} Crítica Retrô: A Sombra da Guilhotina / Reign of Terror (aka The Black Book, 1949)

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Saturday, August 13, 2016

A Sombra da Guilhotina / Reign of Terror (aka The Black Book, 1949)

Uma narração policial abre o filme. Tudo muito noir e comum, se a narração não estivesse nos apresentando os protagonistas da fase mais sangrenta da Revolução Francesa. Quando alguns minutos se passam e as lições de história da época da escola são refrescadas na memória, tudo faz sentido: com muitas conspirações, traições e assassinatos, a Revolução Francesa é a época ideal para se ambientar um filme noir.

A policial narration opens the movie. This is very common in noir, but the odd thing is that the narration is presenting was the characters of the bloodiest phase of the French Revolution. When some minutes pass and the history lessons from school come back to our minds, everything makes sense: with a lot of conspiracy, treason and murder, the French Revolution is the perfect time for a film noir to be set.


O nome de todos os inimigos da França e os crimes que podem condená-los estão escritos em um livro de capa preta, que acaba de ser roubado. Robespierre (Richard Basehart) contrata o sanguinário carrasco Duval (Charles Gordon) para achar o livro em 24 horas. Chegando em Paris, Duval é emboscado e assassinado por Charles D’Aubigny (Robert Cummings), que toma seu lugar, uma vez que nenhum dos aliados de Robespierre conhecia Duval pessoalmente.

The names and crimes of all 'enemies of France' are writen in a black book that has just been stolen. Robespierre (Richard Basehart) hires sanguinary killer Duval (Charles Gordon) to find the book within 24 hours. Arriving in Paris, Duval is murdered by Charles D'Aubigny (Robert Cummings), who takes his place without problems, since Robespierre and his allies didn't know Duval in person.


Tudo é parte de um grande plano para impedir o louco Robespierre de se tornar ditador. A rede de conspiração está em todo lugar: nos bares, em passagens secretas e até nas feiras de Paris. Mas é muito perigoso fazer parte desta rede. Uma das integrantes dela é Madelon (Arlene Dahl), uma velha e íntima conhecida de Charles.

Everything is part of a big plan to prevent crazy Robespierre from becoming dictator. The conspiracy network is everywhere: in bars, in secret passages and even in the marketplaces in Paris. But it is very dangerous to be part of this network. One of the conspirators is Madelon (Arlene Dahl), Charles's old and intimate acquaintance.


Não é apenas porque a fotografia é em preto e branco que o filme é considerado noir. A característica noir principal de “A Sombra da Guilhotina” é seu imaginativo e expressivo uso da iluminação. E quem está por trás disto é o habilidoso cinegrafista John Alton, que também trabalhou em “A Cicatriz” e “Demônio da Noite”, ambos de 1948.

It’s not only because of the black and white photography that we classify this film as noir. The main noir characteristic in “Reign of Terror” is its imaginative and expressive use of light. And the guy who does that is the talented cinematographer John Alton, who also worked in “The Scar” and “He walked by night”, both from 1948.


Há momentos em que as sombras são usadas com maestria e também closes expressionistas e exagerados nos rostos de alguns personagens. Os ângulos escolhidos são inusitados, a luz de velas é artificializada ao extremo e sombras aparentemente inúteis (como a da janela no primeiro encontro de Robespierre com Barras e Fouché) gritam noir em um filme histórico.

There are shadows used with mastery and also expressionist, exaggerated close-ups are used in some characters’ faces. The chosen angles are daring, the candlelight is made artificial to extreme, and the apparently useless shadows (like the one coming from the window, when Robespierre first meets Barras and Fouché) scream noir in a historical film.


A Sombra de Guilhotina” foi feito, vejam só, por um dos estúdios menores de Hollywood, o nanico Republic. Como todo estúdio poverty row, a Republic também usava cenários reciclados dos estúdios maiores, e aqui não foi diferente: estão irreconhecíveis os cenários reutilizados de “Joana D’Arc” (1948). O que luz e fotografia não são capazes de fazer com um set de filmagem!

Reign of Terror” was made, mind you, by a small poverty row studio called Republic. As many poverty row studios did, Republic also recycled sets from bigger studios, and does it here: the sets were previously used in “Joan of Arc” (1948), but you can’t easily tell they are the same. Black and white photography and proper cinematography can make a huge difference in a movie set!


E a Republic tinha naquela época ainda um homem que não havia sido maculado pelo faroeste: Anthony Mann, aos poucos conquistando seu lugar ao sol. Mann era um dos maiores talentos da Republic e “A Sombra da Guilhotina” é uma de suas obras menos celebradas.

And Republic had then a man not yet touched by westerns: Anthony Mann, who was slowly getting his place in the Sun. Mann was one of the most talented employees from Republic and “Reign of Terror” is one of his less celebrated great films.


E como você se sentiria estando no lugar de Charles? Quando estudamos sobre governos ditatoriais e outros problemas da história, sempre pensamos que poderia ter sido diferente. E foi por causa de gente como Charles que a história não foi ainda pior. É muito difícil, sofrido e perigoso ser como Charles e se arriscar para mudar o rumo da história. É mais seguro e cômodo e uma questão de sobrevivência ficar no seu canto, sem se rebelar contra o mal. Mas felizmente existem homens como Charles, que querem mudar o mundo. E felizmente existem filmes como “A Sombra da Guilhotina” para que todos possamos nos colocar ao menos uma vez no lugar dos homens mais destemidos.

And how would you feel if you were in Charles’s place? When we study about dictatorial governments and other historic mishaps, we always thing what could have been different. And it was because of people like Charles that history wasn’t even worse. It’s very difficult, sad and dangerous to be like Charles and risk yourself to change history. It’s safer and a matter of survival to be quiet in your place, without rebelling against evil. But fortunately there are men like Charles wanting to change the world. And fortunately there are films like “Reign of Terror” so we all can at least once put ourselves in the place of the most fearless men.

This is my contribution to the Film Noir Blogathon, hosted by Quiggy at The Midnite Drive-In.

10 comments:

  1. Your thoughtful review is one of your best. A most interesting take on a historical film that sustains its claustrophobic mood throughout.

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  2. Wow, a noir set during the French Revolution sounds really intriguing! Wonderful overview - I am really curious to see this one now.

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  3. Yes, the noir framework is definitely there: when I first read your review, I missed the part that stated it was set during the French Revolution...and it STILL sounded to me like it was set in the 1940s! A good lineup of actors AND it's directed by Anthony Mann? Sounds like one worth checking out.

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  4. Aha! A film noir set during the French Revolution – brilliant!

    Thanks for the introduction to this film, with such a great cast and directed by Anthony Mann too!

    You made a good point about using sets from other films, but in the hands of a clever director like Mann, you would never know it.

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  5. My knowledge of the French Revolution is pretty good. I was a history major in college, and my European history professor was a French transplant. So he spent a week or two just on the French Revolution. But I must admit I have never watched a movie set in it, not even "Tale of Two Cities" (although I read that in high school. Nice review. Thanks.

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  6. You can tell it's a true noir from your wonderful screen captures and gifs...a shadowy and dark tale indeed. I need to check this one out.

    Arlene Dahl is absolutely stunning, I don't remember her being so beautiful. But then again, she is Lorenzo Lamas's mother, so that makes sense!

    Beautifully done, as always!
    -Chris

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  7. I've been interesting in watching this movie for some time for Cummings but had forgotten about it. The cinematography looks fantastic!

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  8. I really like Richard Basehart in several other things, and would be intrigued by seeing him in a "period drama noir" like this. Nice review!

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  9. Parabéns pelo texto instigante. Gostei muito.
    Me deu uma imensa vontade de ver.

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