Customer Reviews

And Then There Were None

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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I watched this black and white 1945 movie (whose New York premiere was on Halloween day at the Roxy Theatre) of almost 100 minutes without first reading the novel that it is based on. I'm glad I did this! Why? Because I was forced to really watch the movie in order to deduce who the murderer was.

According to the opening credits, this movie is "based on the [1939] novel [of the same name] by [Dame] Agatha Christie" (1890 to 1976). However, this is not quite accurate. This movie is really based on the play version of this book that has a slightly different ending than the book. (Note: In America, this novel is known as "Ten Little Indians.")

As a synopsis, ten strangers are invited as weekend guests to the only mansion located on an isolated island. When the host, with the unusual name of "U.N. Owen" and his wife don't show up, the guests start dying, one by one, according to the lines in the children's poem entitled "Ten Little Indians." These guests and the viewer are constantly reminded of the body count as each of the ten figures on a ceramic display are secretly broken, one by one, directly after a murder is committed.

Who exactly are these ten strangers? They are as follows (in the order in which they are killed):

1. Russian Prince Starloff (played by Mischa Auer)
2. Maid Rogers (Queenie Leonard)
3. Retired General Mandrake (Sir C. Aubrey Smith)
4. Butler Rogers (Richard Haydn)
5. Spinster (?) Brent (Dame Judith Anderson)
6. Judge Quinncannon (Barry Fitzgerald)
7. Dr. Armstrong (Walter Huston)
8. Detective Bloor (Roland Young)
9. Explorer Lombard (Louis Hayward)
10. Secretary Claythorne (June Duprez)

The above cast does a stellar job in their roles. They make the movie come across not only as a mystery but also as a black comedy (thanks to a well-crafted script). Personally, I think the actor who portrayed the butler did the best job.

As the murders begin to occur, the guests realize that there is a person acting as "judge, jury, and executioner." And that person, they surmise, is Mr. Owen. Suspense is created when these guests (and the viewer) start asking themselves questions:

(1) Is Owen hiding in the mansion killing them one by one?
(2) Is Owen one of them? That is, is the "loose cannon" one of them?
(3) (Is Owen the boatman that drove them from the mainland to the island?)

The black and white gives the movie a claustrophobic feeling (adding another dimension to this movie). The cinematography is breathtaking. The main background music for this movie is unique, something I did not expect.

I thought this movie was a little rushed at the beginning. However, it slowed down as it progressed.

Finally, the DVD (the one distributed by the studio Image Entertainment) has just one extra. Even though it lasts less than two minutes, it is VERY interesting.

In conclusion, this is a fun movie, even if you have read the book. For those who haven't read the book, I have left clues as to who the murderer may be in the above review. If you think you know who it is, then view the movie to see if you're right!

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Film has intrigued me for a long time (since I first saw it as a kid in the 40's). Even this latest DVD needs much more serious restoration than it received. Better contrasts between black and whites, but the film is still dirty and unsteady. Both problems are correctable with today's computer technology. Present issue is not worth the extra bucks. Wait for a good restoration.

Terrible, scrappy transfer to DVD format of a good film! I got the first warnings of things to come in the opening credits.. a scatchy & dusty picture...but that was nothing to the intermittent lip-synch problems! There is little more distracting than having the characters' voices reach your ears either before or after their lips move... And this DVD version is VERY distracting in that respect, with whole chunks of the movie being affected. Such a pity - and such a waste of money!

As the story opens, a boatload of strangers is arriving at a remote island estate. It seems they have all been invited by a Mr. Owens, whom none of them have met. The disparate group includes a retired major, a judge, a doctor, and a detective. The one thing they have in common is that they are all accused of murder, which Mr. Owens seems intent on avenging.

This wonderful, old-fashioned mystery is based on a novel by Agatha Christie. One by one, the guests are killed off according to the children's rhyme, "Ten Little Indians," and the audience is kept guessing until the ending (which differs from the book, but is still good). The stellar cast includes Barry Fitzgerald as the judge, Walter Huston as the doctor, and Louis Hayward (who looks and sounds like a young Orson Welles) as the enigmatic Hugh Lombard.

The eerie old house perched high above the crashing surf is the perfect setting for thrills in the dark and the witty script reflects the clever and worldly characters. It's a great whodunit, done without offensive language or on-screen violence. Highly recommended.

I saw this movie on t.v. years ago. I am a fan of Agatha Christie. I thoroughly loved this movie!!! If you love mysteries you'll love this movie!!

I loved this movie! Although the ending is different from the book, I thought this movie was very well done and well worth the money. I did notice however some parts where the movie was supposed to taken seriously, but ended up being funny through bad lighting or whatnot. But you must realize that this movie is older, so appreciate it. The story line is very well done, and the acting is surprisingly well done. PURCHASE THIS MOVIE! I know you'll love it to death and watch it over and over :D

I brought my Madacay DVD version of this wonderful old classic for $5.95 and wasn't expecting a knock-out print. I was delighted with the version on this disc. It's not stunning black and white and grays but it's certainly better than the fuzzy black and white tape I brought years ago. The extras on this bargain disc are fun: ten minutes of movie bloopers, a newsreel and a cartoon from the 40s. Just like a Saturday afternoon at the Bijou. As to the movie itself, a great cast of professionals and crew whip up a fascinating hour long entertainment. You'll never guess whose left standing at the end.

I bought this version of the movie because it supposedly captured the humor of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians better than the remakes. However, I was really disappointed. The humor of the book didn't carry over very well and the dialogue seems very dated. In addition, several of the actors were completely miscast.

This DVD is definitely worth watching if you enjoy a good mystery. Based on the famous book by Agatha Christie, this movie is a great adaptation. Though some may be discouraged due to the fact that the movie is in black and white, it does not detract from the enjoyment of the movie. Also, the film short "Twin Husbands" (Included on the DVD) is hilarious, and certainly should not be overlooked. On a note of caution, though, if you're planning to read the book, I suggest you read it before watching the movie, as both the movie and the book reveal the same culprit, which may ruin the ending of the book for you. All in all, this is one DVD not to be missed!

I thought the list of great characters was outstanding. To think of putting these greats actors and actresses was a geniously thought out idea. Just to have these certain ones is fabulous. Basically following the book, until the ending it is great. 10 people are invited to a deserted island. 8 guests arrive by boat, and the other two, the maid and the butler are already there. A tape recording on the gramyphone starts up accusing each person guilty of at least one murder. So one by one, they all start being murdered. They finally agree it is one of them doing the murders. Will they stop the fiend before he kills them all? Louis Hayward and June Duprez star as Phillip Lombard and Vera Claythorne. Walter Huston is superb as he takes on the role of Dr. Armstrong. Barry Fitzgeralrd if great as the sinister judge. Roland Young has some perfect lines as the mysterious Henry Blore. Judith Anderson play the evil witch, Emily Brent. C. Aubrey Smith is the old General Macarthur. Mischa Auer plays the comical, but always drunk Prince Nikita Startloff. Richard Hadyn and Queenie Leonard also famous play Thomas and Ethel Rogers, the butler and maid. The movie has fine performances by everyone and the movie is almost perfect except for a few problems. Maybe it's just me, but I was a little picky, because of the difference of the book and the movie. 1. They changed the names of the people who were murdered by the ten guest. That's not a majjor problem. 2. The characters unlike some of them in the movie, were much more sinister and cunning in the book. Even a more major problem is this. 3. In the book they are all killed, in the movie two escape. Eh, It's Hollywood! They want a happy ending, but the quality of the movie is fabulous. Hollywood never follows the great books, but this one is definatly the best version of this book. It just might be my pickiness, but the movie itself if great!