Clue is a 1985 U.S comedy film based on the boardgame Clue (a.k.a. Cluedo). The film uses the characters and murder mystery premise of the boardgame as the basis for a quickfire farce.
A failure at the box office, Clue found new life on home video and has become what is known as a cult film. This is particularly notable as Tim Curry, who starred as the butler, was also in another famous cult film: the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The movie is unusual in that it was made with three different endings, labeled A through C. The alternate endings played at different cinemass during its theatrical release. Critics hailed "Ending B" as the favorite and, therefore, this was the most popular ending in theaters. The consumer home video version includes all three endings, with silent film-style title cards interspersed between.
Though based on the Clue premise and featuring the game's characters and mansion, the film took several liberties. Writers Landis and Lynn added more characters (a butler, a cook) and added a maid separate from Mrs. White, who was pictured as a maid in the board games but in the film was the widow of a nuclear scientist. Also, the mansion's geography was changed, and three floors were added. Finally, the film was set in 1946 New England, while the actual board game was British originally.
Directed by Jonathan Lynn, written by John Landis and Jonathan Lynn. Featuring:
- Tim Curry (Wadsworth, the butler)
- Martin Mull (Colonel Mustard)
- Christopher Lloyd (Professor Plum)
- Michael McKean (Mr. Green)
- Lesley Ann Warren (Miss Scarlet)
- Eileen Brennan (Mrs. Peacock)
- Madeline Kahn (Mrs. White)
- Colleen Camp (Yvette, the maid)
- Lee Ving (Mr. Boddy)
- Howard Hesseman (The FBI Chief)
