Ten Little Indians

[Carl V]

Many years ago when I was still a kid, I recall watching a film late one night and would love to know the title of it. To be perfectly honest, I couldn't recall exactly what it was about nor who was in it but it was some kind of "whodunnit" mystery film - I think.



The only part that sticks in my mind is near the end when the film "stops" and you see a countdown clock or something similar. You then hear a narrator saying to the viewer that we had 60 seconds to work out who the culprit was, then the film continues and all is revealed.



I must apologise for being so vague - it must have been the late 70s when I saw it, and I have never seen it since. I'm fairly certain it was a feature film and not a TV drama show. If anyone has a clue to the title, I would love to know.



Many thanks indeed,



Carl.

[CaptainWaggett]

I'm sure someone will know it but if it helps, the Ellery Queen books use that device - there's always a page near the end where the authors tell the reader that he/she now has the same information as the detective and can solve the mystery

[Euryale]

Sure this occurs in And Then There Were None (1965).



E.

[batman]

name='CaptainWaggett']I'm sure someone will know it but if it helps, the Ellery Queen books use that device - there's always a page near the end where the authors tell the reader that he/she now has the same information as the detective and can solve the mystery

They used it in the Ellery Queen tv series with Jim Hutton and in the series Whodunnit with Gary Raymond as well.

[Euryale]

Yes, the ticking clock is mentioned here under Special Features:



http://www.hometheaterforum.com/foru...little-indians



This also gives the film's alternative title.



E.

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[Carl V]

name='Euryale']Sure this occurs in And Then There Were None (1965).



E.

Thank you Euryale, that sounds like the one.



I've just looked at the IMDB site to see who starred in it as I couldn't remember at all, and one of the reviewers talks about a 60-second break near the end of the film.



So many thanks indeed for that.



Carl.

[huggett]

The same countdown clock method was used in William Castle's 1961 film 'Homicidal', where it gave you time to work out who the murderer was.

[Carl V]

name='huggett']The same countdown clock method was used in William Castle's 1961 film 'Homicidal', where it gave you time to work out who the murderer was.

William Castle had a reputation for gimmicks with his films. The only ones by him I can remember seeing (without gimmicks, that is) are 'The Tingler' (1959) with Vincent Price, '13 Ghosts' (1960), 'House On Haunted Hill' (1959) and 'The Old Dark House' (1963). There may well have been more that I've watched but I can't recall at the moment.

[Dr. Schreck]

Wasn't that kind of break also used in Amicus' The Beast Must Die?

[Euryale]

name='Dr. Schreck']Wasn't that kind of break also used in Amicus' The Beast Must Die?

Yes it was, they gave you time to guess the killer while a clock ticked - haven't seen this film in years but remember that bit now.



E.

[Carl V]

name='Dr. Schreck']Wasn't that kind of break also used in Amicus' The Beast Must Die?

I have seen one or two films where the picture pauses momentarily, and the characters are 'reviewed' one by one as possible suspects, but I can't remember if the film you mention is like this or whether it uses a countdown clock the same as in "And Then There Were None". Thanks for mentioning this film by the way.

[Euryale]

name='huggett']The same countdown clock method was used in William Castle's 1961 film 'Homicidal', where it gave you time to work out who the murderer was.

There is a countdown clock in Homicidal but it was to give the audience time to leave the cinema in case they were too scared to see the end of the film!



There is a clip of it on Youtube.



E.

[Euryale]

name='Euryale']Yes it was, they gave you time to guess the killer while a clock ticked - haven't seen this film in years but remember that bit now.



E.

The whole of the film The Beast Must Die is up on Youtube. There is a ticking clock but you only get 30 seconds to guess the killer! The clock is superimposed over each member of the cast in turn.



E.

[Carl V]

As well as Euryale, I'd like to thank Captain Waggett, Batman, Huggett and Dr Schreck for your suggestions. I do appreciate being told of other films which used this technique.



In my childhood years we only had a black & white set so I couldn't even say whether the film was in colour or not. But I would say "And Then There Were None" was more than likely the one I saw. "The Beast Must Die" was filmed in 1974 so I'm not sure if it would have been on TV by around 1977/78, which is when I reckon would have been about the time I saw it.



All my life I have enjoyed watching these old Hammer and Amicus horror films - far, far better in my opinion than any horror film made today. Nowadays, horror films all seem to revolve around some stalker chasing and murdering college students, or something along those lines. Also in my younger days, TV regularly broadcast old horror films especially on a Friday night, and this was one of the few nights in the week when I was allowed to stay up late.



Thanks again to everyone for your contributions,



Carl.