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Title: Clue: The Movie
Region: One
Genre: Comedy/Mystery
Stars: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren
Writers: Jonathan Lynn
Based On A Story By: John Landis and Jonathan Lynn
Based On The Parker Brothers' Board Game "Clue"
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Feature length: 96 minutes
Extras: Three Different Surprise Endings, Theatrical Trailer
Languages: English and French Mono
Subtitles: English Captions
Packaging: Keep case
Chapter Stops: 15
Sound: Mono
Year of Theatrical Release: 1985/DVD Release: 2000
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Home Video Distributor: Paramount Home Video
MPAA Rating: PG
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
1954, seven people are invited under pseudonyms and under mysterious circumstances to the spooky "Hill House." However, the invites are no coincidences. Each person, including the butler, is all there because of blackmail. Upon confrontation, the blackmailer is murdered along with the cook and other successive visitors to boot. Soon accusations fly as each character proclaims their innocence while trying to keep themselves alive. With an excellent comedic cast that includes the multitalented Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, Michael McKean, and Madeline Kahn, "Clue: The Movie" has several distinguishing features that make it rather interesting for the time it was made in hindsight. First is the obvious fact that this studio film is based on the popular board game of the same name years before several terrible films based on video games were produced during the 1990s. In addition to the screen talent involved, several behind the scenes names involved with the production of the film are quite recognizable. Among them are noted John Carpenter Producer and collaborator Debra Hill, noted comedy and horror Director, John Landis, and the production team of Jon Peters and Peter Gruber who would later bring such box office hits as "Top Gun."
The film itself has a 1980s feel to it that lends itself to a certain sense of nostalgia without being overly dated. Paramount's DVD Edition features a widescreen 1.85:1 transfer enhanced for 16 by 9 televisions. The picture looks very good with little to no visible grain at all. The Soundtracks included are the English and French Mono Tracks with English Captions as an option. The Mono Soundtrack is very clear and fed through two speaker channels.
"Clue: The Movie" includes the three different surprise endings that also made this film noteworthy in theaters. The film can be viewed on DVD with one of the three alternate endings chosen for the viewer randomly or one can watch the film with the three surprise endings successively after the body of the picture. (No pun intended.)
The theatrical trailer is included as well on this fun DVD from Paramount Home Video. "Clue: The Movie" streets on Tuesday, June 27, 2000 and is definitely worth a look.
© Copyright 2000 By Mark A. Rivera