And then there were none (1945)

Plot: Ten people are invited for a weekend on an island by a Mr U. N. Own, but he isn't on the island. At dinner a record is played, by that all the people are accused of murder, suddenly the first of them is dead, then the next...
Stars: Barry Fitzgerald and Walter Houston.

The important thing in a fun-murder mystery of this kind is that the characters are likable, but shallow and silly enough that you don't feel sorrow if they get bumped off. Barry Fitzgerald, Judith Anderson and Louis Hayward stand out as particularly delightful and aloof from the carnage around them, but everybody contributes nicely in the ensemble. The cast is comprised of actors who normally are supporting performers, and it works for this film because if there was a well known star, that person would be less suspect due to the audiences expectation that person will have more screen time. The film neglects dramatic considerations of the book and plays the story more for laughs. 

Based on the Following Rhyme:


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 half 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.