Reign of Terror (AKA “The Black Book”)
Directed by Anthony Mann
Written by Philip Yordan and Aeneas MacKenzie
1949/USA
Walter Wanger Productions
First viewing/Amazon Prime
[box] Maximilian Robespierre: I never shake hands. It’s unsanitary.[/box]
Director Anthony Mann and cinematographer John Alton made this film look beautiful. Sadly, I couldn’t get past the overwrought script.
Robespierre (Richard Basehart) is in the process of consolidating his power after the French Revolution. Part of the plan is executing, on behalf of “the people” anyone who opposes him. He summons François Barras (Richard Hart), the only person with authority to put his name forward as dictator before the National Assembly. Barras refuses and goes into hiding. Robespierre then sends for Duval, Strasbourg’s merciless prosecutor.
Patriot Charles D’Aubigny (Robert Cummings) has murdered Duval and sets out for Paris, impersonating him. He finds that Duval’s mission is to locate, by whatever means necessary, Robespierre’s “black book”, which contains a list of his intended victims. This book could foil Robespierre’s plan to be dictator as many of his supporters are listed.
Charles then contacts the opposition and becomes reacquainted with Madelon (Arlene Dahl), his previous lover. Madelon wants Charles back but he spurns her and they spar thoughout the film until their inevitable reconcilliation.
There follows a complicated sequence of events in which Charles concludes that the black book has never been stolen and then finds and steals the book. He is tested when Madelon is captured and tortured. With Beulah Bondi as a patriotic granny.
I have a problem with the basic premise. I still don’t understand why Robespierre would want to highlight the existence of the black book by claiming it has been stolen when he rightly surmises discovery of the book will end his political career. The mediocre acting doesn’t help either. The heightened melodramatic dialogue is the icing on the cake. The film does have a fantastic look, though.
Clip
