zardoz-13 Agatha Christie ranked at the top of the heap when it came to writing whodunits. "And Then There Were None," the most famous of all her novels dealt with a group of unsavory people ushered out to an island where they enjoy all the amenities of food, drink, comfort, and living arrangements. None of these colorful characters have a clue about what they have gotten themselves into until the butler plays a vinyl recording as part of his instructions and all but one of the participants has their shady past revealed. One by one, each of them is knocked off by a mysterious assailant, and their deaths occur according to the 'Ten Little Indians' nursery rhyme and nothing they can do seems to prevent their inevitable demise. Of course, filmmakers plant clues throughout the 97-minute narrative that serve to exonerate certain individuals, but if you aren't paying close attention, you might miss those pointers. Nobody dies the same way, and director René Clair and "Stagecoach" scenarist Dudley Nichols don't depict the manner of death in graphic detail. Typically, we see what was used to kill them, but these unfortunate victims are never shown actually dying. Primarily, the film shows these vastly different individuals either confessing their crimes and perishing or revealing that they aren't who they seem to be and surviving. At least two cinematic remakes ensued and later a television mini-series. Suspense is the card that Clair and Nichols play to keep us glued to the action. Age seems that the only way to distinguish who dies. The most youthful cast members survive the ultimate cut. Although the remakes follow the formula, they often change the settings. The only problem is that some of the characters seem rather dull and the chief criticism is why these suspicious types allowed themselves to be led so easily into this predicament. Of course, it is classic now for such an undertaking that these characters are isolated from the rest of humanity and have no way to turn until the last murder is enacted.Judge Francis J. Quincannon (Barry Fitzgerald), Dr. Edward G. Armstrong (Walter Huston), Philip Lombard (Lewis Hayward), Vera Claythorne (June Duprez), General Sir John Mandrake (Sir C. Aubrey Smith), Emily Brent (Judith Anderson), William H. Blore (Roland Young) and Prince Nikita Starloff (Mischa Auer) endure a choppy boat ride to the island, and the filmmakers use these few moments to introduce each. Modern filmgoers may criticize the obvious use of back projection to simulate the presence of rough seas. Happily, Clair doesn't deploy such obvious photography trickery in the remainder of the story. Afterward, the action is confined to remote mansion with the characters either perishing in the house itself or in the surrounding countryside. The characters in the boat, except for the older seafaring gent who munches on a sandwich throughout the voyage, aren't only ones. When they arrive at the mansion, they are greeted by the housekeepers, Rogers (Richard Haydn) and his wife (Queenie Leonard), who also have skeletons in their respective closets. Clair stages one amusing scene when several participants are caught eavesdropping on each other. One favorite technique that these curious individuals use to conceal themselves is to run the faucets in their adjoining bathrooms and then crouch down to peer through key holes. Naturally, inclement weather follows to build atmosphere into the proceedings. One of the drawbacks of this otherwise superior saga is the death of one of the individuals is faked in such a way as could never happen. Meaning, under the Production Code, violent death could never been portrayed, so we are lead to believe that a death has occurred when the person who is supposed to be death could never have survived some a death. None of the suspects are frightfully nasty types. Indeed, Judith Anderson's Emily seems haughty, but she doesn't behave like a murderer. Sir C. Aubrey Smith's elderly soldier seems more tragic than the others because his crime was sending his wife's illicit lover to his death in combat. Prince Nikita Starloff qualifies as the most obnoxious one of the bunch. At the same time, he seems to be more idiotic than deliberately homicidal. He ran over two people in a hit and run and wasn't prosecuted for his crime. The bumbler of the bunch is the retired detective William Blore. The only obvious plant occurs early in the action when one of the characters explains why the initials on his luggage doesn't correspond to his own name. The murderer keeps track of the deaths by breaking the figures in a ceramic sculpture of the aforementioned ten little Indians and this keeps the characters on edge about who is destined to die next.Clever, suspenseful, but ultimately shallow, "And Then There Were None" is still fun not only as a cinematic artifact but also as a whodunit.

Davis P This is Agatha Christie at her best! This film gave me chills, and truly did keep me on the edge of my seat, the constant worrying about the characters, carefully watching the background, wondering just who it might be and how they managed to do it. The creepy nursery rhyme was a genius touch if I might say so. I also thought the acting was fantastic, and each and every actor was perfectly cast accordingly for their role. Also, I don't mind saying, I guessed completely wrong as to who the killers true identity is. I won't reveal who that person man or woman might be, I'll let you have the fun of guessing and seeing for yourself! The dialogue and execution of the source material was spot on here! Couldn't have been any better! This is a fun, smart, clean as far as offensive content goes murder mystery that I think most anyone can and will enjoy!! 10/10 perfection

Scott LeBrun This highly regarded mystery favourite is based more on the subsequent play, rather than the original novel, by the legendary Agatha Christie. The story has been told many times over the years, officially and unofficially, and one could even see it as an ancestor to the entire "body count" genre, as characters exist mostly for the purpose of being bumped off. Producer & director Rene Clair manages the neat trick of making this atmospheric and suspenseful as well as lighthearted at times. The script is quite witty and ingenious, and the plotting keeps you on your toes; even people who think they've figured it out can still have great fun watching things develop.Eight people - who all have in common some sort of tragedy in their past - are invited by the mysterious Mr. Owen to a secluded island. "Mr. Owen" never does show up, but soon the invitees begin to be killed in a variety of ways. As their numbers decrease, the survivors try to be as proactive as possible, while also dealing with the fact that the killer just might be one of them.The cast really makes this come to life. Barry Fitzgerald, who looks like he's having a whale of a time, is the jovial judge Francis Quincannon. Walter Huston is likewise excellent as Dr. Armstrong, and the talented ensemble also consists of Louis Hayward, Roland Young, June Duprez, Mischa Auer, C. Aubrey Smith, Judith Anderson, Richard Haydn, Queenie Leonard, and Harry Thurston.Clair injects the humour into the twisty story with ease; in fact, things begin on a somewhat comical note, but soon take a darker turn.70 years later, "And Then There Were None" holds up remarkably well, keeping its audience engrossed and involved with its characters.Eight out of 10.

robertguttman The plot of this movie is so familiar that it needs no explanation. The story is one of Agatha Christie's very best mysteries, and that means one of the very best mysteries, period. The story has been presented many times, in many different versions, on stage, television and on film. It is so familiar that it has also been parodied almost as many times. All that being said, this is unquestionably the best version. One simply couldn't assemble a better cast than the ensemble presented here, and every one of the actors in top form. If you haven't seen this version,see it, even if you already know the story. This is the one all the others are measured against. A great story, a great cast, and expert direction, what more could one ask?