Clue at 40: Beyond the Comedy, a Cold War Mirror
Four decades after its release, the cult classic Clue continues to resonate, revealing a surprisingly sharp commentary on 1980s anxieties and a forgotten chapter of American history.
This month marks the 40th anniversary of Clue, a film boasting an exceptional ensemble cast including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, Christopher Lloyd, and Lesley Ann Warren. Famously, the filmmakers produced multiple endings, mirroring the Parker Brothers board game that inspired it. Each conclusion unveiled a different perpetrator, leaving 1985 moviegoers uncertain of the resolution they would witness.
What audiences discovered wasn’t a traditional whodunit in the vein of Agatha Christie, filled with carefully placed clues and red herrings. Instead, Clue was a riotous screwball comedy, fueled by a brilliantly subversive script penned by John Landis (National Lampoon’s Animal House, 1978) and Jonathan Lynn (Yes Minister, 1980-84).
Despite an initial lukewarm reception at the box office, Clue found enduring popularity through VHS and cable television. Home viewers, able to experience all three endings – including the “definitive” version – embraced the film as the comedic masterpiece it was always intended to be.
A Satirical Reflection of the Reagan Era
But Clue offers more than just laughs. Set in a New England mansion in 1954, the film subtly reflects the anxieties of the late Cold War era as experienced in the 1980s. Through its sharp humor and satirical lens, Clue became a pop culture reflection of Reagan-era American politics and societal norms, prompting a reevaluation of the 1950s and exposing the era’s burgeoning conservatism.
From Board Game to Social Commentary
The 1985 film draws its origins from the board game that captivated players in the 1950s. Inspired by the popular murder mystery novels of the 1930s and 40s, British inventor Anthony E. Pratt conceived the idea for a game that transformed players into detectives. Much of his work occurred between 1943 and 1945 while he was under house arrest during World War II air raids. By 1947, he patented and marketed the game as Clue (or Cluedo in the United Kingdom). By 1950, U.S. advertisements touted the game as “stimulating for grownups” and “instructive for children,” claiming it fostered “reasoning and deductive thinking.”
Blackmail and Hidden Agendas
Decades later, the filmmakers infused the game’s characters with a Cold War sensibility. The plot revolves around a group of individuals bearing color-coded aliases – Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, and others – all concealing illicit activities or compromising secrets. Audiences learn that Mrs. Peacock is a senator’s wife accepting bribes, and Miss Scarlet operates a Washington, D.C. brothel catering to influential clientele.
The Lavender Scare and Mr. Green’s Secret
The character of Mr. Green, in particular, resonates with a largely overlooked aspect of the early Cold War: the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals within the federal government. He reveals he is “a homosexual” employed by the State Department. Mr. Green explains to his fellow blackmailed individuals that he feels “no personal shame or guilt,” but must conceal his sexual orientation to avoid losing his job “on security grounds.”
This fictional storyline mirrored a disturbing historical reality. Beginning in the early Cold War, the federal government implemented policies associating LGBTQ+ individuals with national security risks. President Harry Truman’s “loyalty program” in 1947 and President Dwight Eisenhower’s Executive Order 10450 in 1953 prohibited individuals engaging in “immoral” behavior, including homosexuality, from holding federal positions. From 1947 to 1950 alone, at least 1,700 people were denied federal employment based on suspected homosexuality.
Politicians, media outlets, and other influential figures propagated the unfounded narrative that LGBTQ+ individuals posed a threat to national security. The rationale was that their sexuality could be exploited by foreign agents or communists for blackmail purposes, granting access to classified information.
Ironically, in one of the film’s endings, Mr. Green is revealed to be an undercover FBI agent working for J. Edgar Hoover, quipping, “I’m going to go home and sleep with my wife” – a darkly humorous jab at the absurdity of the situation.
A Changing Landscape in 1985
The film’s release in 1985 coincided with significant shifts in politics and historical scholarship. The U.S. Civil Service Commission had ended its ban on employing LGBTQ+ individuals in 1975. Simultaneously, the nascent field of “Gay and Lesbian History” began to formalize the study of this previously marginalized history. In 1983, John D’Emilio published Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities, a groundbreaking work that illuminated the historical context of Mr. Green’s character. (Nearly two decades later, in 2004, this history became widely known as the “lavender scare,” following the publication of David K. Johnson’s influential book of the same name: The Lavender Scare).
Beyond the historical parallels, Clue also offered commentary on the filmmakers’ present. The depiction of a law enforcement officer disguised as an evangelist warning of “souls in danger” catching the murderer resonated with the growing influence of the conservative Christian political movement, including the Moral Majority (founded in 1979). The film challenges audiences to question who truly embodies the story’s moral center.
Furthermore, the film’s release occurred as LGBTQ+ activists intensified their protests and demands for government action in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which emerged in 1981. Similar to the lavender scare, the New Right scapegoated LGBTQ+ individuals for the AIDS crisis and a perceived moral decline.
As we revisit Clue today, amidst a resurgence of McCarthy-era anxieties, a new generation may find fresh meaning and inspiration in its comedic brilliance. It serves as a reminder that history is often embedded within our entertainment – streaming content, music, advertising, and social media – and that pop culture deserves the respect of historical analysis. What other seemingly lighthearted works of art might hold hidden historical truths?
Do you think Clue’s satire remains relevant in today’s political climate? And how does the film’s portrayal of societal anxieties compare to those we face now?
Frequently Asked Questions About Clue
What is the significance of the multiple endings in Clue?
The multiple endings in Clue directly mirror the gameplay of the board game, where players deduce the murderer, weapon, and room. They also allow the film to satirize the conventions of the whodunit genre.
How does Clue address the “lavender scare” of the 1950s?
The character of Mr. Green’s storyline directly reflects the historical persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals during the Cold War, when they were falsely accused of being national security risks.
Who wrote the screenplay for the movie Clue?
The screenplay for Clue was written by John Landis and Jonathan Lynn, building upon the premise of the Parker Brothers board game.
Why did Clue initially flop at the box office?
Clue’s unconventional comedic style and lack of a traditional whodunit structure likely contributed to its initial box office failure. It found its audience later through home video and cable television.
What is the connection between Clue and the Cold War?
The film uses the setting and characters to subtly critique the anxieties and prejudices of the Cold War era, particularly the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals and the rise of conservatism.
Julio Capó, Jr. is a professor of history and public humanities at Florida International University and is currently writing a new book on Florida’s decades-old role in shaping our democracy.
Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.
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