NHTI will host a showing of The Black Book on March 22 at 7 p.m. The 1949 film is 89 minutes long and is not rated.
Set in the time of the French Revolution, The Black Book (also known as The Reign of Terror) is a noirish adventure/spy/suspense tale featuring excellent performances from a cast that includes Robert Cummings, Richard Basehart and Arlene Dahl. The film focuses on Maximilian Robespierre’s bloody grab for power and the efforts of Frenchmen opposed to his tyranny. The story centers around Robespierre’s black book, which contains the names of his political opponents he wants to eliminate by way of the guillotine. Produced by the great William Cameron Menzies and stylishly directed by Anthony Mann; the cinematography is by the incomparable master of noir, John Alton.
