MovieChat Forums > Ten Little Indians (1966) Discussion > The 'Whodunit Minute'

The 'Whodunit Minute'

posted 19 years ago by whirlycat
21 replies | jump to latest

When I first saw this film, there was a bizarre pause near the end in which the action froze and, as an animated clockface slowly counted down one minute, quick snippits of all the previous victims were repeated. I thought this was delightful, especially considering the mid-60's atmosphere of the entire film (making even Fabian's horrifying performance palatable). A couple of years ago I taped TLI off TCM, and to my dismay discovered that the Whodunit Minute had been completely edited out. Does anyone know how I could obtain a copy of the original cut, with the Whodunit Minute intact? Thanks.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] KX2fitty 18 years ago

Check out the DVD coming out in March, it has it as a bonus feature.

[–] Jimmy-128 18 years ago

Yep, I just got the DVD, and the Whodunit minute is included as a bonus feature. It would have been nicer if it had been in the main movie, though.

[–] rb1125 18 years ago

When this film was released on VHS they did the same thing - omitted the 'Whodunit mintue'. Hopefully it will be on the DVD.

That great gimmick was used very often by William Castle, especially in his cheesier films. We need more of his films out on DVD - intact!

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] unstrung-harp 18 years ago

A similar thing occurred in The Beast Must Die, only it was called the Werewolf Break.

[–] film-collector 18 years ago

I bought a 16mm copy for $35 about 7 years ago cause' Im wierd that way. It still has the "who dunnit" break intact. I should mention I own several projectors).
I can still remember seeing this movie for the first time when I was 11 one winter night with my siblings. True to form, I guessed completey wrong when that scene played. But I still like to watch it. Especially on cold winter nights with the lights out and a fire roaring.
I guessed right in Death On The Nile though!

[–] NwsHound 17 years ago

I remember seeing the "Whodunit Minute" during a New York City showing on "The 4:30 Movie" back in the early 1970s. They showed the "clock" intro, and then they cut to the commercial break. When the commercials ended and movie resumed, the tail-end of the "Whodunit Minute" was shown.

[–] ghostfan 17 years ago

I remember seeing this movie 3O YEARS ago (maybe early 70's) on a local station one afternoon. The who dunit minute was intact. I recently found the DVD and it was nice to see again, but I think I prefer the 1941 version. But I will definitely agree with most of the other posters here, Fabian was awful. It's really too bad we can't combine the actors from both of these versions into one movie... only problem is I like both of the Judges!

I also found it amusing that Stanley Holloway (Blore) and Wilfred Hyde-White) (the Judge) acted in this only a year after appearing in My Fair Lady as Pickering and Alfred Dolittle)

[–] Possessed-like-a-Fish 17 years ago

The Region 4 DVD has the Whodunnit Minute in it.

[–] profh-1 13 years ago

"I remember seeing the "Whodunit Minute" during a New York City showing on "The 4:30 Movie" back in the early 1970s. They showed the "clock" intro, and then they cut to the commercial break. When the commercials ended and movie resumed, the tail-end of the "Whodunit Minute" was shown."

Outrageous! The ELLERY QUEEN tv series in the 70's (with Jim Hutton) did the same thig every week, when he'd talk straight to the camera and ask the TV audience if they knew who the killer was.

Yes, the "Whodunit Break" does seem very William Castle-inspired. I laughed the wole time that sequence was going. I taped my copy of a local station, I think (a very bad print with lots of damage and bits of film missing here and there, clearly spliced back together several times and badly), and the "Whodunit Break" was there intact at the end.

"DO NOT BE SURPRISED BY THE NEXT THING YOU SEE!" "BLAM!"

I have to admit, in the midst of a comparitively "tacky" version of the story, the ending WAS much more suspenseful than the '45 version. I do think the "reveal" of the killer's identity in the '45 version was shot better, though. When the girl walks into the room, the killer is standing there, and his FACE is obscured by the handing lamp, stretching out the suspense a few extra seconds.

[–] Jimmy-128 13 years ago

Outrageous! The ELLERY QUEEN tv series in the 70's (with Jim Hutton) did the same thig every week, when he'd talk straight to the camera and ask the TV audience if they knew who the killer was.

Ah, Ellery Queen...my earliest "grown up" TV memory...

[–] geoffgibson1974 13 years ago

The Whodunnit minute was left in when it was broadcast on British TV. It must have been in the 1980's (I recorded it on video, and was just getting into Agatha Christie then). There were no adverts on my recording so assume it was BBC.

[–] mojo2004 12 years ago

I came here to post about the omission also. I remember seeing this at the movies so when I watched it on TCM this morning I was waiting for the Whodunnit minute to appear and it didn't! I thought I had confused this film with another for a minute!! (lol)

"It's like yelling at babies for not changing their own diapers!"

[–] profh-1 12 years ago

Speaking of William Castle (I have no doubt the "Whodunit Break" was inspired by his antics), last night I watched "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" again, and about halfway thru the film, it hit me just how many details from it apparently made their way into Castle's film "HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL".

You've got a mysterious house party with guests invited, none of whom know each other or the host. Almost as soon as they arrive, the handsome young guy hooks up with the gorgeous young woman. At one point, there's something left in her room that scares her out of her wits. Later still, the young man is conferring with the young woman in her room, and advises her to shoot anyone who comes in trying to kill her. And then you've got the bit about someone who FAKES their own death!!!

It seems clear to me Castle must have liked "AND THEN THERE WERE NONE" and wanted to do a similar story as a sort of tribute, only with enough changes to be "original", and more in line with a "haunted house" story than just a "murder mystery".

If so, it's fitting the 1965 version of "TEN LITTLE INDIANS" should borrow an idea from Castle. Full circle!

Now, I wonder, if Vincent Price had appeared in a version of "TEN LITTLE INDIANS", which part should he have played? (The Judge?)

[–] cep1961 10 years ago

OOO, Vincent Price! I like the way you think! That is spot on, since this movie was a touch camp.