The Fatal Night

In 1572, Catherine de Medici, the queen of France, plans to massacre the Protestant Huguenots who oppose her on St. Bartholomew's day. To accomplish this, she arranges the marriage of Margaret of Valois to Henry of Navarre, the Huguenot king, intending to slay the assembled guests. Meanwhile, Marie de Mornay, a Huguenot, arranges to save her bankrupt father by marrying a wealthy family friend. Before the ceremony can take place, however, the massacre begins. During the slaughter, a stranger, Raoul de Tournay, a Catholic nobleman, saves Marie's life by marrying her. The carnage continues for twenty-four hours, during which Marie realizes that she loves her new husband.