For many readers, their first exposure to Agatha Christie comes in the tale of And Then There Were None. First published in 1939 under a more problematic title, None has become one of the best-selling books in history, estimated to be among the top ten titles ever published by sheer volume — and that includes ubiquitous reference books by Merriam-Webster, Roget’s, and others.
In her memoirs, Christie notes that she toyed with the idea that would become this mystery for several years. The title went through countless drafts and rewrites, with characters’ name, crimes, actions, and more changing time and again. While not her favorite mystery, Christie considered it one of her most interesting:
I had written the book . . . because it was so difficult to do that the idea had fascinated me. Ten people had to die without it becoming ridiculous or the murderer being obvious. I wrote the book after a tremendous amount of planning. . . It was clear, straightforward, baffling, and yet had a perfectly reasonable explanation.”
Reaction by the public and the press was immediate. As The New York Times Book Review posited, “The whole thing is utterly impossible and utterly fascinating. It is the most baffling mystery that Agatha Christie has ever written.” In the 85 years since its first debut, the book has sold more than 100 million copies. It has inspired more than a dozen film adaptations, a similar number of radio and television versions (including the 2015 mini-series pictured above), several stage plays, and a handful of comics, graphic novels, and video games — even a board game.
While the singular setting of the story lends itself well to live theater, the film versions of None really give the mystery room to breathe. If you are looking for a devilish, atmospheric evening in front of the television, I’d suggest you choose one of these three exemplary adaptations:
And Then There Were None (1945) This flagship film version is now considered the sterling standard adaptation for this title. A tight Hollywood cast — featuring Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, and Louis Hayward — and a talented director in René Clair make this a 1940s noir-inspired classic. For a 1943 stage play, Christie had rewritten the ending a bit for a more audience-pleasing final act. That new twist was kept for this first film version. Contemporary reviews were mixed, but in the intervening years, critical and public opinion has warmed. It is now considered one of the best, truest film adaptations of Christie’s work.
Desyat Negrityat (1987) Unlike most adaptations of None, Desyat adheres to the original book with a faithful precision. Primarily, this version eschews the upbeat stage ending for Christie’s original finale. There is a distinctly Soviet feel to the proceedings — a sense of heaviness and fatality that colors every frame. The all-Russian cast is a revelation, and the Crimean setting sets the tone to perfection. One Eastern European film critic called Desyat “the first and . . . only true adaptation.” He noted that director and screenwriter Stanislav Govorukhin “demonstrated not only a masterful knowledge of the entire text of Agatha Christie, but also a deep understanding of it, which was not found either before or after.”
And Then There Were None (1974) This one is an odd, beautiful duck. The cast is top-notch, including Richard Attenborough, Oliver Reed, and Elke Sommer, and the story sticks to the theatrical version shared by the 1945 movie. Like many other adaptations, however, the action moves from an island off the British coast. Instead of a mountain retreat in Austria or an African safari, here the mystery is set in a deserted resort hotel in the Iranian desert. The cinematography oozes with 1970s aesthetic. Solitary figures face off against large, empty spaces. There is a sense of isolation and helplessness that is palpable. This version gives the same dystopian vibe as Logan’s Run and Stalker. It gives the story a razor-sharp edge and a visual style found nowhere else in the pantheon of Christie adaptations.
So, which of these is your favorite? Did I miss the best one entirely? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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