We are quickly creeping into fall with school having started, Halloween parties underway, and football season here. This means it is time to revisit one of my all time favorite movies that is perfect for this time of year, Clue the Movie. The1985 comedy film is set in 1954 New England and definitely feels like it is set in the fall. If you haven’t yet seen Clue, which is based on the classic board game from Parker Brothers, now owned by Hasbro, you need to get on it!
Clue is a mystery wrapped in comedy and stars some great comedic actors like Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Tim Curry, Martin Mull, Michael McKean, Eileen Brennan, and Lesley Ann Warren. Like the game, you have the color themed names for characters including Mrs. White, Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, and Miss Scarlet. You also have Tim Curry as the seventh lead, Wadsworth, along with a supporting cast of characters and household staff: Mrs. Ho the cook, Yvette the maid, Mr. Boddy, the cop, the motorist, the singing telegram girl, and a few others which I won’t revel for fear of spoiling the plot of a 30+ year old movie.
While set in a somewhat creepy mansion on of course a dark and stormy night, the movie is definitely more comedy than scary. There are the rooms featured in the game, like the conservatory and such, but with others not mentioned in the game to flesh out the setting since 99% of the movie takes place entirely inside the mansion, Hill House. Rated PG for some very mild violence, a little bit of language, and some sexual innuendos. I would say ages 10 and up should be fine for this, but definitely use your own discretion and do some homework before you let your kids watch.
There are a ton of memorable lines, which make Clue great. The smart script will have most laughing throughout much of the film despite the somewhat dark subject of multiple murders. The soundtrack is fantastic, if you can track it down. I quote this movie probably more often than most due to the dozens of times I’ve watched it since I was introduced to it at my friend Rachel’s birthday party in sixth grade. Miss Scarlet is my favorite character, played by Lesley Ann Warren, and is the most sarcastic and quippy of the bunch, in my opinion. I had the pleasure of meeting the fabulous Ms. Warren at Disney’s D23 Expo last summer in Anaheim. She was so gracious in taking several minutes speaking with me about the film and said it was as much fun to make as it looks like it would be.
Clue the movie is one of those movies that I will watch any time it is on tv. I have the dvd and soundtrack, and plan on upgrading to the blu ray soon. It is a fun romp with scary dobermans, rainy and windy weather with appropriate splashes of thunder and lightning for accents, murder (what do you mean, murder?), and screams. If you’re looking for something to set the fall mood as we get closer to Halloween, I cannot recommend Clue enough. And remember, 1+1+2+1 does not equal 1+2+2+1. Flames, on the side of my face. Okay, I’ll stop now.
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