Reign of Terror
aka "The Black Book"
[B&W/(1949)USA] - (1hr 29min) Cinematography by John Alton
Score by Sol Kaplan
Cast ... Characters
Robert Cummings ... 'Charles' D'Aubigny/Duval (imposter)
Richard Basehart ... Maximilian ('Max') Robespierre
Arlene Dahl ... Madelon
Arnold Moss ... Fouché (Chief of Secret Police)
Norman Lloyd ... TallienRuss Tamblyn (age 15) ... Pierre's Son
Mini-Review (2004 screening):
"It must be quite a thrill,
making out your death list every night" -Fouché
Good-looking (and sounding) B/W print with some great night photography by the superb John Alton.
If you're looking for a serious history lesson then you've come to the wrong movie, but if you're up for dark humor and deftly delivered lines this is one to watch.
Robert Cummings ("Dial M for Murder") is at his sarcastic best as he's forced to murder and then 'impersonate' Robespierre's new assistant - Duval, the Terror of Strasbourg.
His job is to find the the missing 'Black Book', a most important tome since is contains the names of those to be executed by guillotine after Robespierre (played by Richard Basehart from TV's 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea' - I kid you not!) is made dictator of France.
Sounds serious on paper, but forget that. Cummings as the faux 'Duval' immediately becomes chummy with Secret Police Chief 'Fouche' who remarks as they trade torture techniques, "we're going to have fun together."
And you will have fun too as Cummings must escape into the arms of 'Madelon', the lovely Arlene Dahl, who can't make up her mind whether to love him or hate him (she prefaces a kiss with "I could kill you!" - now that's some hot foreplay!).
Who knew the French Revolution could be such a laugh riot, don't tell Victor Hugo!
"You know, at first glance,
one could almost mistake you for a human being." - Charles D'Aubigny
MORE cast:
Richard Hart ... François 'Barras'
Charles McGraw ... Sergeant
Beulah Bondi ... Grandma
Jess Barker ... Saint Just
William Challee ... Bourdon
Wade Crosby ... Danton
Ray Bennett ... Robespierre's Shooter
Mary Currier ... Madame Duval
Shepperd Strudwick ... Napoleon Bonapoarte (voice only)
John Doucette ... Pierre Blanchard (farmer)
Ellen Lowe ... Marie Blanchard, Farmer's Wife
Charles Gordon ... Duval
Wilton Graff ... Marquis de Lafayette
Ralph Brooks ... Citizen
Frank Conlan ... Gatekeeper
Clancy Cooper ... Saint Just's Sentry
Sayre Dearing ... Citizen
Dabbs Greer ... Guard at Bridge
Frank Hagney ... Bakery Guard
Colin Kenny ... Patriot
Victor Kilian ... Jailer
David Leonard ... Tavern Greeter
Frank Mills ... Citizen
Boyd 'Red' Morgan ... Soldier
Charles Perry ... Citizen
Dan Seymour ... Innkeeper
Leo Sulky ... Citizen
Anthony Sydes ... Pierre's Other Son
Arthur Tovey ... Patriot
Georgette Windsor ... Cecile
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