Posted on 03/27/2015 8:33:52 PM PDT by DemforBush
A bit of Agatha Christie tonight. 8 strangers are invited to dinner at the estate of a mysterious (and absent) host, and at that dinner, dark and murderous secrets begin to be revealed. C. Aubrey Smith and Walter Huston star.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
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BTW, a bit of a bonus this week: I wanted to add occasional recommendations of films I either can't find or can't show (because of content) here at FR, but still think they'd be of interest to FReepers.
This week's recommendation is an often overlooked Jack Nicholson film from the early 1970's called The Last Detail. Nicholson and his partner "Mule" are career Navy men and shore patrol officers ordered to pick up a young sailor (a very young and still sane Randy Quaid) convicted of petty theft, and then bring him to Portsmouth Naval Prison to serve a long sentence (Quaid's petty theft was from his CO's wifes' favorite charity). On the way, the two lifers decide to show the kid a good time in the few days it will take to get him to the prison. It's an excellent film, and IMHO, one of Nicholson's very best performances. Well worth a look.
Here is the trailer.
Ping.
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The Stranger 7/10
Decision Before Dawn 7.5/10
Plunder Road 6.75/10
The Hitchiker 7/10
Stalag 17 8/10
Kiss of Death8/10
D.O.A.7/10
Breaker Morant 8.5/10
Detour 7/10
Stalingrad 7.7/10
Sleuth 8/10
Evil Roy Slade 7/10
Men in War6.75/10
Five Fingers/Operation Cicero 8/10
Escape From Sobibor 7.5/10
Better Off Dead 7/10
A Christmas Carol 8.25/10
The Earthling7.25/10
The Hill8/10
Ronald Reagan in Tennessee's Partner 7/10
Duel 7.5/10
Attack! 7.5/10.
Scarlet Street8/10.
M8.25/10
Beat The Devil 6.5/10
Kanal7.75/10
Nightmare Alley7.5/10
Murder by Death.
Is this the one with the little figurines that keep disappearing with each murder?
Thank you.
Yep. 10 Little Indians.
Ten little Indian boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Indian boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Indian boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Indian boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Indian boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Indian boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two little Indian boys playing in the sun;
One got all frizzled up and then there was one.
One little Indian boy left all alone;
He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Little_Indians
Good flick. Saw it decades ago as a kid.
This was a marvelous version of the Christie story. Usually I’m not a big fan of whodunits, as they often seem so calculated and contrived with their red herrings and such, and I absolutely despise that feeling of being ‘manipulated’ by the authors as they weave these mysteries. It’s something that has always annoyed me about the genre. But this film is indeed a gem.
Also was glad to see June Duprez finally get a decent role in an American film. Never could understand what happened... she was in a few very prominent British films like “Thief of Baghdad” and “Four Feathers.” But she came to America, and immediately wound up in some REALLY low-grade fare unworthy of her status. Things like a playing a 2nd lead in a “Don Winslow” serial (as a villainess!), and as leading lady in an abysmal, grade-zero PRC jungle flick with Frank Buck. At least other British female stars of that time (Anna Lee, Anne Neagle, etc.) had the big studios rolling out the red carpet for them. Duprez sure got the shaft though. Oh, well. Forgive the weird tangent.
The 1965 version with Hugh O'Brian and Shirley Eaton is probably well-remembered matinee fare by Baby Boom FReepers. It does not compare favorably against this version.
Dame Agatha was pretty much the queen of those techniques.
“This week’s recommendation is an often overlooked Jack Nicholson film from the early 1970’s called The Last Detail.”
Great movie. Another early Nicholson movie I love is “Five Easy Pieces.”
Two of the greatest films of all time!
I don't know much about her, but maybe she was downplayed somewhat, in favor of Merle Oberon, who was married to one of the Kordas...
Great movie
Agree with you. I have both versions and the 1945 version is by far the best.
The 1965 version was more slickly produced, but I think the acting and general tone of the 1945 version is tops.
I had just surmised Duprez might have had a problematic husband or agent who wanted too much money, and she wound up getting the cold shoulder from the main studios. Wild guess. She certainly had a good enough resume to get into some slick Fox, Paramount b-films, at very least. But she wound up starting her American career in the very lowest dregs.
Don’t really know how I’d rank her acting abilities, but she sure did have pretty eyes. Was quite fetching in some of those cheapies, like that z-grade Frank Buck thing.
It’s at the Internet Archives for worry-free download or streaming.
https://archive.org/details/AndThenThereWereNone
They’re changing the Archive web site BTW, for mobiles I guees. Just awful on a desktop. If you get the mobile “Beta” you can get out and to the “regular” website with a little effort.
Thank you!
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