Story
"And Then There Were None" (1945) is a classic crime mystery film directed by René Clair, based on Agatha Christie's best-selling novel of the same name. The film is also known by the alternative title "Ten Little Indians," reflecting the nursery rhyme and the novel's original title.
The story begins with ten strangers who receive mysterious invitations to visit Soldier Island. As they arrive, they discover that their unseen host, U.N. Owen, accuses each of them of murder. Stranded on the isolated island with no way to escape, the characters start being killed off one by one in accordance with the lyrics of the nursery rhyme "Ten Little Indians," which is prominently displayed in each guest's room.
The ensemble cast includes notable actors such as Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, Roland Young, and others. Each character in the film has a dark secret from their past, and as the body count rises, tensions escalate. The suspense is heightened by the characters' paranoia and the realization that the murderer must be one of them.
René Clair skillfully creates an atmosphere of claustrophobia and fear, using the isolated island setting to amplify the sense of impending doom. The film follows the source material closely, but there are notable differences in the resolution, a change that was made with Agatha Christie's approval.
"And Then There Were None" (1945) is often praised for its tight pacing, effective use of suspense, and the strength of its ensemble cast. It stands as one of the more faithful and enduring adaptations of Agatha Christie's work, offering a thrilling cinematic experience for fans of classic mystery films.