The Westing Game (1997) (TV)

Director:

Terence H. Winkless

Writers:

Dylan Kelsey Hadley (writer)
Ellen Raskin (novel)

Release Date:

14 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Horror | Mystery

Plot:

The tenants of the Sunset Towers must compete to learn who killed an eccentric millionaire and win a $20 million inheritance.

Plot Keywords:

Family Relationships | Based On Novel

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Ray Walston	...	Sandy McSouthers
Ashley Peldon	...	Tabitha Ruth 'T.R. / Turtle / Alice' Wexler
Diane Ladd	...	Berthe Erica Crow
Sally Kirkland	...	Sydelle Pulaski
Cliff De Young	...	Jake Wexler
Sandy Faison	...	Grace Wexler
June Christopher	...	Judge J.J. Ford
Lewis Arquette	...	Otis Amber
Diane Nadeau	...	Angela Wexler
Billy Morrissette	...	Edgar Plum
Jim Lau	...	James Shin Hoo
Shane West	...	Chris Theodorakis
Ernest Liu	...	Doug Hoo
Wilson Davis	...	Bookle
Terence H. Winkless	...	Dr. Denton Deere

Also Known As:

Get a Clue (USA) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Hallmark Entertainment

Soundtrack:

America the Beautiful

We read the book then watched the movie

I am a teacher who read The Westing Game to his class. Then we watched the movie. I did not feel that the movie did the book justice, but here is what some of my students thought:

The movie was different from the book. Why did you leave out that Turtle won $200 million? Brittany.

I liked the movie, because some of the details in the movie were different, like when Turtle was under the judge's desk and Crow helped her. The book was better, but I wouldn't mind watching the movie again. Shanice

I think the book was better, but the movie was good too. I liked the movie, because it wasn't soooo confusing, and there wasn't much violence. Marisa

I liked the movie, because you can understand it. I liked it because Turtle was such a smart girl, and she helped solve the problems. I liked the boy in the wheelchair (Chris), because he helped solve problems too. I think that Turtle is a funny name. Sandra

I loved the movie, because they have good details and a great plot. Josh

I liked the movie, because most of the information matched the book. Stephen

I think that the book and the movie were both really good. Some parts were in the book and weren't in the movie, like the dressmaker (Flora Baumbach) wasn't Turtle's partner, and she wasn't even in the movie. The movie was more interesting than the book. Sibel

The movie was da bomb--just joking. It was good and so was the book. Turtle was the best part in the movie and the smartest one except for Sandy the doorman. Dakota

I liked the book, but I didn't like the movie as much. I hope they make another movie that is better than this one. I liked the movie because they left out some of the details that I thought were boring in the book. Tyler