Clue (1985)

Six guests are anonymously invited to a strange mansion for dinner, but after their host is killed, they must cooperate with the staff to identify the murderer as the bodies pile up.

Director:

Jonathan Lynn

Writers:

John Landis (story), Jonathan Lynn (story)

Stars:

Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eileen Brennan	...	Mrs. Peacock
Tim Curry	...	Wadsworth
Madeline Kahn	...	Mrs. White
Christopher Lloyd	...	Professor Plum
Michael McKean	...	Mr. Green
Martin Mull	...	Colonel Mustard
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Miss Scarlet
Colleen Camp	...	Yvette
Lee Ving	...	Mr. Boddy
Bill Henderson	...	The Cop
Jane Wiedlin	...	The Singing Telegram Girl
Jeffrey Kramer	...	The Motorist
Kellye Nakahara	...	The Cook
Will Nye	...	Cop #1
Rick Goldman	...	Cop #2

Storyline

This is a movie about seven guests, a butler, and a maid, who are all involved in a series of murders. The guests all meet at Hill House, where you learn that Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd) works in Washington, D.C., where everyone else lives. Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull) is a client of Miss Scarlet (Lesley Anne Warren), who is the ex-employer of Yvette (Colleen Camp), the maid, who had an affair with the husband of Mrs. White (Madeline Khan), et cetera. Blackmailer Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving) gives each guest a weapon and tells him or her to kill butler Wadsworth (Tim Curry) to avoid being exposed. Add in Mrs. Peacock's (Eileen Brennan's) craziness and Mr. Green's (Michael McKean's) clumsiness, and meet a whole group tangled in a web of murder, lies, and hilarity.

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Plot Keywords:

whodunit | based on board game | mystery killer | multiple endings | dog | 

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Taglines:

The movie that makes a scene of the crime.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

There are a few departures from the original board game. In the movie, the hall has been transformed into part of the playing board, and has been replaced by the front doors. This was probably done so that the rooms didn't have to stand alone.

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Goofs

When the singing telegram girl is shot dead, her body motions as if she had passed out rather than fling backwards like someone normally would when shot dead.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Wadsworth: Is everything ready?
Yvette: Oui, Monsieur.
Wadsworth: You have your, um, instructions.

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Crazy Credits

The end credits begin with "Clue" game cards that are flipped over to reveal pictures of the main characters and the names of the actors that played them.

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Alternate Versions

There was a fourth ending shot, but subsequently dropped from the film due to the fact that director Lynn did not like or approve of it. Shots of this ending are included in the movie storybook. It had Wadsworth as the solo killer of the bunch, explaining that he killed everyone out of the need for perfection in the world, that all of life's consistencies were not good enough, and further tells the six 'victims' that he has poisoned the champagne he served and unless they find an antidote in three hours, they'll die. Police show up soon enough and trap Wadsworth, but not for long. He gets away from the chief and leaves, locking all the people in the mansion. But as he steals a police car, he notices a 'smell' (the dog dropping smell from the beginning of the film) and realizes the Doberman from earlier is now in the police car, and it lunges for him. The police car crashes, and Wadsworth is dead. This implies that the others got out okay now that the windows were not guarded by the Doberman any longer.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Butlers from TV and Film (2014)

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Soundtracks

For She's a Jolly Good Fellow
(uncredited)
Performed by Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean,
Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren

User Reviews

Lovely little murder mystery comedy!

Films based on videogames are commonplace nowadays, but one thing I've never seen before is a film based on a board game! Clue is a murder mystery that takes its ideas from the popular game of Cluedo. I cant say I'm a fan of that board game (although I sometimes play it on the quiz machine in pub), but I am a fan of murder mystery - and while this film is more of a joke than anything, it generally plays it's cards right and what we have here is a very entertaining little flick, that really does deserve your time! The film shows it's experimental edge by having three endings (which can be played at random on the DVD), and throughout we are treated to a film that has it's audience in mind. Tim Curry is the big name on the cast list, and he plays butler Wadsworth. He's in charge of a house whose master has invited six guests to his home. Naturally, those guests are given the names of the people in Cluedo, and include the likes of Colonel Mustard, Mrs White and Miss Scarlet etc. We are then treated to a night of mystery, as we try to uncover who murdered the host...and why!

One criticism I could easily make of this film is that it doesn't really have a lot of plot. The mystery is very shallow, and is over very quickly. This is only a shame because of the fact that I would have liked to see this go on for longer, however, as the energy that the cast brings to the table is priceless, and really makes for a good time viewing. Tim Curry takes the lead role, and does what he does best. Curry is famous for campy performances in camp films like this, and his role as Wadsworth really does his reputation proud! The film does a very good job of keeping itself wide open, and by the end it really could have been any of the characters behind the murder. This is good because it allows writer-director Jonathon Lynn complete freedom over who committed the murder; but it harms the film, as the audience doesn't really get enough info to have a stab at it themselves. The style of the film suits the mood very well, with old-fashioned clothes and decor giving it that classic mystery feel. Now don't get me wrong; this isn't exactly a great film, but it's a lot of fun and I can't see why anyone wouldn't enjoy it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

13 December 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Clue: The Movie

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,014,166, 15 December 1985

Gross USA:

$14,643,997

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,643,997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, The Guber-Peters Company, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1