Ten Little Indians

Rather than review the film in detail, I will alert you to the important points.First, this blu-ray release has been painstakingly restored and is genuinely the best video we are likely to see for this film. The color is, for the most part, accurate and true to life, with very few moments in which color visibly shifts from one scene to the next in order to maintain skin tone or the color on the sofa, while allowing the other to drift. The sound is excellent for the age of the film and very good, as compared to a modern film, pretty much as good as it gets. This is one you watch for Oliver Reed and, if you are watching it for him, you won't be disappointed.That being what it is, the second star of this film is the desert resort hotel. All fans of Ten Little Indians know the two versions, the happy version and the dark version. Regardless of your favorite, and I'm not saying which list this fell onto, the film set and, indeed, location setting is virtually always the same. In fact, the same house on the same island has been used to film this multiple times. This version, for no particular reason, takes place in a desert hotel, 200 miles from the nearest town. For that reason alone, it is worth seeing, again, if you are a fan of the story, because, simply put, it is unique and feels, somehow, new.The Blu-ray edition is likely the best we will get, but, beyond that, it is actually an excellent quality release. Overall, I was very impressed with the film transfer. The disc is only a BD-25 but the film did not appear to suffer from lack of a BD-50. As an aside, at proper volume, the echo scene is eerily effective.Good luck in making your selection.

I saw this1968 remake of the original movie when it was released. As a young teenager in love with scary stuff, it had some decent jump scares and mystery. This is based on Agatha Christie’s book, “And Then Tere Were None”.

Twenty years after Rene Clair's black comedy adaptation of Agatha Christie's masterful suspense story, "And Then There Were None," it was inevitable that a remake using the story's American title would be forthcoming. Director George Pollock, who had also recently helmed Margaret Rutherford's campy Ms. Marple film series, set forth to remake Clair's film (based upon Ms. Christie's stage play) for a new generation with decidedly different, perhaps cultish tastes. Did he succeed? To some extent, Pollock makes good on adding fun updates to the basic story, but he also missed the mark in other vital areas.1. Casting the trio of Shirley Eaton as Ann (aka Vera Claythorne); Hugh O'Brian as Hugh (aka Phillip Lombard); and hip icon Fabian as Mike Raven (aka Anthony Marston) was obviously a nod to pop culture's sizeable demographic. Eaton and O'Brian share some decent romantic chemistry as the film's leads despite occasionally wooden acting. However, their performances are still far superior to Fabian's amateurish efforts. His obnoxious pop star is hardly missed after an abrupt exit.The veteran British actors (Wilfrid Hyde-White as Judge Cannon; Dennis Price as Dr. Armstrong; Stanley Holloway as private eye William H. Blore; and Leo Genn as General Mandrake) provide intelligent but mostly drab performances that often blend together. The emotionally unstable house servants (portrayed by Marianne Hoppe and Mario Adorf) give excellent support to the star players. As for Daliah Lavi, her entirely new character (a glamorous actress) just seems forcibly inserted into the macabre plot and is a mediocre substitute for the novel's self-righteous spinster, Emily Brent.Overall Grade: B (a pretty solid cast, minus Fabian.)2. The locale switch from a stormy, isolated British island to a lavish Swiss Alps chalet isn't necessarily an improvement from the original film, but at least the wintry exterior adapts well as U.N. Owen's sinister stage.Overall Grade: B+ (great location shots during the opening credits!)3. The logic police should have reviewed this script before filming commenced. For instance, there are two Americans and three Germans here, which makes U.N. Owen's choice of prey outside of England seem rather implausible. Further, a secret relationship in post-war Berlin is established between Leo Genn's General Mandrake and Lavi's conceited actress. The whole point of Christie's story is that eight of the British "Indians" are supposed to be complete strangers, so no one should have a motive. Hence, this film has its share of unnecessary gaffes in basic logic. Blame it on Hollywood, I suppose.Overall Grade: C (a few too many plot contrivances.)4. Pollock recycles much of the Clair film's dialogue, but here it lacks the charmingly playful sparks the original actors provided. For instance, at times, Dennis Price (as Dr. Armstrong) so flatly delivers his lines that it sounds like he is just reciting words from the script. Despite the mostly unremarkable new dialogue, Hugh O'Brian, however, still gets in a few good retorts such as telling off Stanley Holloway (as Blore) by angrily replying "Drop dead!" Pun intended, of course.Overall Grade: B- (the dialogue still holds up well today.)5. The film's black & white ambiance is certainly appropriate for a classic murder mystery, but the jazzy instrumental score is too jarringly upbeat for this storyline.Overall Grade: C+ (the cheery opening music suggests a romantic comedy romp in the snow, which this movie definitely is not.)6. Lastly, unlike standard Christie adaptations, Pollock opts for a more grandiose (albeit bloodless) approach. The result is a mixed bag. For instance, two characters are shown graphically plunging to their deaths, and the effect is appropriately shocking. Yet, in a different sequence, the ominous murderer walks into an unlocked bedroom (another logic gaffe) with poisonous syringe in hand, and the victim (after seeing the culprit) doesn't even call for help despite ample opportunity. In other words, some murders are very believable here, while others rely far too much on convenient luck for the villain.The film also features a lengthy, unnecessary fistfight between the heroic Lombard and the violently paranoid butler. Despite some good stunt work between actors Hugh O'Brian and Mario Adorf, this obvious filler material is out-of-place for the story, let alone in any Agatha Christie work.Overall Grade: C- (this probably isn't a movie for pre-teens.)____________________________________________________________________Pollock's competent remake lacks the original film's tongue-in-cheek charm, but, in all fairness, the 1945 film at least had the element of surprise. With remakes, adding surprises only emphasize that they are just gimmicks, such as this film's campy "whodunit? break" just before the finale. You simply have to see it to believe it; it's that abrupt. Yet, I can't think of another movie that has ever tried this same gimmick (and probably with good reason).Nonetheless, "Ten Little Indians" certainly remains entertaining enough to deserve rediscovery by today's mystery buffs. If you purchase this DVD, please keep some reasonable expectations, and the movie will make a nice investment of your time on some wintry night with the lights out, a beverage, and a bowl of popcorn.Final Grade: B- (suffice to say, it is far superior than the two subsequent remakes in 1975 and 1989.)

Received product quickly, in excellent condition. Ty.

Ten Little Indians is perhaps the greatest of the mystery stories ever to grace the big screen. As a book, its one of Agatha Christie's best works, as a play it is excellent, and as a film, well you simply need to watch it and see for your self.True to the older films, the tension of the film is brought about by solid acting, instead of CGI or special effects. The rising action is smooth as the guests of Mr. U. N. Owens arrive at a remote mansion and learn their host has not arrived. Each of the characters get an opportunity to present a bit about themselves and then the man servant plays a record from Mr Owen explaining all the guests are there because they have gotten away with murder.Central to the theme is a centerpiece holding small statues of Ten Little Indians. One by one the little Indians get broken off their mounting and someone in the house has died. Soon there are only two little Indians left and the climax of the film is at hand. There are plenty of clues and red herrings for the armchair detective to grasp and form their own conclusions. The falling action is quick and answers provided.Watch the film with family or friends, have some popcorn and soda and enjoy this masterful whodunit. ...One little Indain, left all alone. Hung his little self, and then there were none.