Ten guests attend a lavish hotel at the bequest of U. N. Owen.
This film always seems to get to much criticism, especially when compared to the 1945 version. Personally though I love it, I love the fact that they captured some of the claustrophobic feeling which you get very much in the book, but not in any of the other versions.
It has such a British feel to it, even though it's set in such an elaborate setting, the introductions and formalities are so wonderfully proper.
I'm halfway through watching the Optimum DVD release and its amazing to see how vivid the colours are in it, the sets are amazing. Yes the acting is a little wobbly in parts, Elkie Sommer is very good but maybe someone else would have been better, I'm half expecting her to say to the Doctor 'Hello How are your doings?' (Carry on behind was done about the same time) Oliver Reed is wonderfully masculine in the role, he's a great anti hero, again something i feel no other version had.
The closing scene is very well done, understated and quite chilling. I'm glad this finally had a quality DVD release.
Update, I've just acquired the Spanish Blu Ray release, and it does manage to explain the name of Rik Battaglia in the credits, as there is about an additional ten minutes of material, including a longer start, and cutaways to Iran, the only trouble with this release is that big chunks are in Spanish. So the mystery of Rik Battaglia is partially explained. Sadly not being fluent in Spanish I can't understand the content, and its relevance to the film.
It's a flawed, but excellent whodunnit, for me it's the best of the movies, and it compares well with the BBC series.
10/10.
This film always seems to get to much criticism, especially when compared to the 1945 version. Personally though I love it, I love the fact that they captured some of the claustrophobic feeling which you get very much in the book, but not in any of the other versions.
It has such a British feel to it, even though it's set in such an elaborate setting, the introductions and formalities are so wonderfully proper.
I'm halfway through watching the Optimum DVD release and its amazing to see how vivid the colours are in it, the sets are amazing. Yes the acting is a little wobbly in parts, Elkie Sommer is very good but maybe someone else would have been better, I'm half expecting her to say to the Doctor 'Hello How are your doings?' (Carry on behind was done about the same time) Oliver Reed is wonderfully masculine in the role, he's a great anti hero, again something i feel no other version had.
The closing scene is very well done, understated and quite chilling. I'm glad this finally had a quality DVD release.
Update, I've just acquired the Spanish Blu Ray release, and it does manage to explain the name of Rik Battaglia in the credits, as there is about an additional ten minutes of material, including a longer start, and cutaways to Iran, the only trouble with this release is that big chunks are in Spanish. So the mystery of Rik Battaglia is partially explained. Sadly not being fluent in Spanish I can't understand the content, and its relevance to the film.
It's a flawed, but excellent whodunnit, for me it's the best of the movies, and it compares well with the BBC series.
10/10.