Clue

"He couldn't have been dead."
"He was. At least I thought he was, but what difference does it make now?"
"Makes quite a difference to him."

On a dark and stormy evening, a group of six strangers travel to a secluded mansion. Each have been invited by an anonymous person and given a unique moniker (like in the game).

Colonel Mustard (Mull) is a an retired colonel with a temper.
Mrs. White (Kahn) is a widow with a secret.
Mr. Green (McKean) works for the State Department and is clumsy / awkward.
Mrs. Peacock (Brennan) is the wife of a senator who over-shares and screams a lot.
Professor Plum (Lloyd) is a former psychiatrist who is also a womanizer.
Miss Scarlet (Warren) is a madam and extremely blunt.

After all the guest arrive, Wadsworth (Curry) the butler, explains why they are all present: they are all being blackmailed. They were brought together to expose the blackmailer, Mr. Body (Ving), and send him to jail... which would also expose their secrets. After dinner, Mr. Body gives each guest a deadly weapon (from the game) to kill Wadsworth and keep their secrets. Unfortunately, when the lights go out someone kills Mr. Body... as the evening wears on, it is up to the guests, Wadsworth, and Yvette (Camp), the maid, to identify the murderer before the cops arrive or the death count rises.


The first, as far as I know, film based on a board game, Clue / Cluedo. Like Murder by Death, this film features big names in comedy. The cast looks they are having a blast, especially Lesley Ann Warren as Miss Scarlet and Tim Curry as Wadsworth.

The characters repeatedly run across the screen, making every second count, as they try to find the murderer... the film starts slow, with the staff preparing for the evening and the guests arriving. But after dinner, the story picks up.

To mimic the feel of the game, besides having all the same characters and weapons and rooms, the filmmakers shot three endings. When the film was initially released, one ending was shown at each theatre. To get the full effect, you needed to see the film at multiple theatres (which was a great money making scheme). While I appreciate the three endings (which can all be seen on the DVD), I wish there were 7 endings to have the full range of options. Overall a fun (if that's possible) murder mystery.


*This film is often compared to the 1976 film "Murder by Death." To read a review specifically comparing these films, go to http://www.fernbyfilms.com/2009/07/20/movie-review-murder-by-death-vs-clue/

Clue (1985) 94 minutes
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Starring: Eileen Brennan as Mrs. Peacock
Tim Curry as Wadsworth
Madeline Kahn as Mrs. White
Christopher Lloyd as Professor Plum
Michael McKean as Mr. Green
Martin Mull as Colonel Mustard
Lesley Ann Warren as Miss Scarlet
Colleen Camp as Yvette
Lee Ving as Mr. Body