Whodunit: Audience to solve mystery during “Clue” screening at State Theatre
Was it Mrs. White with the candlestick in the hall? Or was it Professor Plum with the rope in the library?
You will have to see the film “Clue” presented 2 and 7 p.m. March 10 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown to find out.
Shown as part of the theater’s classic film series, “Clue” is a zany, madcap comedy that brings the characters of the famous Parker Brother’s board game to life on the silver screen.
The film opens on a dark and stormy night when Mrs. Peacock (Elieen Brennan, “The Sting” and “Murder by Death”), Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn, “Young Frankenstein” and “Blazing Saddles”), Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd, “Back to the Future” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit), Mr. Green (Michael McKean, “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” and “This is Spinal Tap”), Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull, “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Roseanne”) and Miss Scarlet (Lesley Ann Warren, “Blunt Talk” and “Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce”) are gathered by the butler Wadsworth (Tim Curry, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “IT”) to confront Mr. Body (Lee Ving, “Flashdance” and “Streets of Fire”) who had been blackmailing all of them.
Murder and hilarity ensue as visitors keep dropping like flies while everyone tries to find the culprit before it is too late.
The film is unique because it features three different endings that were originally played at different theaters. However, on home video release, all three endings were included with a panel at the end stating this is how it really happened.”
While the film has been favorable with audiences of the film, it has an 86 percent fresh rating on RottenTomatoes.com, critics have been less favorable.
“The cast looks promising (familiar faces include Martin Mull, Leslie Ann Warren, Madeline Kahn and the wonderfully bouncy Colleen Camp), but the screenplay is so very, very thin that they spend most of their time looking frustrated, as if they’d just been cut off right before they were about to say something interesting,” wrote film critic Roger Ebert in his original 1985 review of the film when it hit theaters.
Alex Roy, an audience reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes wrote, “This film based on the popular board game is actually a surprising treat. Although not perfect, this is a well acted movie with an entertaining story. ‘Clue’ has an impressive cast of talented actors. The film is entertaining from start to finish, but at times, you can clearly see where the filmmakers seemed to rush the ideas.”
“Clue” is part of the classic film series that is supported by the Herald-Standard Be Local program and sponsored by 84 Lumber, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa and the Hardy and Magerko families, along with the State Theatre, to create an event around each of the two viewings of the monthly movie.
Admission to the film is $5 for adults and $3 for seniors, students and children.
Coming soon
The 2016-17 Classic Film Series will also include: “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (April 7); “A Hard Day’s Night” (May 12); “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House” (June 23); “Ghostbusters” (July 21) and “Taxi Driver” (Aug. 18).