René Clair

So it's lightened up for the film.

You know, René Clair, who'd always made these beautiful featherweight comedies, and we could talk about that too, you know, makes it into a real Hollywood confection.

Yeah.

But almost they make it so unserious, I think that possibly entered into the reasons why it was slightly overlooked by the critics, because people always like to find a film and say, "This film is important because..." You know-

...

in the '30s on film.

But also in all of, um, René Clair's silent film tricks, you know, there's a lot that he does in here.

Yes.

This is the third of five versions of Christie novels to be adapted to the screen, and the second from producer Harry Alan Towers.

Two film adaptations were previously released in 1945 by Rene Clair, and the Towers' 1965 adaptation, Ten Little Indians.

Towers produced a third version in 1989.

The 1974 film reuses the script of the 1965 version, even calling Oliver Reed's character Hugh instead of Philip, which was the character's name in the novel and play.