CLUE

US, 1985, 97 minutes, Colour.
Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Madeleine Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, Michael Mc Kean, Lesley Ann Warren, Colleen Camp.
Directed by Jonathan Lynn.

Clue is an amusing film of the board game Cluedo. The film takes the characters from the game, treats them as caricatures with the actors and actresses enjoying themselves mugging with great energy. The situations are contrived, reminiscent of all the popular detective stories. The setting is the traditional old dark house on a stormy night with various secret passages. The visitors (like Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians) all have a secret and have been invited to a meal. As the proceedings go on, various minor characters are killed. Finally the butler gives an explanation (to be followed by another hypothesis and finally by a comprehensive solution). In the United States the film was released in some cinemas with each of the alternative endings as the sole ending.

The film was written and directed by Jonathan Lynn, author of the successful British television series Yes, Minister. The cast is adept at this kind of mugging comedy, especially the ladies. Tim Curry has plenty of energy also as the butler who has to retrace the steps of the crimes - running through the house.

This might not be the sophisticate's entertainment puzzle, it is engaging.

1. On its level of comic elements, an enjoyable film, a cinema game?

2. The popularity of the game? Its style, characters, their characteristics, the giving of clues, possibilities, solutions? Transferring of a game to the cinema and the techniques needed?

3. A sense of period, the mid-1950s? Styles: Senator McCarthy's investigations on television, the music of 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' for the conclusion?

4. The use of the old dark house, the secret passages, the range of rooms? The dark night, the roads, cars out of petrol, lifts, thunder and lightning etc.?

5. The game framework of the screenplay: the butler and his returning home, the arrival of the guests, the butler meeting them, the puzzle about each, the meal, the confrontation with Mr Boddy, his death, the successive deaths, the two-by-two search of the house, the visitors and their deaths, the three solutions? Artificial - and the audience accepting the artificiality for the entertainment of the solution of the puzzle?

6. The range of characters, the caricatures from the games, the expected stereotypes? The cast and their comic abilities, enjoying themselves exaggerating the stereotypes? Audience responding to the stereotypes?

7. The range of motives and possibilities? The plausibility of the solution with Miss Scarlett being the killer? The sojourn with Mrs Peacock? The solution with all responsible? The irony of Mr Green's character? The FBI coming in in each solution? The final revelation that the butler was Mr…

8. The comic style: farce, one-liners, jokes?

9. The butler as A Butler, his arrival home, the dog, the welcoming of the guests, his control of the situation, his explanation of the situation and the character, his relationship with Mr Boddy, the documents and the messages, organising the search, participation in the search, his treatment of the characters, the explanation, the irony of the solution and his death?

10. Mr Green and his work in Washington, his working for the government, the declaration of his homosexuality, his being accident-prone? His involvement in the search, the final revelation and his being the FBI agent, going home to his wife?

11. Professor Plum, the academic background, research, the blackmail and the sexuality? his participation in the search, the solution?

12. Colonel Mustard and his Washington background, secrets, his liaison with the prostitutes, the revelation of his black market war deals? hypocrisies?

13. Mrs White as the black widow, her snobbery, edginess, the story of the deaths of her husband, participation in the search?

14. Mrs Peacock and her gaudy clothes and glasses, her place in society, the wife of the senator, snobbery, the importance of money, her taking money kickbacks as a lobbyist?

15. Miss Scarlett as the vamp, her directness, her participation in the search, her contacts with the other members of the group, possible killer?

16. Yvette and her French background, sexy style, helping domestically, participating in the investigations, listening in, a spy for Mr Boddy?

17. Mr Boddy and his rough style, blackmail situation, his arrival, confrontation, death?

18. The cook, the abandoned driver, the policeman and the singing telegram? Comic touches, their reaction to the people in the house? The ironies of their connections with the various guests?

19. A humorous exercise in cleverness and fun?