Reign of Terror

It's funny to watch how Hollywood treats French history .Historically this terror evocation leaves a lot to be desired .

Set in the 1794 , the second year of the French republic formed after the execution of Louis XVI , this film portrays the power struggle between the revolutionary leader Robespierre (a commanding and cold performance by Richard Basehart) along with Saint Just (Jess Baker) versus other leaders as François Barras (Richard Hart) , Fouche (Arnold Moss) and Danton who are opposed to "The Reign Of Terror" and attempt to persuade Robespierre to curb the bloodletting . All of them participated in overthrowing of king Louis XVI and the proclamation of the Republic however , nowadays , they are ferocious enemies which has resulted in the gallows of thousands of citizens, who are thought to be opposed to a bloody Revolution and mainly executed by guillotine .

"The Black Book" or "Reign of Terror" is a fictitious story that takes place during the infamous 1793-94 French Revolution period known as The Reign of Terror. Historians may yet be divided on the virtuous or vile nature of Robespierre (apparently, he was known for both).

It's quite interesting that, aside from the "Scarlet Pimpernel", there are relatively few films that deal with the French revolution and this is certainly one of the better ones. Robespierre (Richard Basehart) is suitably menacing as the First Citizen of the new Republic bent on becoming Dictator.

It's 1794 France. Maximilian Robespierre (Richard Basehart) has launched a reign of terror and looking to be a new dictator in 48 hours.

I used to talk to my friends that the movies taught me more than my regular studies on schools which I had attended, even having high grades on every school subjects, like this picture over the French revolution, where political matters that took place in those bloody days, the Black Book was the critical issue to settle all things, Cummings played Charles D'Albigny, however has to interpret a fake powerful Judge Duval, he needs joint forces with the leader François Barras (Richard Hart) and his former and gorgeous girlfriend Madelon (Arlene Dahl) to find the book and unmask the upcoming Dictator Maximilian Robespierre played by Richard Basehart, an offering to us learning more over the unforgettable revolution at most important nation at those period of time and trying understanding all about concerning those tempestuous time when nearly 40.000 people were killed, a high price to pay to has "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité", therefore this bloody experience spreading around the world as true reference as democracy as used today in countless advanced countries!!

I'd love to be able to give this film a higher rating, because I'm sure it's excellent. Unfortunately, the disc I have of this is a very poor print, and the dialogue was so fuzzy I missed a lot of it.

ROBERT CUMMINGS and ARLENE DAHL are improbably cast in a grim tale of the French Revolution during the famous reign of terror following the storming of the Bastille. RICHARD BASEHART plays the treacherous keeper of "The Black Book", Robspierre, seen in powdered wig, a man with a twisted mind and soul, who declares that "the Revolution has abolished God.

In one scene a character lights a candle using a match. Unfortunately, at the time of the French revolution (1789ish), flint and steel with a tinder box and sulphur-tipped tapers--- called "spunks"--- were the usual means of obtaining fire.