Introduction
Welcome to my corner! This week, I’m sharing my thoughts on the film Clue. You thought I was done with Tim Curry movies? Nope! Sorry to burst your bubbles. You’ll never see the last of Tim Curry from me. Clue is a perfect annual spooky season watch. Enjoy!
Clue
Clue is a 1985 American comedy mystery film directed and written by Jonathan Lynn, who developed the story with John Landis. Based on the board game Cluedo (also known as Clue), the film stars Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull and Lesley Ann Warren. Set in 1954, the plot follows six strangers who gather at a secluded mansion where a series of murders unfolds, forcing the group to determine the identity of the killer among them.
Released on December 13, 1985, Clue featured an unusual theatrical presentation, with each screening depicting one of three different endings, revealing an alternative solution to the plot’s mystery. Clue received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $14.6 million against a $15 million budget. Over time, the film developed a cult following and an improved critical reception based on the ensemble cast performances. This bolstered reputation inspired the live adaptation Clue: On Stage as well as anniversary theatrical re-releases.
Plot: Six blackmail victims are invited to an isolated mansion by a man who knows a dark secret from each of their pasts. On arrival, each is given a pseudonym drawn from Cluedo before being introduced to the blackmailer. Each is handed a weapon, as which point the lights are switched off and the blackmailer is killed. Can the guests uncover the murderer before they all become victims?
Acting: My favorite title is Clue for the following actors, if not stated otherwise.
Eileen Brennan played Mrs. Peacock, the wife of a U.S. senator who has been accepting bribes from foreign powers. Her four most notable titles are Murder by Death, Private Benjamin, Clue, and Jeepers Creepers.
Tim Curry played Wadsworth, a butler forced to work for Mr. Boddy. Do I have to tell you how much I love Tim Curry again? His four most notable titles include… I can’t pick a favorite Tim Curry title. It’s impossible for me.
Madeline Kahn played Mrs. White, the widow of a nuclear physicist and four previous men, all of whom died under suspicious circumstances. Her four most notable titles are Paper Moon, What’s Up Doc?, Young Frankenstein and Clue. Young Frankenstein is a close second favorite.
Christopher Lloyd played Professor Plum, a disgraced former psychiatrist who now works for the World Health Organization after losing his medical license for having an affair with one of his patients. His four most notable titles currently include Back to the Future, The Addams Family, The Addams Family Values, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. I enjoy a lot of Christopher Lloyd titles, so it’s hard to choose a favorite. Cyberchase is a childhood favorite cartoon series. I watched nearly every episode after school in my youth.
Michael McKean played Mr. Green, a closeted, homosexual State Department employee. His four most notable titles currently are This is Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, Clue, and the Better Call Saul television series. He’s been featured in as many titles as Christopher Lloyd! It’s not my favorite Rankin/Bass Christmas special, but he did voice Snow Miser in The Year Without a Santa Claus, which I didn’t know until now.
Martin Mull played Colonel Mustard, an army officer guilt of war profiteering during World War II who later became involved in a top secret fusion bomb project. His four most notable titles include Jingle All the Way, Mr. Mom, Clue, and the Roseanne television series. His role on Roseanne is probably my second favorite.
Lesley Ann Warren played Miss Scarlet, a sassy Washington, D.C. madam who runs an underground brothel. Her four most notable titles currently are Victor/Victoria, Cinderella (1965 T.V. movie), Clue and the Desperate Housewives television series. I’ve never liked her as an actress, especially in Victor/Victoria.
Colleen Camp played Yvette, a voluptuous young French maid who formerly worked played a call girl for Miss Scarlet, during which she had Colonel Mustard played a client and pursued an affair with one of Mrs. White’s late husbands. Her four most notable titles currently include Silver, Trapped, Clue and Die Hard with a Vengeance.
Minor roles were played by Lee Ving as Mr. Boddy, a man who has been blackmailing the six guests; Bill Henderson as The Cop, a police officer whom Miss Scarlet had been bribing; Jane Wiedlin as The Singing Telegram Girl, a former patient of Professor Plum, with whom she had an affair; Jeffrey Kramer as The Motorist, Colonel Mustard’s driver during World War II; Kellye Nakahara as The Cook, Mr. Boddy’s cook who used to work for Mrs. Peacock; Howard Hesseman makes an uncredited appearance as the Chief of Police.
Background information: The Oct. 23, 1980 Hollywood Reporter (HR) announced that producer Debra Hill had purchased screen rights to the popular Parker Brothers board game, “Clue,” with plans to turn it into a feature film. The game was based on the 1942 British board game, “Cluedo,” and was license by Parker Brothers in 1949, as reported in the May 22, 1985 Lost Angeles Daily News (LADN).
Parker Brothers conditions for the sale stipulated that the trademark symbol be included in the film’s title, according to the May 20, 1985 LAHEexam, and that the movie would be devoid of profanities, as stated in the Aug. 24, 1985 Screen International.
Turning the board game into a screenplay posed challenges for Hill, who reported in the Feb. 5, 1985 New York Times (NYT) that most writers were opposed to the restriction of working with pre-existing characters. According to the Aug. 25, 1985 NYT, Hill approached dozens of screenwriters before John Landis, who was set to direct at the time, and executive producer, Peter Guber, found British writer, Jonathan Lynn. Due to the strength of his screenplay, Lynn was hired to direct his first feature film and Landis’s role switched from director to executive producer.
The $8 million picture would begin shooting May 1985 on the Paramount Studio Lot in Los Angeles, Calif., as noted in a Feb. 13 1985 Variety (Var) news item.
According to the Apr. 25, 1985 Daily Variety (DV), actress Carrie Fisher was cast in the picture, but dropped out a few weeks later, as announced in the May 14, 1985 LAHExam, when she checked into a drug dependency recovery program. Lesley Ann Warren, who was originally cast as Mrs. White,” was moved into Fisher’s role of “Miss Scarlet,” and Madeline Kahn was hired to play “Mrs. White.” According to the Aug. 25 1985 NYT, the actors received equal pay, as was negotiated in their contracts.
The Jun. 19, 1985 Los Angeles Times (LAT) stated the script for Clue included four different endings to keep the mystery alive for the cast, and to prevent the identity of the film’s killer being leaked to the public. With an expected Christmas 1985 release, rumors persisted that the picture would have four and six different finales, with exhibitors planning to rotate the versions. However, Hill claimed intentions of filming only one ending. According to the Aug. 25, 1985 NYT, writer-director Lynn stated he would decided on the ending during the editing process, with the possibility of releasing various versions to theaters. The Aug. 24 1985 Screen International reported the budget had increased to $10 million.
Clue was released Dec. 13, 1985 on 1,000 screens “with three different endings” for theatres, while the home video versions would reportedly include each of the endings, as stated in a Dec. 4, 1985 DV news item.
According to the Dec. 31, 1985 DV, Paramount was planning to change its approach midway through the film’s domestic release, showing all three endings at every theater engagement.
Final Thoughts: Clue is a wonderfully comedic movie, perfect for Halloween watching. The writers(s) of this movie were geniuses. Who knew a movie about murder could be so hilariously funny? Despite it being a box-office bomb at the time of its release, it has become a cult classic. If you haven’t seen it yet, please go watch it for spooky season.
My favorite scene was near the end where Wadsworth is running around the house trying to explain how certain characters were murdered while also quickly reenacting what had happened.
My favorite quote is “Men should be like Kleenex, soft, strong and disposable.” —Mrs. White
Rated: PG
Where to watch it: According to Google, Clue is currently available on PlutoTV for free. You can also purchase or rent a digital copy for a few dollars. I’ve also donated a DVD copy of the film to the Emil M. Larson Public Library in Clark for you all to enjoy if you choose to.
