On December 4, 1926, Mrs. Archibald Christie disappeared. Her car, a Morris Cowley, was found with her clothing inside, at Newlands Corner, a nature reserve in Surrey. It was thought she might have drowned herself in the nearby pond called "Silent Pool". Her disappearance became a real mystery that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a spiritualist, not just the father of "Sherlock Holmes", in great concern, took one of her gloves to a Medium to help find her. While the British "Secretary of State for the Home Department (Home Secretary)" Sir William Joynson-Hicks pressured the police to find "Archie's wife".
Of course "Archie's wife" was mystery writer, Agatha Christie, and her disappearance started with Archie informing her that he wanted a divorce to marry Nancy Neele, seen below.
In 1979, a British mystery motion picture, "Agatha", starring American Dustin Hoffman in a fictional role, English actress Vanessa Redgrave as Agatha Christie, and Welsh actor Timothy Dalton as Archie Christie, claimed to tell the true story of the authoress's disappearance. It did not!
Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born on September 5, 1890, in Torquay, Devon, England. She was the youngest of three children, to "upper middle class" parents, Frederick Alvah Miller, and Clarissa "Clara" Margaret Boehmer Miller.
Above, Agatha with her father, and below, later in years, Agatha with her mother.
In November 1901, Frederick Alvah Miller, passed away from pneumonia and kidney failure. Agatha's sister, Madge, was now married and had moved away to Cheadle, in Cheshire, and her brother, Monty, was serving in the British army overseas. Agatha was living alone with her mother at the family home, "Ashfield", seen below.
Her mother, in 1902, enrolled Agatha in "Miss Guyer's School for Girls", but she couldn't adjust to the required discipline. In 1905, she was sent to Paris, France, and attended several different boarding schools and discovered she still did not have the discipline required to become either a concert pianist, or opera singer. So, Agatha returned to Ashfield.
Agatha's mother was ailing, and for her health, the two left for Egypt in 1907, for a one-year stay at the Gezirah Palace Hotel, in Cairo, seen below.
In 1908, 18-years-old Agatha Christie wrote her first story, the short story, "The House of Beauty". In 1926, she would rewrite "The House of Beauty" under the title of "The House of Dreams", and it would be published in "Sovereign Magazine, Issue 74, with illustrations by Stanley Lloyd".
Below, is 20-years-old Agatha Christie at Ashfield.
In October 1912, Agatha was introduced to Archibald Christie, at the time a Royal Artillery Officer, three-months later, he proposed and she accepted. In April 1913, Archie was assigned to the Royal Flying Corps, and on July 28, 1914, the "First World War" broke out. In August, Archie found himself fighting in France, home on leave in December 1914, on Christmas Eve, Agatha and Archie were married, seen below.
With a husband overseas, Agatha became a part of the "Voluntary Aide Detachment" of the British Red Cross. Below, she is seen in front of Ashfield in 1915.
At Dartmoor, Devon, in 1916, Agatha Christie began writing her first mystery novel. The leading character, Detective "Hercule Poirot", was inspired by her experiences meeting and treating Belgian soldiers. After having her manuscript rejected by two different publishing houses, her third try was with "The Bodely Head", the British trade name for "Penguin Random House". Christie was informed that they would publish the manuscript, but only if she changed the ending slightly. The publishers asked her to move "Poirot's" grand revelation from the courtroom to the "Styles" library. In October 1920, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" was published, and Agatha Christie was officially a writer of detective fiction. Below, is the same cover used for both the British and American first editions.
Agatha Christie would write 66-detective novels, 157-short stories, 17-plays, 2 of them are unpublished, and not to forget her 6-romance novels written as Mary Westmacott.
In 1930, Agatha Christie married prominent British Archeologist, Sir Max Edgar Lucien Mallowan, CBE FBA, FSA.
Above, are Agatha and Max Mallowan, in 1950.
This article, as my title implies, looks at just one novel by Agatha Christie, and the motion picture versions based upon it.
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE
THE NOVEL
WARNING: The novels original title was based upon a Minstrel Song and may offend some readers.
Edwin Pearce Christy was an American composer, singer, actor, and producer. In April 1846, saw the first performances of the "Christy Minstrels", a Blackface group of performers.
In 1869, British song writer, Frank Green, wrote a rhyming song for the "Christy Minstrels" based upon a popular American nursery rhyme, also set to music.
"Ten Little Indians" by Septimus Winner:
Ten little Indians standin' in a line,
One toddled home and then there were nine;
Nine little Indians swingin' on a gate,
One tumbled off and then there were eight.
Eight little Indians gayest under heav'n.
One went to sleep and then there were seven;
Seven little Indians cuttin' up their tricks,
One broke his neck and then there were six.
Six little Indians all alive,
One kicked the bucket and then there were five;
Five little Indians on a cellar door,
One tumbled in and then there were four.
Four little Indians up on a spree,
One got fuddled and then there were three;
Three little Indians out on a canoe,
One tumbled overboard and then there were two
Two little Indians foolin' with a gun,
One shot t'other and then there was one;
One little Indian livin' all alone,
He got married and then there were none.
- - - - -
The following are the words that the Christy Minstrels performed throughout the United Kingdom.
"Ten Little Niggers" by Frank Green
Ten little nigger boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self, and then there were nine.
Nine little nigger boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself, and then there were eight.
Eight little nigger boys traveling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there, and then there were seven.
Seven little nigger boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in half, and then there were six.
Six little nigger boys playing with a hive;
A bumble-bee stung one, and then there were five.
Five little nigger boys going in for law;
One got in chancery, and then there were four.
Four little nigger boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one, and then there were three.
Three little nigger boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one, and then there were two.
Two little nigger boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up, and then there was one.
One little nigger boy left all alone;
He went out and hanged himself and then there were None.
On November 6, 1939, the "Collins Crime Club", a part of the British publisher, "William Collins, Son", published Agatha Christie's, "TEN LITTLE NIGGERS".
For obvious reasons, Agatha Christie's title could not be used in the United States, and publisher "Dodd, Meade and Company", changed the title to part of the last line of Septimus Winner's original rhyme song, "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE", published in January 1940.
I should mention that in the United Kingdom, Agatha Christie's original tile was in use through 1985, in 1986, the title was changed to "And Then There Were None".
The Ten Niggers of the Novel:
1. Edward George Armstrong - a Harley Street doctor
2. William Henry Blore - a former police inspector, and now a private investigator
3. Emily Caroline Brent - an elderly, pious spinster
4. Vera Elizabeth Claythrone - a sports mistress at a private school and former governess
5. Philip Lombard - a soldier of fortune
6. John Gordon MacArthur - a retired First World War General
7. Anthony James Marston - a wealthy and irresponsible young man
8. Ethel Rodgers - the cook and housekeeper, and Thomas Rodgers's wife
9. Thomas Rodgers - the butler and Ethel Rodgers's husband
10. Lawrence John Wargrave (Mr. Justic Wargrave) - a retired criminal judge
The Set-Up:
Eight people, unknown to each other, arrive on "Indian Island", a small isolated island off the Devon Coast. Each one received an invitation from an unknown couple. There, they are met by the "Rodgers's", who explain that their hosts, "Mr. and Mrs. Owen", have yet to arrive. In the novel at times, "Mr. U. N. Owen"is referred to as "Ulick Norman Owen".
SPOILER ALERT:
I am about to tell you how each of the Eight arrivals, and the "Rodgers's are murdered in the novel, and reveal that there were actually Eleven murders. While also revealing the name of the murderer.
The following gives my reader the "Accusation Against Each of the Ten", the "Way They Were Murdered", and "The line in the rhyme that points to them".
Anthony James Marston, was accused of killing two children while driving his car recklessly. The murderer gives him a glass of cyanide-laced whiskey. "- - - one chocked his little self and then there were nine".
Mrs. Ethel Rodgers, was accused of withholding an employer's medication in order to cause her death, and collect an inheritance. She dies in her bed after drinking brandy spiked with an overdose of chloral hydrate. "- - - one overslept himself and then there were eight".
General John Gordon MacArthur, was accused of ordering his wife's lover, an officer under his command, sent on an unsurvivable mission. He was killed by a blow to his head. "- - - one said he'd stay there and then there were seven".
Thomas Rodgers, was accused of the same crime as his wife, because they worked together by withholding an employer's medication in order to cause her death, and collect an inheritance. Struck on the head with an ax. "- - - one chopped himself in halves and then there were six".
Emily Caroline Brent, was accused of dismissing her teenage maid, who had become pregnant out of wedlock, and this caused the maid to drown herself. Injected with cyanide after being sedated with chloral-laced coffee. "- - - a bumblebee stung one and then there were five".
Lawrence John Wargrave (Mr. Justice Wargrave), was accused of influencing a jury into a guilty verdict on a man thought innocent, and sentencing him to death. Shot in the head, dressed as a judge. "- - - one got in Chancery and then there were four". The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Whales that followed a very loose set of rules to speed up trials. To avoid inequity and harshness in dealing with Common Law.
Dr. Edward George Armstrong, was accused of operating on a patient while drunk, resulting in his patient's death. Drowns after being pushed off a cliff into the sea. "- - - a red herring swallowed one and then there were three".
William Henry Blore, was accused of giving perjured evidence in court, resulting in an innocent man being sentenced to life in prison, who died in the prison one-year later. His head was crushed by a marble clock in the shape of a bear. "- - - one big bear hugged one and then there were two".
Philip Lombard, a Soldier of Fortune, was accused of stealing food from East African tribesmen that he was working with, and leaving them to die. Shot by Vera on the beach with his own revolver. "- - - one got frizzed up and then there was one".
Vera Elizabeth Claythrone, was accused that as a Governess, she allowed her young charge to drown. So that his Uncle could inherit the family estate and marry her. Hangs herself. "- - - he went out and hanged himself and then there were none".
That Eleventh Character had nothing to do with the Nursery Rhyme. He is "Issac Morris", described as "The Killer's Agent". Morris was accused of selling illegal drugs to a woman, who became an addict, and committed suicide. He is tricked into taking an illegal drug overdose to fight his imagined aliments.
The Two-Part Epilogue to Novel:
In the first part, you have Scotland Yard Detectives, "Sir Thomas Legge", and "Inspector Maine", discussing the "Indian Island Case", in which Eleven persons were murdered. By reading the diaries of different people on the island, the detectives agree that "Blore", "Lombard", and "Vera", were not the murderer. While, "Issac Morris" purchased the island in the name of "U. N. Owen". He died of an apparent sleeping pill overdose, the night "the guests" arrived on "Indian Island". The two detectives also know that the people of "Sticklehaven", the fictional coastal town where the eight first arrived, were all told to ignore distress signals from "Indian Island". However, neither detective can figure out who was the murderer?
It is written by Judge Wargrave, who writes that the manuscript offers the solution to an unsolved crime. He says he was a sadistic child with both a lust for killing and a strong sense of justice. Reading mysteries always satisfied him. He went into law, an appropriate career for him because it allowed him to indulge his zeal for death within the confines of the law. Watching guilty persons squirm become a new pleasure for him. After many years as a judge, he developed the desire to play executioner.
THE PLAY
The novel would be followed by a "Play Version", with the original novel's title. According to "An Autobiography", by Agatha Christie, published in 1977, she had written:
- - - the book after a tremendous amount of planning, and I was pleased with what I made of it.
Christie was approached by British playwright Reginald Simpson. Who requested to let him turn the novel into a play, but she refused that request. However, the idea of writing the play herself, became an interesting challenge. She knew that the live audience would not like to see the grim ending of the novel. So, Agatha Christie decided that:
I must make two of the characters innocent, to be reunited at the end and come safe out of the ordeal.
She also knew that the name of "General John Gordon MacArthur" also had to be changed. Britain was at war with Nazi Germany and Japan, as was the United States, and the General's name was too close to "General Douglas MacArthur's".
On September 20, 1943, at the "New Wimbledon Theatre", Wimbledon, London, in the London Borough of Merton, a try-out of the play took place.
The ending now had "Vera Elizabeth Claythrone" and "Philip Lombard", innocent of their crimes, and having fallen in love with each other. The play ends with "Philip" changing the last line of the rhyme from:
One little nigger boy left all alone;
He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.
To the alternate ending of the rhyme:
(One little nigger boy living all alone;
He got married, and then there were none.)
The perfect uplifting ending for a United Kingdom audience still fighting the Second World War.
THE FIRST FILM VERSION
The motion picture was filmed in the United States, but first released in the United Kingdom. The British motion picture release, used the third title change, throughout the United Kingdom, of the original novel, now calling it, "Ten Little Indians". The detailed information about why there was a third-title change, can be found in "The New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature, (Volume 4 1900 - 1950)", published by the Cambridge University Press.
Basically, it was the decision of the "British Board of Film Classification" to make the change from the original novel's title, to avoid offending any American troops going to the cinema to see the feature film. I could not locate a picture of the British poster for that release.
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE released in the United States on October 31, 1945. Previously premiered in London England as "TEN LITTLE INDIANS" on July 24, 1945
The screenplay is stated as being based upon the original Agatha Christie novel, but it's not. It is based upon Agatha Christie's play, and was written by Dudley Nichols. However, he changed, again, some of the names of the character's in the play.
Among Nichols screenplays are both director John Ford's, 1935, "The Informer", and 1939's, "Stagecoach", and in-between the two, director Howard Hawks's classic Katharine Hepburn and Gary Grant's, screwball comedy, 1938's, "Bringing Up Baby".
The motion picture was directed by French director Rene Clair. Who, with his family, moved to the United States in May 1940. The month following the German invasion of France. His first American motion picture was as director for 1941's, "Flame of New Orleans", starring Marlene Dietrich, Bruce Cabot, and Roland Young.
The Following Are the Names of the Actors and Photos of the "Ten Little Indians":
Barry Fitzgerald portrayed the now, "Judge Francis J. Quincannon". Who is accused of being responsible for the hanging of an innocent man.
Walter Huston portrayed "Dr. Edward G. Armstrong. Who is accused of drunkenness which resulted in a patient dying.
June Duprez portrayed Vera Claythrone. Who is accused now, of murdering her sister's fiancé.
Louis Hayward portrayed Philip Lombard. Who is now accused, causing the death of 21 South African tribesmen.
Sir C. Aubrey Smith portrayed the now, "General Sir John Mandrake". Who is accused of ordering his wife's lover, a Lieutenant under his command, to go on a mission, knowingly it will end with death.
Mischa Auer portrayed the now, "Prince Nikita Starloff". Who is accused of killing a couple in a speeding car.
Queenie Leonard portrayed "Mrs. Rodgers". Who with her husband is accused of the demise of their former employer.
Judith Anderson portrayed "Miss Emily Brent". Who is now, accused of the death of her nephew.
Roland Young portrayed the now, "Detective William Blore". Who is accused of perjury, resulting in an innocent man's death.
Richard Haydn portrayed "Mr. Rodger's. Who, with his wife, is accused of the demise of their former employer.
The role of the boat captain to and from the island, "Fred Naracott" was portrayed by Harry Thurston.
The Screenplay:
Eight people get into a boat, and after a short ride, arrive on an island, having been invited by a "Mr. and Mrs. Owen". The boat leaves and the eight walk up to a mansion.
There, they are greeted by "Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers", a just hired, married butler and maid. Everyone formally introduces themselves to each other, and discovers none of them know each other.
As the eight sit down for dinner, made by "Mrs. Rodgers", and served by her husband. They notice a centerpiece containing the "Ten Little Indians" of a children's nursery rhyme.
As the eight continue eating their dinner, "Mr. Rodgers", brings out a gramophone record, explaining that "Mr. Owen" left him instructions as to when to play it. Everyone is surprised to hear the voice of the mysterious "Owen's" accusing all ten of murder.
Talking among themselves, the ten realize no one has ever met either "Mr.", or "Mrs. Owen". Apparently, the "Rodgers" were hired through an agency, and "Judge Quinncannon" notes something about their missing host's name.
"Mr. U N Owen - Mr. Unowen - Mr. Unknown!"
Next, the now afraid "Mr. Rodgers", informs the other's that the boat will not return until Monday, and it is only Friday. Also, there is no way to contact the town they left from.
While having a drink, "Starloff" admits his guilt to the others, chokes, and next dies. It's discovered that his drink had been poisoned, but by whom?
In the morning it is discovered that "Mrs. Rodgers" died in her sleep during the night. The living "Guests" notice that one "Indian" figure is broken, and one missing. These two murders, (?), are following the nursery rhyme. The island and the mansion are now searched for "Mr. U N Owen", but the remaining "Guests" turn up no one else. Next, "General Mandrake" is found stabbed to death, and "Quinncannon" makes the obvious assumption. One of the remaining group is the murderer, which puts everyone left on edge, and the guessing game begins.
The remaining "accused" vote on who they think is "Owen", and as "Thomas Rodgers" is the only one to get two votes. He is made to sleep outside in the wood shed, but turns up dead in the morning with his head split open by an axe.
"Miss Brent" is next to die and her body is found with a hypodermic needle near her. "Dr. Armstrong" discovers that his hypodermic needle is missing, and "Lombard" discovers his revolver is also missing.
The Five Remaining Guests, sit down for dinner and it's time for confessions. "Armstrong", "Blore", "Quinncannon" and "Lombard" confess their crimes, but just when it's "Miss Claythrone's" turn, she excuses herself to get her coat. A scream from "Claythrone" rings out and the four men start for her. In the confusion her shriek caused, a shot is heard. "Lombard", "Armstrong", and "Blore", find "Claythrone" shacking from brushing against seaweed that is strangely hanging from the ceiling.
Below the seaweed, is the body of "Judge Francis J. Quinncannon" with a shot to his head, "Lombard's" revolver is next to the body.
"Miss Vera Claythrone" tells "Dr. Edward G. Armstrong" and "Philip Lombard" that she's innocent, but "Armstrong" doesn't believe her and has "Vera" locked in her room.
Change to both novel and play: That night, "Vera Claythrone" admits to "Lombard", who got the key and unlocked her door, that her sister killed her fiancé, but to protect her, "Vera" took the blame. There is no mention in either the novel, or play of "Vera's" sister. Both now notice "Dr. Armstrong" is missing.
Meanwhile, the next morning "Blore" is struck on the head, and killed, by stonework falling from the floor above him.
"Lombard" notices a body on the beach below the mansion, goes down, and finds the body of "Dr. Armstrong". Next. in her bedroom, "Vera Claythrone" holds "Philip Lombard's" revolver against him, believing he is the murderer as there are only the two of them left out of the ten.
Dudley Nichols TWIST TIME in his screenplay. On the beach by "Armstrong's" body, "Philip Lombard" tells "Vera" that he is really the non-canonical character, "CHARLES MORLEY". He was a close friend of "Philip Lombard" and after "Philip's" suicide, "Charles" curiosity got the better of him, and he came to "Indian Island" impersonating "Lombard".
However, "Vera" believes he is the murderer, whatever his name might really be, and shoots "Lombard/Morley" at point blank range with his revolver. He falls dead at her feet, and "Vera" walks away and returns to the mansion.
Entering the mansion, "Vera" finds a nose hanging from the ceiling awaiting for her.
As she stares at the noose, she hears somebody whistling the "Ten Little Indians" rhyme, and "Judge Quinncannon", aka: "Mr. Owen", appears. He tells "Vera" that all his life he searched for perfect justice. After learning that he was terminally ill, he came up with his grand plan. He had persuaded "Dr. Armstrong" to fake his murder, then murdered the doctor. The judge tells "Vera" that she has a choice, hang herself, or remain to be the only possible perpetuator of the murders, will be tried, and sent to the gallows. "Quinncannon" now takes a drink of whiskey laced with poison as "Charles Morley" walks into the room behind him. "Charles" convinced "Vera" that he wasn't the murderer and told her how to fake his death, so "Mr. Owen" would reveal himself.
It is Monday morning, and the boat arrives, but leaves with only two passengers.
THE FIRST RADIO PERFORMANCES
On December 27, 1947, the "BBC Home Service", aired a radio version of "Ten Little Niggers", adapted by Ayton Richardson Whitaker, a producer, and the director of radio and film production for the "BBC". The program would be rebroadcast on December 29, 1947. I could not find any cast information, but what is strange is that according to the "Radio Times", issue #1263, December 26, 1947. The December 27th program was heard on the "Monday Matinee", and the rebroadcast on December 29th, was on the "Saturday Night Theatre". However, the 27th was a Saturday, and the 29th was a Monday. I leave this minor mixup to my reader.
THE FIRST TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS
Two-years-later, on August 20, 1949, the "BBC" aired a 90-minute television production of Agatha Christie's, 1943 "PLAY", "Ten Little Niggers". Among the cast of this production was Arthur Wontner, portraying "General Mackenzie". Wontner was known worldwide for his portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, "Sherlock Holmes" in a series of 1930's motion pictures. John Bentley portrayed "Philip Lombard", Sally Rodgers portrayed "Vera Claythrone", and Bruce Belfrage portrayed "Sir Lawrence Wargrave".
On February 16, 1957, the first foreign language production of the play was broadcast in Portuguese, on Brazilian television, as "O Caso dos Dez Negrinhos (The Case of the Ten Niggers)". The only other information about the program, that I could locate, is that the tele-play was by David Conde.
On January 18, 1959, in the United States, on the "National Broadcasting Company (NBC)", a one-hour, production of "Ten Little Indians" was broadcast. The credits specifically stated this tele-play was based upon the novel, and not Agatha Christie's play, and written by Philip H. Reisman, Jr.
Actress Nina Foch starred and headed the cast, portraying "Vera Claythrone". Three-years earlier, Foch had portrayed Charlton Heston's "Egyptian mother Bithiah" in Cecil B. DeMille's, 1956, "The Ten Commandments". Fans of horror movies should see Nina Foch in both 1943's, "The Return of the Vampire", starring Bela Lugosi, and 1944's, overlooked, "Cry of the Werewolf", in which she is the "Princess" of the werewolves. Barry Jones portrayed "Mr. Justice Sir Lawrence Wargrave", and Kenneth Haigh portrayed "Philip Lombard".
On January 13, 1959, "ITV", on their "Play of the Week" showed another television production of "Ten Little Niggers". The excellent British character actor, Felix Aylmer, headed the cast as "Sir Lawrence Wargrave", John Stone portrayed "Philip Lombard", and Christine Pollon portrayed "Vera Claythrone".
On October 28, 1963, a different production of "O Caso dos Dez Negrinhos" was shown on Brazilian television. This production was written by the co-director Wanda Kosmo. Her co-director was Luiz Gallon, and the only cast members I could locate, but without their roles, were Amandio, Georgia Gomide, and Marcus Plonka.
RETURNING TO THE MOTION PICTURE SCREEN
There were two-motion pictures in 1965, one from the United Kingdom, and the other from India.
TEN LITTLE INDIANS was initially released, first, in Austria in September of 1965
Before I go further into this version of Agatha Christie's novel. It is obvious that the United Kingdom producers, Oliver A. Unger, Harry Alan Towers, and Harry M. Popkin, seemed to believe that no one in 1965 had heard of Christie's novel, play, or seen the 1945 motion picture. Otherwise, why the need of the:
THE WHODUNIT BREAK!
To Help You Decide Who The Murderer is _ _ _
A William Castle style gimmick to lure audience members to this feature film.
This is especially pertinent, as my reader will find, to producer Harry Alan Towers. Who used the alternative name of Peter Welbreck, as the co-screenplay writer.
Towers would produce and co-write screenplays for five "Fu Manchu" motion pictures starring Christopher Lee as the Sax Rohmer character, seen below. For this motion picture, Harry Alan Towers had hired the actor's voice for that of the mysterious "Mr. UN Owen", heard on the tape recording in the mansion.
Peter Yeldham was the other screenplay writer.
Their revised story line is really not based upon the Agatha Christie novel, or her play, but more to Dudley Nichol's screenplay for the 1945 motion picture described above.
As the "New York Times" film critic Bosley Crowther's wrote on February 10, 1966:
It would be foolish to say this remake comes within a country mile of that former movie version, which was directed by René Clair. - - - It does have sufficient of the essence of Miss Christie's strange and creepy tale ... to make it a gripping entertainment for youthful (and unfamiliar) mystery fans
Crowther, "hitting the nail on the head" for the reason behind "The Whodunit Break".
So, let's take a look at this picture directed by George Pollock. Who started his career as both the second unit director" and assistant director. On features such as director David Lean's, 1945, "Brief Encounter", and Lean's, 1946, "Great Expectations".The location of the story has been moved from an island to the snowbound top of a mountain, and as Bosley Crowther implies, even with more name changes, this is more a remake of the 1945, Dudley Nichol's screenplay, then Agatha Christie's, 1939, novel.
In fact, to go with "The Whodunit Break". The cast was a mixture of, 1955 American television's, "Wyatt Earp", "James Bond's Goldfinger", without the gold body paint, a "Teen Idol" looking for work, and assorted British Stalwarts.
The following are the actor's and actress's portraying "The Ten", their new names and occupations, what they're accused of, and the novel's actual character:
Hugh O'Brien portrayed "Hugh Lombard/Charles Morley", an Engineer, who killed his lover "Jennifer Hayes", in the novel "Philip Lombard".
Shirley Eaton portrayed "Ann Clyde", a Secretary, who killed her sister's fiancé "Richard Barclay", in the novel "Vera Claythrone".
Fabian portrayed "Michael 'Mike' Raven", an Entertainer, who killed "William and Liza Stern" in a car accident, in the novel "Anthony James 'Tony' Marston".
Leo Glenn portrayed "Sir John Mandrake B.C.", Retired Army General, killed five subordinates, in the novel "Retired General John Gordon Macarthur".
Stanley Holloway portrayed "William Blore", Detective, his perjured testimony caused the death of prison inmate "James Landor", in the novel "William Henry Blore".
Wilfred Hyde White portrayed "Arthur Cannon", Retired Judge, responsible for the death of defendant "Edward Seton", in the novel "Lawrence John Wargrave".
Daliah Lavi portrayed Ilona Bergen, an Actress, killed her husband, in the novel "Emily Caroline Brent".
Dennis Price portrayed "Dr. Edward Armstrong", Doctor, killed his patient "Ivy Benson", in the novel "Dr. Edward George Armstrong".
Marianne Hoppe portrayed "Elsa Grohmann", Cook, killed her employer "Countess Valenstein", in the novel "Ethel Rodgers".
Mario Adorf portrayed "Joseph Grohmann", Buter, killed his employer"Countess Valestein", in the novel "Thomas Rodgers".
The Gimmick Screenplay:
Eight strangers to each other, board an aerial tramway that takes them up a snow covered mountain to a mansion. There they are greeted by "Elsa and Joseph Grohmann", the cook and butler for the man who invited each of them and hired the "Grohmann's", "UN Owen". The "Grohmann's" reveal that just like the other eight "Guests" of "Mr. Owen, they have never met, or seen him. They were hired through an agency, even "Ann Clyde", "Owen's" secretary, has never seen the man who hired her. She receives her instructions either in a note left on her desk, or by phone.
Each of the eight are shown to their rooms, in which are hung a framed copy of the nursery rhyme, "Ten Little Indians". Which is also on the wall of the "Grohmann's" bedroom. The "Guests" are told that dinner will be served at 9 PM and all meet at that time.
Above, the "Eight Guests", and standing "Joseph Grohmann". Who started serving dinner with food on a tray adorned with "Ten Little Indians", and as instructed, switches on a hidden tape recording. The voice of "Mr. UN Owen" tells all ten, including "Joseph's" wife, "Elsa", that each has a scandalous secret, involving each in an innocent person's death.
It is discovered that "Mr. UN Owen", sounded out, becomes "MR. UNKNOWN".
"Rick Raven" chokes and dies from poison, after taking a drink, and one of the "Indians" is found broken.
Next, a frightened "Elsa Grohmann" wanting to escape, gets into the tram car, but the cable is cut, killing her, and another "Indian" is broken.
"General Mandrake" organizes everyone into pairs to search the mansion's catacombs, but is lured away by a cat as a distraction, and is stabbed to death. It becomes clear that the murderer is following the nursery rhyme.
"Ann Clyde" and "Hugh Lombard" develop a romantic relationship. Which is a means of showing Shirley Eaton not covered in "Gold Paint", but in various stages of undress.
The remaining trapped "Guests" have come to the conclusion that "Mr. UN Owen" is not their mysterious host, but one of them.
"Joseph" attempts to make his escape down the snow covered mountain at "The Devil's Peak", but his life line is cut and he falls to his death. "Ilona" bitterly confesses to driving her husband to commit suicide.
Later, she is found dead with a hypodermic needle beside her body. The remaining five start to distrust everyone else, alliances are made, suddenly the generator goes out and the mansion is now in total darkness. Each of the remaining "Guests" reveal the nature of their offenses. "Ann" goes to her room, lets out a scream, as an Indian decoy is hanging from her room's ceiling. Confusion has been created, and the body of "Judge Cannon" is found with a gunshot to his head.
"Dr, Armstrong" voices his suspicions that "Ann" is the killer, which "Lombard" rebuffs. Later, he goes to "Ann's" room and confesses to really being "Charles Morley", a friend of "Philip Lombard" who committed suicide. Sorting "Philip's" things, he found the letter from "UN Owen" and assumed "Lombard's" identity to see if there was a connection to his suicide. He gives "Ann" his revolver for protection.
In the morning, "Blore" discovers that "Armstrong" has disappeared and with "Lombard/Morley" and "Ann Clyde", the three search for the doctor inside the mansion. "Blore" now goes outside and a large statue of a bear falls on him, killing the detective. Next, "Ann" and "Morley" discover the body of "Dr. Armstrong" in the snow and realize the killer must be one of them. "Ann" pulls the trigger on "Morley's" revolver killing him.
"THE WHODUNIT BREAK" comes on screen and a narrator asks the audience to review the evidence as a 60-second-count-down-clock ticks away. This was removed from the motion picture after the initial release.
"Ann" returns to the mansion, leaving the dead "Charles Morley's" body in the snow. Inside, she goes upstairs, apparently all alone and finds "Judge Cannon" alive and well.
"Judge Cannon" now explains how with "Dr. Armstrong's help, he "faked his death, adding that he plans to poison himself, leaving "Ann" alive as the last survivor. In his mind, she will be faced with the choice of either taking her life by hanging and ending the "Ten Little Indians Rhyme", or being punished by the law if she doesn't.
"Judge Cannon" now drinks a fatal dose of poison as "Charles Morley" enters the room. "Cannon" realizes his overall plan for "Justice" has failed. "Ann" and "Charles" kiss and notice a cat sitting by the tray with only two Indians still standing.
I now move to India and a 1965, "Indian-Hindi Language" motion picture based loosely upon the 1939, Agatha Christie novel.
गुमनाम aka: GUMNAAM (ANONYMOUS) released in India depending upon the source, either on February 6, 1965, or December 24, 1965
This is an uncredited, but inspired adaptation of the basic story concept of the Agatha Christie novel. This adaption was by Charandas Shokh. The screenplay was by Dhruva Chatterjee with additional dialogue by Shokh.
The following is from the website, "Filmi Geek" at:
https://www.filmigeek.com/2009/06/gumnaam-1965.html
I removed the names of the actors in the three following paragraphs:
A group of strangers at a masquerade party are delighted when they are chosen, apparently at random, as winners of an exciting foreign vacation. The trip gets off to a rough start, however, when an emergency forces their plane to land in a remote wilderness. And things take an even more sinister turn when the plane takes off, leaving them stranded. Soon they find an isolated mansion, tended by a valet who knows their names and seems to have been expecting them. A mysterious diary in the mansion reveals the reason they are there: It says they are each responsible for an unjust death, and will be forced to pay the ultimate price. And sure enough, one by one the travelers begin to die violently ... and the murderer must be among them.
Sounds good, but as "Filmi Geek" wrote:
One result of the slapdash plotting is an utter lack of suspense, which is compounded by the travelers for the most part not behaving as if they fear for their lives. The other filmi touches, like (a) broad South Indian caricature and other roles played for laughs, don't bolster the story.
"Gumnaam" was made in "Bollywood", is a musical within the mystery, and had a best selling sound track.
The best thing about Gumnaam is the film's songs, most of which are upbeat, splendid fun. Helen, as one of the doomed guests, gets three of these, including (a) fantastic dream sequence, an adorable beachside romp, and the rare treat of a drunken buddy-song in which the revelers are both women.
I now come to another version of Agatha Christie's story, or maybe not! This is an Italy, West Germany, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, co-production, filmed in English.
Depending upon which country the motion picture was shown in, the titles are:
United Kingdom - AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, United States - TEN LITTLE INDIANS, Italy - E POI NON RIMASE NESSUNO (AND THEN NOBODY REMINED), West Germany - EIN UNBEKANNTER RECHNETY AB, DIEZ NEGRITORS (AN UNKNOWN PERSON CALCULATES, TEN NIGGERS), France - DIX PETIS NEGRES (TEN SMALL NEGROES)
The motion picture was first released in Italy and West Germany on September 24, 1974. In the United States on August 23, 1975, in the United Kingdom on June 6, 1975, and France, not until August 26, 1976.
Above, one of the United States posters.
This screenplay was rewritten by producer Harry Alan Towers, based solely on his 1965 screenplay, and again calling himself Peter Welbreck. The motion picture was filmed in pre-Revolution Iran, and the setting was changed to that country. Also, for the United States release, the prologue showing the "Guests" arriving by airplane and transferring into a helicopter that takes them to the hotel, was cut out.
The motion picture was directed by British director, Peter Collinson. According to "IMDb", under his name, he shot the motion picture in 1974, exact month not shown, which seems odd. As the same website states, under the feature, that it was filmed in December 1973.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072263/?ref_=ttloc_ov
In this version, the voice of "U.N. Owen", came from Orson Welles.
The following are the "Guests", and their and accusations, for the 2nd Harry Alan Towers version of the novel:
French actor Charles Aznavour portrayed Entertainer, "Michael Raven", accused of having run over two people in Paris, while under the influence of alcohol.
French actress Stephane Audran portrayed Actress, "Ilona Morgan", accused of being responsible for the death of her husband, "in a most cold-blooded and ruthless manner."
German actress Elke Sommer portrayed Secretary, "Vera Clyde", accused of having fatally poisoned her sister's fiancé.
German actor Gert Frobe portrayed Police Official, "Wilhelm Blore", accused of committing perjury resulting in the framing an innocent man, who subsequently dies in prison.
Austria-Hungarian actor Herbert Lom portrayed Doctor, "Edward Armstrong", accused of operating on a woman while drunk, causing her death.
British actor Oliver Reed portrayed Businessman, "Hugh Lombard/Charles Morley", accused of murdering the young woman, who was bearing his child out of wedlock.
British actor Sir Richard Attenborough portrayed Judge, "Arthur Cannon", accused of having sentenced an innocent man to death by hanging.
Austrian actress Maria Rohm portrayed Servant, "Elsa Martino", accused of helping her husband cause the death of their wealthy invalid employer.
Argentine actor Alberto de Mendoza portrayed Servant, "Otto Martino", accused of causing the death of his wealthy invalid employer, by tricking her to include him and his wife in her will.
Sicilian actor Adolfo Celi portrayed Military General, "Andre Salve", accused of being responsible for the death of five men under his control.
A Brief Look at Harry Alan Towers Changed Screenplay:
A group of ten people, strangers to each other, arrive at a hotel deep in the Iranian desert near the ruins of "Persepolis", 200-miles from civilization. The hotel and the ruins steal the movie, but the hotel was actually a process shot. By moving a photo of the exterior of the "Shah Mosque", to be seen, next to the actual ruins as if both were always together.
As far as the plot is concerned, by now my reader knows it. So, turning to the British "The Monthly Film Bulletin", date unknown, for a description of this sightseeing version of Agatha Christie:
And Then There Were None is the third movie adaptation of Agatha Christie's variously titled novel of retribution on an island off the Devon coast. ... This multi-national adaptation, however, dilutes the original by transplanting the action to an unspecified locale, substituting an unrelated cast of jet-set characters, adding a happy end and, worst of all, neglecting the victims' relationships in favour of lingering shots of Iranian ruins, while the somnolent cast wanders about the Shah Abbas hotel in Isfahan (a huge gold and mosaic affair which could have hidden a dozen Mr. Owen's). The staging of the murders – which are awaited without visible concern – reaches its nadir when Oliver Reed desperately belabours the patently rubber snake which has just bitten Stéphane Audran; the film's opportunism is most evident when Aznavour sits down to the piano, minutes before being poisoned, for a quick after-dinner rendition of 'Dance in the Old-Fashioned Way'.
THE DENOUEMENT
On January 12, 1976, at Winterbrook House, Wallingford, Oxford, England,
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE, passed away at the age of 85, - - -
- - - but her written works did not. As the subject of this article, her 1939 novel, "Ten Little Niggers", aka: "And Then There Were None", aka: "Ten Little Indians", became, yet, another motion picture this time from "The Soviet Union". However, this was also the most accurate version of the original novel filmed as of this writing.
Десять негритят aka: DESYAT NEGRITYAT (TEN LITTLE NEGROES) released on December 28, 1987
The screenplay was written by the motion picture's director Станислав Сергеевич Говорухин (Stanislav Govorukhin). Govorukhin's screenplay had turned Agatha Christie's novel into a true psychological thriller.
Below, the ten members of the Russian cast with English version names:
Vladimir Zeldin portrays retired judge "Lawrence John Wargrave".
Tatyana Drubich portrayed "Vera Claythrone"
Alexander Kaidanovsky portrayed "Philip Lombard".
Aleksey Zharkov portrayed "Detective William Henry Blore".
Anatoli Romashin portrayed "Doctor Armstrong".
Above left, Anatoli Romashin and Vladimir Zeldin.
Lyudmila Maksakova portrayed "Miss Emily Brent".
Mikhail Gluzsky portrayed "General MacArthur".
Aleksandra Abdulov portrayed "Anthony Marston".
Aleksei Zolotnitsky portrayed "Mr. Thomas Rodgers".
Irina Tereshchenko portrayed "Mrs. Ethel Rodgers".
An Overview of Govorukhin's Screenplay:
It is a warm August day near the end of the 1930's, and eight people arrive on an isolated island off the Devon Coast of England. Each of the eight had received a tailored invitation to them, as either inviting the recipient for a summer holiday, or an offer of needed employment. Upon arriving on the island, they are met by the butler and housekeeper - cook, "Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers", who were just hired by "Mr. Ulick Norman Owen" and his wife "Mrs. Una Nancy Owen". The "Rodgers" explain to the new arrivals that their host's, the "Owen's", have yet to arrive and like the other eight. The "Rodgers's" have never met either "Mr", or "Mrs. Owen", having been hired through an agency.
At dinner, "Thomas Rodgers" starts a record he was instructed by the mysterious "Mr. Owen" to play, and all "Ten Little Indians" learn what they are accused of having done and that they will be judged for their crimes.
Later, the "Guest's" figure out, that by taking either the initials of the husband, or wife name's of their mysterious hosts. They have "U. N. Owen", or "UN Owen" that sounded out is "Unknown", and the murders begin.
According to a Russian language review of this motion picture on the website, "The Wayback Machine" at https://web.archive.org/web/20160306020419/http://www.rostov.kp.ru/daily/author/1566/
Translated into English:
This version was, upon its release, unique in that virtually no part of the novel is altered (although a sexual relationship between Vera and Lombard is introduced, and the latter's revolver is changed into a small automatic pistol). Unlike the previous Hollywood/British adaptations of the story, none of the characters or their respective crimes are altered in any way and the film concludes with the grim finale from Agatha Christie's original novel, rather than the upbeat ending from the 1943 stage version that most other adaptations chose to follow.
I would point out that the two Harry Alan Towers motion pictures did not follow either Agatha Christie's novel, or stage version, but used the change in "Philip Lombard's" character from the Dudley Nichol's, 1945 screenplay.
Two-years later, and Harry Alan Towers was back with a 3rd version:
TEN LITTLE INDIANS first shown at the Cannes, France, film festival on May 17, 1989
If one believes the opening credits, then this Harry Alan Towers production is based solely upon Agatha Christie's 1943 Play and not the novel. However, several names are not found in either her novel, or play and an African Safari isn't an island off the Devon Coast.
Apparently, Towers was not involved with the writing of this screenplay and credit goes to two writers. Jackson Hunsicker only worked on 4-screenplays, and this was her second.
Gerry O'Hara was a second unit director turned screenplay writer for 18-motion pictures. He followed this feature, as the primary writer, on the 1989, Robert Englund, very interesting version, of French author, Gaston Leroux's, "The Phantom of the Opera".
The motion picture was directed by Australian director, Alan Birkinshaw. He had just directed Oliver Reed in the 1989 version of Edgar Allan Poe's, "The House of Usher", co-starring Donald Pleasence. Birkinshaw followed this feature film with the 1989 version of Edgar Allan Poe's, "The Masque of the Red Death", co-starring Frank Stallone, Brenda Vaccaro, and Herbert Lom.
The "Guests" Arrive:
Donald Pleasence portrayed "Justice Lawrence Wargrave", accused of having sentenced "Edward Seton", an innocent man, to death by hanging.
Frank Stallone portrayed "Captain Philip Lombard", accused of being responsible for the deaths of 21 men, members of an East African Tribe.
Sarah Maur Ward, billed as Sarah Maur Throp portrayed "Vera Claythrone", accused of being responsible for the drowning of her young charge, "Cyril Ogilvie Hamilton".
Brenda Vaccaro portrayed "Marion Marshall", accused of being responsible for the death of her fellow actress, "Miss Beatrice Taylor".
Herbert Lom portrayed "General Branko Romenski", accused of sending his wife's lover, "Heinrich Domartatsky", on a suicide mission, during the First World War.
Warren Berlinger portrayed "William Henry Blore", accused of having given false testimony that sent an innocent man, "Stephen Joseph Landor" to prison, where he died.
Yehuda Efoni portrayed "Dr. Hans Joachim Werner", accused of operating on a woman, "Ursula Margaret Lismann", while , under the influence of alcohol, leading to her death.
Paul L. Smith portrayed "Elmo Rodgers", accused of the murder of his wealthy, invalid employer, "Miss Jennifer Brady".
Moria Lister portrayed "Ethel Mae Rodgers", accused of assisting her husband in the murder of their wealthy, invalid employer, "Miss Jennifer Brady".
Neil McCarthy (II) portrayed "Anthony James Marston", accused of running over a young couple, "John" and "Lucy Combes", killing them while driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Not Based Upon the Agatha Christie Play, Screenplay Overview:
The motion picture was filmed in South Africa in September 1988. As the credits role, the audience sees a train moving through Africa and each of the "Ten Guests" are viewed as the train moves into a station and the above title card reading "Based on the play by Agatha Christie" is shown.
The Safari is guided by "Captain Philip Lombard" with African native carriers.
The safari crosses a bridge over a large river and sets-up a hunting camp. Later, the ten find that the natives have abandoned them and cut the ropes holding up the bridge they had crossed. Thus leaving them stranded in their hunting camp with no way back and no way to contact anyone. There radio has been sabotaged, so they cannot communicate with the outside world.
The "Rodgers" prepare dinner for the group, with the centerpiece being the "TEN LITTLE INDIANS". They find a gramophone record and hear the voice of the missing "U. N. Owen", as things start to proceed per form, with "Anthony James Marston" being the first to die, from a poisoned martini.
Five have been murdered, but now "Philip Lombard" is able to get the radio repaired and makes contact with the outside world. A rescue plane will be sent the following morning. The remaining five confess their crimes as a savage storm arrives. By morning "Wargrave", "Warner", and "Blore" are dead, leaving only "Philip" and "Vera".
This is actually from Agatha Christie's play's ending, if not on an island, with Christie's dialogue:
"Philip" is apparently killed by "Vera", and "Judge Wargrave" appears, confesses he's the murderer, and presents "Vera" with the noose, and puts it around her neck.
"Wargrave" drinks poison mixed in wine as he watches "Vera" choking, hanging by the noose. "Wargrave" dies as "Philip", walks into the tent, gets "Vera" out of the noose, saving her life.
Change Back from Agatha Christie's play:
The two survivors and lovers await the airplane's arrival.
Several foreign language versions of "And Then There Were None" followed. A major example is the Lebanese television version. On June 28, 2014, was the first of 31-episodes, each one 45-minutes in length, based upon the novel and play.
I mentioned the output in short stories, novels, and plays written by Agatha Christie, but no matter which of the three titles you use. This 1939 mystery tops them all.
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