Where Was Clue Filmed? A Brilliant Whodunnit!

You must have seen several mystery thriller films, but if you’ve watched Clue (1985), you’ve certainly seen an underrated gem. The black comedy mystery thriller film follows a group of six people whom Mr Boddy invites to a big mansion for dinner and a game of Cluedo. Things take a different turn when Mr Boddy mysteriously gets killed by one of the guests. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was Clue filmed.

Clue can be considered as a brilliant whodunnit. But, let me tell you, whodunits are extremely difficult to make because if a director is not experienced enough or not very good at his job, then it’s pretty tricky to pull off a successful whodunnit. Having said that, I must admit that Jonathan Lynn has indeed pulled it off amazingly. Some of the greatest whodunnits are directed by Roman Polanski, David Fincher, Jonathan Demme, and John Huston.

The black comedy mystery thriller film features a number of veteran actors like Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren. The cast of the movie couldn’t be better. If you’ve seen the movie, then you know that each actor has showcased an extraordinary performance throughout the film.

Now let me clear your doubt regarding where was Clue filmed; the black comedy mystery thriller movie was filmed in California, United States of America.

From director and screenwriter Jonathan Lynn, Clue was released in the United States on 13th December 1985, followed by its release in the United Kingdom on 9th May 1986. The black comedy mystery thriller flick was made available on digital platforms on 1 August 2013. However, it’s time to look closely at the movie’s filming locations.

Where Was Clue Filmed? Clue Filming Locations!

The nature and concept of the famous board game Cluedo inspired Jonathan Lynn’s Clue. The board game was designed by Anthony E Pratt in 1943. The black comedy mystery thriller film back then did not do very well commercially and was a box office bomb, as it only earned $14.6 million against a budget of $15 million. But eventually, over the years, the film became a cult classic. 

The most exciting aspect of Clue is that it showcases three different endings. The movie received mixed reviews from critics, mostly positive. Some critics praised Lynn’s direction, but most felt the screenplay could have been much better. The black comedy mystery thriller Film received an audience score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and a rating of 7.2 on IMDb. However, let’s move on and check out where was Clue filmed.

California, United States Of America:

The production team shot the entire black comedy mystery thriller film in California, specifically in South Pasadena and Los Angeles. As you know, most of the movie takes place inside a mansion. But in reality, all the mansion scenes were filmed on a built-in set. 

The exterior shots of Mr Boddy’s Hill House were taken at 160 S San Rafael Street, South Pasadena, California. The actual name of that mansion is Max Busch House. The building is no longer there as it burned down in a fire accident.

Besides filming in South Pasadena, the cast and crew filmed on sound stages and built-in sets at Paramount Studios, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles. The mansion set was built on Stage 16. 

Remember the attic and cellar scenes involving the guests at Hill House? Those scenes were filmed at Paramount Studios’ Stage 17. Some of the other scenes involving the Driveway, the Front Door, and the Ground Floor were filmed on Stage 18. 

Some of the establishment scenes in the movie were filmed in and around Los Angeles and South Pasadena. Other popular movies like Back To The Future, Scream 2, Forrest Gump, and Rosemary’s Baby were also filmed in South Pasadena and at Paramount Studios.

Plot Of Clue (1985) | Who Is The Real Killer?

The story of Clue revolves around Mr Boddy, played by Lee Ving. Mr Boddy invites six guests to his New England mansion, Hill House, for dinner and a game of Cluedo. The butler, Wadsworth, and the maid, Yvette, graciously welcome all the guests. Each guest receives a different name to maintain confidentiality.

Mr Boddy has invited and gathered them under one roof because they all have one thing in common: each one has committed a murder. Now, Mr Boddy plans to blackmail them for his benefit. But only if he knew what awaited him. Soon, Mr Boddy dies as someone among the guests kills him in cold blood. Now, they must figure out which is the real killer.

Final Words

Now you know where was Clue filmed. Well, you certainly won’t be able to check out the Busch Max House in South Pasadena, but you can surely visit the city, and if you’ve never been to Paramount Studios before, you must visit now. Paramount offers a 2-hour exclusive tour of the studio; all you need to do is get the tickets. However, Clue is available on various digital platforms, so if you haven’t watched it yet, watch it soon.