The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Murder. Similar to other film versions based on Agatha Christie’s excellent book, the poem “Ten Little Indians” has several different iterations. I bring this up because the central idea of the story, whether in written form or on screen, is always what stands out most. These films differ in quality, although each brings its own ideas to the adaptation; George Pollock's 1965 film is quite good, though certainly not flawless. The narrative takes place in a remote, snowy mountainside setting. Ten people have been brought together there, either as staff or guests invited by the enigmatic U.N. Owen. Once everyone has assembled, a recording reveals that all of the guests are guilty of terrible crimes and must now face consequences. This sets off the familiar pattern of each of the ten being eliminated as suspicion and fear take hold. With each death, a model Indian is removed from a circular display on the lounge table. So we have a serial killer mystery where figuring out who did it is key. The deaths are cleverly done, with some creating real suspense and thrills; although the final explanation isn’t entirely believable, it still manages to surprise viewers familiar with this kind of story. What truly shines here is the cast—a collection of notable British actors for fans of classic cinema. Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Dennis Price (whose facial expressions are quite something), and Leo Genn lead the male performers, while Shirley Eaton represents the female British contingent with spirit and energy. Joining the British cast to appeal to an international audience are pop singer Fabian, Hugh O'Brian, and Daliah Lavi, the latter of whom certainly adds some heat to the proceedings. The film’s biggest shortcomings, aside from Fabian’s acting, lie in the visual style created by Pollock and his cinematographer Ernest Steward. The mansion where the story unfolds would have been perfect for shadows and eerie hallways; it almost feels like the classic haunted house elements should have been incorporated more fully. This seems like a missed opportunity to elevate the film. Still, as mentioned earlier, the source material is timeless, and fans of this type of entertainment will likely feel excited as the ending approaches. If the “one minute audience break to discuss who we think did it” before the reveal feels reminiscent of William Castle films, so be it; but it’s still enjoyable and demonstrates a desire by those involved to actively engage the viewers in the murderous events. I wonder what Agatha thought of it? All together now, "Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were Nine…" 7.5/10

Source on TMDB