And Then There Were None (1945)

And Then There Were None (1945)

”Let’s face it – we’re in a trap.”

Synopsis:
A group of strangers invited to an isolated island learn that they all have one thing in common: they caused someone’s death in the past and were never punished. Soon they’re being killed off one by one, and must discover the identity of the murderer in their midst before it’s too late.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Barry Fitzgerald Films
  • Ensemble Cast
  • Judith Anderson Films
  • June Duprez Films
  • Louis Hayward Films
  • Murder Mystery
  • Old Dark House
  • Rene Clair Films
  • Richard Haydn Films
  • Walter Huston Films

Review:
As Peary notes, this “highly entertaining adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians (called Ten Little Niggers in England, as was the film)” features “an unbeatable cast” (most notably Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Judith Anderson, and Louis Hayward), and benefits from both a “witty script by Dudley Nichols and light-touch direction by Rene Clair, who effectively keeps the multi-murder story from becoming bleak” (in part by making “good use of lively music”). He points out that while “it’s fun trying (and most likely failing) to figure out the murderer’s identity… this mystery is just as interesting the second time around when you can watch the killer closely and see how cleverly we are being manipulated by Christie and the filmmakers”.

I’m in complete agreement with Peary’s assessment of this enjoyable, surprisingly light-hearted “Old Dark House” mystery — based on the best-selling mystery novel of all time (though its ending was changed to that of Christie’s stage play of the same name). The characters are all smartly cast and play nicely against one another; this is truly a seamless ensemble piece, with no one performance standing out above the other (though the interactions between Walter Huston as Dr. Armstrong and Barry Fitzgerald as Judge Quinncannon are especially fun). Clair’s creative direction — beginning with the cleverly shot silent opening sequence on the boat, and extending through the exposure of each murder — is seamlessly fluid, keeping us consistently visually engaged, and on the edge of our seats in nervous anticipation.

Note: Film fanatics will likely recognize that this movie serves as a forerunner — both thematically and tonally — for the cult satire Murder By Death (1976); they would make a fun double-bill.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Effective direction by Clair

  • Fine ensemble performances
  • Atmospheric cinematography by Lucien Andriot
  • Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s levity-inspiring score

Must See?
Yes, as an enjoyable example of the “Old Dark House” genre.

Categories

  • Genuine Classic

Links:

4 thoughts on “And Then There Were None (1945)

  1. “And Then There Were None” is practically perfect in every way. Everyone in the ensemble gets the chance to shine.

    I did not know that “Murder by Death” was a “cult satire”. I practically have that movie committed to memory so now I wonder what that makes me.

  2. Caftanwoman, it’s nice to hear your seconding vote on this one! I was really pleasantly surprised when I revisited it. recently

    Hmmm… I think your love for “Murder By Death” makes you both a dyed-in-the-wool film fanatic and all-around person-of-good-taste. Some cult movies are just begging for memorization.

  3. A once-must at least, as a very satisfying whodunit.

    I once saw a summer stock production of the Agatha Christie play (called ‘Ten Little Indians’). As I recall, it is a one-set play but, since the film allows us to follow the characters around inside and outside the house, the mystery air does thicken.

    The ensemble does, in itself, make this must-see viewing – everyone involved clearly appears quite game. In the opening scene in the boat, director Clair makes it quite clear that we’re in for nothing more than a brain-teasing romp of an entertainment. (One can almost imagine Hitchcock having as much fun.)

    Of course, if one takes it seriously at all, it unravels: the characters know early on that they are going to probably be killed one by one – yet they *never* stay together as a group in one room! ~which is clearly what is called for. ~but, then, of course, there would be no story and no suspense.

    It had been a few years since I’d seen this last, and I had forgotten who the culprit is. Things are so nicely convoluted that it’s not that hard just allowing yourself to be thrown off.

    All told, this tale of suspicion (more than murder, really) is a keen reminder that people can suspect others of all kinds of things – whether they are true or not. So the story also serves as a blueprint for the all-too-common tendency in humans to wonder about the motivations of others…especially when they are murky.

    Good show!

  4. I love this thriller and its terrific cast.
    Though the title is a bit misleading. It might have been called AND THEN THERE WERE TWO!
    It was Agatha Christie herself who changed the ending of her 1939 novel when she adapted it for the stage in 1943. The story goes she wanted a more upbeat ending for audiences during wartime.
    New York Times critic, I. 1945, said….” As for the murderer’s performance, well, you must judge for yourself!”

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