1950s; earliest use found in The Times. From French pièce noire from pièce + noire, feminine of noir black, especially as used by the playwright Jean Anouilh to categorize his works.
Definition of pièce noire in US English:
pièce noire
(also piece noir, piece noire)
nounpiːˌɛs ˈnwɑː
A play or film with a sombre or macabre theme.
Origin
1950s; earliest use found in The Times. From French pièce noire from pièce + noire, feminine of noir black, especially as used by the playwright Jean Anouilh to categorize his works.