Crisp black-and-white photography (by Ernest Steward, B.S.C.) shows a group of horse-drawn sleigh riders amongst picturesque mountaintop winter scenery. Ten Little Indians certainly doesn't open like a murder mystery. The setting is changed from the remote island of the novel to an isolated Alpine chalet. They strived to capitalize on a mini-genre popular in the early 1960s and the film comes off as something like The V.I.P.s (1963)-as-a-Murder-Mystery. The makers of Ten Little Indians (1965, aka Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians) intentionally crafted an unconventional adaptation, emphasizing the jet-set aspect of the cast of characters. Producer Harry Alan Towers held the rights to Ten Little Indians, and wisely brought in director George Pollock, who had just helmed the Miss Marple series, to film an update featuring a screenplay by Peter Yeldham and Towers himself (as "Peter Welbeck"). This series, which starred Margaret Rutherford, was popular on both sides of the Atlantic. Christie's works have never fallen out of favor, but she was enjoying a resurgence at the box office in the early 1960s, thanks to a series of British films featuring her Miss Marple character. An instant best-seller, Christie adapted the story for the stage in 1943, and two years later Twentieth Century Fox released a widely praised adaptation, And Then There Were None (1945), directed by Rene Clair.
The book was serialized in both British and American magazines under the title And Then There Were None. Mystery writer Agatha Christie can lay claim to having penned the biggest-selling mystery of all time, Ten Little Indians, first published in England in 1939. While awaiting the police, the lovers describe their mutual defense pact and verify their common innocence. As the judge speaks, the American enters the room.
Reminding Ann that she will undoubtedly be convicted of the murders, the magistrate reveals that he has poisoned himself and will be dead upon arrival of the authorities.
Certain of Lombard's death, Cannon proclaims himself the host. Returning to the castle, she finds the presumably slain jurist awaiting her. Although they have fallen in love, the secretary shoots the American. Guests and servants are slain in rapid succession, until only Ann and Lombard remain. In his message their host discloses that each is a murderer and will be executed over the weekend. Armstrong, retired General Mandrake, secretary Ann Clyde, and the American Hugh Lombard. Among them are singer Mike Raven, Judge Cannon, private investigator William Blore, actress Ilona Bergen, alcoholic Dr. As the holiday commences the guests assemble to hear the host's recorded welcome. At the chateau, accessible only by cable car, they are received by the Grohmanns, a servant couple who have never seen their employer. Eight strangers are invited to spend the weekend at an Austrian castle in the Alps.
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