And Then There Were None (1945)

100% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(5,817 ratings)

Based on the classic novel by mystery author Agatha Christie that was later adapted as the Broadway hit Ten Little Indians , And Then There Were None begins with ten characters, each with a skeleton in his or her closet, on a remote island off the English coast. They soon realize that they have been… More Based on the classic novel by mystery author Agatha Christie that was later adapted as the Broadway hit Ten Little Indians , And Then There Were None begins with ten characters, each with a skeleton in his or her closet, on a remote island off the English coast. They soon realize that they have been brought there by an insane judge, who has tried each of them for criminal behavior in the past, and who now feels it is his duty to render proper justice for each. The struggle to stay alive begins as each "guest" is eliminated in a fashion that corresponds to the titular nursery rhyme. Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, and C. Aubrey Smith are among those marked for death. The film's ending differs from that of the novel, and later remakes in 1966, 1975, and 1989 (all using the title Ten Little Indians), alternated between Christie's original finale and this film's climax. Depending on one's taste, the film's pacing is either excruciatingly slow or suspenseful, but the storyline has become a cinematic staple in everything from horror (Theatre Of Blood) to satire (Murder By Death). ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: René Clair
Written By: Dudley Nichols
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Oct 31, 1945 Wide
On DVD: Jul 6, 1999
Studio: VCI

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
A tightly self-winding contraption
Emily Blunt, Blunt Review
A lovely ode to old-school style.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Nearly perfect mystery. Clair's best English language film
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
One of the supreme suspense films.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A classic story, great actors and director, all together a great movie.
Randy T

10 strangers arrive on an island, each persuaded to come under false pretenses and each guilty of a horrific crime. One by one they start to die, victims of an elaborate plot to right past wrongs. The question is: who's doing the killing? Terrific little murder mystery that… More
10 strangers arrive on an island, each persuaded to come under false pretenses and each guilty of a horrific crime. One by one they start to die, victims of an elaborate plot to right past wrongs. The question is: who's doing the killing? Terrific little murder mystery that blends intrigue, suspense and humor to deliver an hour and a half of blissful skulduggery.
Arash X

"No boat will ever come. We're here forever "
Stephen M

I've read quite a few Agatha Christie books and, for all its ingenuity, "And Then There Were None" is one of the silliest. It's a good, fun read but the outrageous plot completely falls apart under even the mildest scrutiny. For example, you'd think that… More
I've read quite a few Agatha Christie books and, for all its ingenuity, "And Then There Were None" is one of the silliest. It's a good, fun read but the outrageous plot completely falls apart under even the mildest scrutiny. For example, you'd think that pulling off ten [sic] murders without getting caught would be a thorny enough problem for a homicidal maniac, without the added artistic flourishes of referencing a nursery rhyme and removing/destroying symbolic figurines! The longer the story goes on, the dafter it gets, because the simple fact is you cannot shepherd intelligent people to their doom quite so easily; heaven knows, I've tried! Only kidding! Anyway, for the most part, René Clair's film wisely opts to play for laughs. The performances are a bit hammy at times, but delightfully so. The ending, which is based on Christie's own 1942 stage adaptation, will seem radically different to those familiar with the novel. As a product of Clair's tenure as an exile in the US, I much prefer "I Married a Witch", with Veronica Lake.
Lafe F

An Agatha Christie murder mystery classic! This is my favorite version of this story; most like the book. The characters all seem to match those of the book. The murders are tamely shown onscreen. The ending where the solution is revealed, is clearly explained. It's such a good… More
An Agatha Christie murder mystery classic! This is my favorite version of this story; most like the book. The characters all seem to match those of the book. The murders are tamely shown onscreen. The ending where the solution is revealed, is clearly explained. It's such a good story of 10 people on a deserted island mansion, being killed off one by one. It may have inspired the Clue boardgame...
Mike T

The pacing of this thriller is gripping - a fascinating concept brought beautifully to life by a great ensemble. As suspenseful as it is enjoyable.