And Then There Were None | Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston

And Then There Were None | Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston | Stands the test of time... a lesser known classic...

DVDs:

And Then There Wer...

	And Then There Were None Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston VCI Entertainment, 2000 average customer review:based on 93 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Ten people, strangers to each other, are invited to a lavish estate on an island. Through a recording, their mysterious host accuses each of his `guests' of murder and proceeds to exact `justice'. The tension mounts as, one by one, the number of people are reduced through the ingenious plotting of the unseen killer. Finally only two are left and each is uncertain as to weather or not the other is the murderer. A top cast of veteran performers bring the intricate twist of the plot to life. One of the most thrilling novels, climaxes at the spine tingling conclusion. Match wits with the script as you watch a thriller that has carved its own special niche in the realm of tales of suspense and mystery. Released by 20th Century Fox. Bonus Features: Bonus Classic Comedy Two-Reeler starring Leon Errol, Scene Selection, Actor Bios, Narrative track for the blind. Specs: DVD5; Dolby Digital Mono; 97 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year -1945.

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A Fourth DVD Version Since 2007

For those who can play code-2-DVDs, there is a fourth version on the market. The French Canal+ (see Am.fr) has edited in 2007 a restored version that is the best so far (I already own the "best" code-1-version by Image disc). The language is English, of course - just ignore the French subtitles, they do not hurt. There are no blemishes as flickers, specks and faded pictures, the b/w-contrast is very good, the sound of course very mono, the background music rather too loud, and the wide-angle takes could be sharper. Well, the movie was produced in 1945 - maybe Criterion or mk2 (its French equivalent) could do better? I doubt it. As for commenting on the transfer: that is the most essential information for me. Whoever goes for such a classic does usually know what he wants: a good transfer. So please stop enthusing and go on informing. Thanks!

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Stands the test of time... a lesser known classic...

Outstanding director + outstanding cast = ensemble performance to keep you guessing: who is the killer?

For movie buffs: the cinematography is in keeping with a stage play rather than a movie, adding an element of claustrophobia. Roland Young delivers a performance the diametric opposite of his role as "Topper", while Richard Haydn (Sound of Music) as the drunk butler is priceless. But all of them may surprise...

For Christi buffs: the movie follows the book closely - up to the end, which was a little too depressing for moviegoers of the era. Nonetheless you will be mystified right up to the end.

I am satisfied with the VCI edition of And Then There Were None at the price, and have seen it 3 times since it arrived.

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Don't like the ending

I read the novel and it was brilliant. What about the movie? It is right if someone said that you can't compare a book and a film. They stand in diffrent medium. It's like you compare a fried chicken and an orange juice. The movie's just like the novel. But,you know,old movies usually had short duration. So, you wont find any detail emotion of each characters and it had no time to built a mystery as thrilling as the book. And some jokes were included. It was OK. The screenwriter could write all the important parts of the novel into a 1,5 hour film. But the screenwrite made an alternative ending that made the story had a happy ending. I just dont like this ending. The novel already had the better ending. There's no need to make a twist by changing it.

The DVD is okay. And it's cheap. What do you expect?

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Ten Little Indians Went Out To Dine...

I really enjoy Agatha Christie, and I usually love old movies, but this first film version of her mystery novel AND THEN THERE WERE NONE is extremely disappointing. Directed by Rene Clair and containing an all-star cast, this film should be a truly excellent thriller; unfortunately, this screen play is a terrible adaptation of Ms. Christie's stellar novel. The dialogue is awkward and stilted, the suspense never really builds, and the ending is utterly predictable.

As the story goes, eight people, a butler, and a housekeeper are invited by a Mr. U. N. Owen to spend a weekend at a mansion on a barren island somewhere off the English coast. Each person has in some way been responsible for a death, and these sins have gone unpunished...until now. One by one, the 10 individuals are each killed in a manner consistent with the nursery rhyme, Ten Little Indians. This excellent cast of well-known character actors and actresses is lead by Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Judith Anderson, and C. Aubrey Smith. As the characters in this film attempt to identify their murderer, they eventually come to the conclusion that it must be one of them, since they are the only people on the otherwise deserted island. The mistrust and suspicion then kick into full swing. At the unsatisfactory end of the film, the identity of the murder and his reasons for killing are a real let down.

This film starts with all of the ingredients to be a winner: a known director, well loved actors, not to mention a brilliant story. Unfortunately, once the dreadful screen play is mixed in, the ingredients all curdle, and the over all result is extremely unpalatable.

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