AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (1945)

The source novel for this film is one of Agatha Christie's best: it makes sinister use of a children's rhyme to underlie a baffling mystery which culminates in a stunningly bleak ending.

Mrs Christie then adapted the novel for the stage, but she completely changed the ending in order to make it more palatable for theatre audiences in the early 1940s. 

Even with the more upbeat ending, any film adaptation worth its salt should be able to generate some chills, given the setup: ten strangers alone on an island being murdered one by one by their mysterious and invisible host who is determined to make each of them pay for their unpunished crimes. 

And there should be a mounting tension and sense of dread with each death.  

Here however any such tension is constantly being undercut by the little touches of humour here and there, presumably introduced by the screenwriter, Dudley Nichols, and by the fact that the characters are so relaxed, given the gravity of their situation.  Perhaps it was deemed essential at the time, towards the close of World War 2, to have everyone displaying a stiff upper lip in the face of adversity.

The director, René Clair, had three years previously directed the comedy fantasy 'I Married A Witch', which was the type of film he specialised in, making him a rather odd choice to direct a murder mystery.  

But I imagine the studio were happy with the end result - it's a competently made film which breezes along albeit with little concern for characterisation or the creation of suspense.  And the mystery is still one of Christie's finest achievements.

RATING: ✓ If You've Nothing Better To Do