During the French Revolution, Robespierre is looking for his stolen black book which lists those people he wants sent to the guillotine whilst others are out to stop him. This films was shot in black and white on a comparatively small budget (reused sets from filming Joan of Arc) with lots of dark and shadowy scenes. THis coupled with the plot gives the filma a feel of film noir rather than historical drama and as such it does well. The plot and action move through consistently and RIchard Basehart is suitably menacing as Robespierre aiming to become a dictator.Robert Cummings and Arlene Dahl are the couple trying to stop him in roles that were to become staples of the later spy genre.