Ten Little Indians
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Movie Reviews of Ten Little Indians
Movie Review: A classic.
Summary: 5 Stars
A classic. There are several versions of Agatha's story of mystery and this one is certainly the best. Black and white only adds to the aura of that cold desolate house in the mountains. Buy it watch it love it!Movie Review: a good story can bare repeating
Summary: 5 Stars
this 1965 version is almost on a par with the original released in 1945. and it is much better than the 1989 version. the surviving heroine is the best of all the women who have played the role.Movie Review: ten little indians
Summary: 5 Stars
i received the video of Ten Little Indians in great condition and in record time. it's an interesting mystery with a surprise ending. You will enjoy it.Movie Review: 10 Little Indians
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie has not much to do with the book. But it was fun for my students to ridicule the love scene and admire the videography.Movie Review: Ten Little Indians: Enjoyably Second-Rate
Summary: 4 Stars
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.)