed facial close-ups. A truly unique and highly entertaining film with a look and feel that just has to be experienced. I loved it and would recommend it highly to anyone with even the slightest interest in the work of the wonderful Anthony Mann.