Ten Little Indians 1965

     This film and all film versions of Ten Little Indians are based on a stage play by Agatha Christie and not on a novel.  The identity of the murderer is the same in each film version but the survivors are different.  It has been determined over the years that the plot was inspired by a little known 1930 play by Owen Davis titled The Ninth Guest.  This film has not been released on home video but can be found on eBay and iOffer.  Ten strangers have been invited to a house high on a mountaintop.  In order to get to the house, they need to take a tram over the snowy mountains.  They have been told that each one of them has caused the death of an innocent person.  Their host feels that justice has not been served in these deaths.  There are eight guests and two servants brought together for the weekend.  One by one, they are being killed according to the poem of “Ten Little Indians.”  The survivors begin to think that the killer is a member of the group of ten.  The question is, which one?

     This film is slightly dated but it’s still interesting.  Filming takes place in a very old home and it’s mainly the clothing and hair of this time period.  I especially thought the hairstyle of Ilona Bergen played by Daliah Lavi was interesting?  How black was this dye and how strong was the hairspray?  I don’t know if anyone can figure out the identity of the killer on a first viewing?  I did not know who it was?  All 10 people are likely suspects!!  A review said that if you watch for a second time after you know the killer, events happen that don’t fit??  I didn’t view again to check on this point?  There was also disappointment with the score by Malcom Lockyer.  The comment was the music seems as if “intended more for a Rat Pack caper than a suspense thriller?”  I don’t have a comment on that?  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

91 min, Crime directed by George Pollock with Hugh O’Brian, Shirley Eaton, Fabian, Leo Genn, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Daliah Lavi, Dennis Price, Marianne Hoppe, Mario Adorf, Bill Mitchell.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 out of 10, 48% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, TCM average user rating 3* out of 5*, Amazon Video 4* out of 5* with 148 reviews, Letterboxd 3.1* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Kenure House Rush Co, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland and Zillertal, Tirol, Austria.  The mysterious voice accusing the invited guests of their specific crimes is Christopher Lee.  Original releases included a Whodunit Break of 60 seconds recapping the previous events.  In most subsequent prints, this break is missing.  Producer Harry Alan Towers was unable to film in the UK due to an outstanding arrest warrant.  There is another film with the same title and subject from 1989.