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IMDbPro

Reign of Terror

  • 19491949
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Reign of Terror (1949)
  • History
  • Romance
  • Thriller
Robespierrre, a powerful figure in the French revolution, is desperately looking for his black book, a death list of those marked for the guillotine.Robespierrre, a powerful figure in the French revolution, is desperately looking for his black book, a death list of those marked for the guillotine.Robespierrre, a powerful figure in the French revolution, is desperately looking for his black book, a death list of those marked for the guillotine.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Anthony Mann
  • Writers
    • Philip Yordan(story by)
    • Æneas MacKenzie(story by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Cummings
    • Richard Basehart
    • Richard Hart
Top credits
  • Director
    • Anthony Mann
  • Writers
    • Philip Yordan(story by)
    • Æneas MacKenzie(story by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Cummings
    • Richard Basehart
    • Richard Hart
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 52User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos122

    Richard Basehart, Arlene Dahl, Robert Cummings, and Richard Hart in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Reign of Terror (1949)
    Arlene Dahl and Robert Cummings in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Arnold Moss and Shepperd Strudwick in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Richard Basehart in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Richard Hart in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Richard Basehart and Richard Hart in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Richard Basehart and Arnold Moss in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Arnold Moss in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Beulah Bondi in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Charles McGraw in Reign of Terror (1949)
    Jess Barker in Reign of Terror (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Cummings
    Robert Cummings
    • Charles D'Aubignyas Charles D'Aubigny
    Richard Basehart
    Richard Basehart
    • Maximilian Robespierreas Maximilian Robespierre
    Richard Hart
    Richard Hart
    • François Barrasas François Barras
    Arlene Dahl
    Arlene Dahl
    • Madelonas Madelon
    Arnold Moss
    Arnold Moss
    • Fouchéas Fouché
    Norman Lloyd
    Norman Lloyd
    • Tallienas Tallien
    Charles McGraw
    Charles McGraw
    • Sergeantas Sergeant
    Beulah Bondi
    Beulah Bondi
    • Grandma Blanchardas Grandma Blanchard
    Jess Barker
    Jess Barker
    • Saint Justas Saint Just
    Walter Bacon
    • Citizenas Citizen
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Bennett
    Ray Bennett
    • Robespierre's Shooteras Robespierre's Shooter
    • (uncredited)
    Chet Brandenburg
    Chet Brandenburg
    • Citizenas Citizen
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Brooks
    • Citizenas Citizen
    • (uncredited)
    William Challee
    William Challee
    • Bourdonas Bourdon
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Conlan
    • Gatekeeperas Gatekeeper
    • (uncredited)
    Clancy Cooper
    Clancy Cooper
    • Saint Just's Sentryas Saint Just's Sentry
    • (uncredited)
    Wade Crosby
    Wade Crosby
    • Dantonas Danton
    • (uncredited)
    Jane Crowley
    • Citizenas Citizen
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Anthony Mann
    • Writers
      • Philip Yordan(story by) (screenplay by)
      • Æneas MacKenzie(story by) (screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shot on sets left over from Joan of Arc (1948).
    • Goofs
      In a conversation with D'Aubigny, Robespierre states that he turned 36 years old in the month of May. However, during their Reign of Terror, the French revolutionaries changed many things, including the calendar. They discarded the traditional Gregorian calendar (January, February, etc.) in favor of a new, decimal-based system, and called it the French Republican Calendar . There were still 12 months, but now each month had 3 10-day weeks (for 30 days) and all of the months were re-named. What would have been the month of "May" in the Gregorian calendar was changed to "Prairial" in the new calendar. ("Prairial" translates to prairie or meadow.) So being a good revolutionary, Robespierre would have used this new calendar and not the old one when referring to dates. He should have said he "turned 36 years old in Prairial" and not "May."
    • Quotes

      Maximilian Robespierre: There's a man in Strasbourg who isn't afraid of anything. A man named Duval.

      Fouché: Duval?

      Maximilian Robespierre: You know him?

      Fouché: No, but I know his record. Five hundred executions in a single month. That's almost as good as yours, Max.

      Maximilian Robespierre: I've sent for Duval. He arrives at the Blue Goose Inn tonight. You go there and bring him to the bakery. I'll meet him there.

      Fouché: How will I know him?

      Maximilian Robespierre: As one snake to another, you'll smell each other out.

    • Connections
      Edited into Amérique, notre histoire (2006)

    User reviews52

    Review
    Top review
    Another Brilliant Anthony Mann Film
    I watched REIGN OF TERROR, aka, THE BLACK BOOK a while back 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.
    helpful•27
    1
    • NoirFan62
    • Aug 22, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 15, 1949 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Black Book
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Walter Wanger Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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