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matthewb03 remembers...
clue was really a cool movie because the they had three endings how cool was that. the movie was a lot ...  More »
Posted on 09/15/08

CATCH PHRASE:

It's not just a game anymore.

Release History:

1985 - Clue

While the title of  "world's first movie adapted from a board game" may sound dubious to some, to those familiar with the game Clue, it is a sure-fire recipe for success. Borrowing from the game's whodunit nature, the film brought together a cast of all-star comedians to give life to the erstwhile pawns. The film marked the directorial debut of Jonathan Lynn, who also cowrote the film with Blues Brothers' writer and director John Landis. Lynn would later go on to direct such comedies as My Cousin Vinny and The Whole Nine Yards while Landis would helm Spies Like Us, Three Amigos, and Coming to America.

Six guests are invited to dinner at the foreboding Hill House one dark and stormy night: crabby socialite Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan), career widow Mrs. White (Madeleine Kahn), malpracticing U.N. psychologist Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd), homosexual government lackey Mr. Green (Michael McKean), dopey philanderer Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull), and kinky brothel madame Miss Scarlet (Lesley Ann Warren). As they begin to socialize, they all quickly learn that they are being blackmailed by their host, Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving).

But when the lights go out, Mr. Boddy winds up dead, and from there it follows the characters on a hilarious farce through the hall, kitchen, library, conservatory, study, billiard room, dining room, ballroom, and lounge to try to find out who did it. Leading the investigation is Mr. Boddy's savvy butler Wadsworth (Tim Curry), who navigates them through the evening even as more bodies begin to pile up.

The producers filmed three endings to the film and showed each one at random theaters. In the video and DVD releases, all three endings were included. Plans were made for endings pointing the finger at each character, but the time and expense prevented the execution. The film would fail at the box office, but it has since gathered a substantial cult following. And despite what anyone else may say, no other board game can boast that it inspired a comedy classic.