Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game is a masterpiece of middle-grade literature. It’s dense. It’s twisty. It’s got sixteen characters who all have secrets, and it’s basically a locked-room mystery on steroids. So, naturally, when people find out there’s actually a The Westing Game movie from 1997, they get excited. Then they watch it. And then, well, they usually have some questions because the film—officially titled Get a Clue—is one of the strangest adaptations ever put to screen.
It exists. That’s the first thing you need to know.
If you grew up in the late 90s, you might have caught this on the Disney Channel or bought a grainy VHS tape from a Scholastic book fair. But for most fans of the Newbery Medal-winning book, the movie remains this weird, elusive artifact that changed almost everything about the source material while trying to keep the soul of the mystery intact.
What Actually Happened in the 1997 Film?
The movie stars Ray Walston as Sam Westing. Honestly, Walston is great. He’s got that "cranky old man with a secret" vibe down to a science. You might remember him from My Favorite Martian or as Mr. Hand in Fast Times at Ridgemont Hill. He’s the anchor of the film. But around him, the plot of the The Westing Game movie starts to veer off the tracks pretty quickly.
In the book, we have sixteen heirs. In the movie? They slashed that number down significantly.
You still have Turtle Wexler, played by Ashley Peldon. She’s the protagonist, the bratty kid with the braid who kicks shins. But the complex web of relationships that Raskin built—the tension between the Hoo family, the quiet desperation of Flora Baumbach, the calculated movements of Judge Ford—it’s all condensed into a TV-movie format that lasts barely 90 minutes.
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The setting is Sunset Towers, but it feels less like a luxury apartment building and more like a generic film set. The "game" itself is handled through a series of riddles that feel a bit more like a scavenger hunt than the high-stakes financial war of the novel. It’s lighter. It’s campier. It feels very much like a product of its time, sitting somewhere between a Goosebumps episode and a Saturday morning special.
The Big Changes Fans Hate (and Love)
Let’s talk about the name. Why call it Get a Clue?
Marketing. In 1997, the producers probably thought kids wouldn't flock to something called The Westing Game, or maybe they wanted to capitalize on the popularity of the board game Clue. Whatever the reason, the title change was the first sign that this wasn't going to be a 1:1 translation.
The biggest departure is the "bombing" subplot. In the book, the bombings are a major source of tension and a key piece of character development for Angela Wexler. In the The Westing Game movie, this is toned down significantly. They had to keep it "family-friendly" for the TV-movie audience, which meant stripping away some of the darker, more cynical edges that made Raskin’s book so unique.
- Turtle isn't just a stock character; she’s the heart, but the movie makes her feel more like a standard "plucky teen detective."
- Barney Northrup and Julian Eastman are handled... differently. If you know the book's ending, you know the "four winds" twist. The movie tries to pull it off, but without the slow-burn buildup, it feels a bit rushed.
- The racial and social commentary—like Judge Ford’s entire backstory with the Westing family—is largely sidelined. That’s a huge loss.
Why Haven't We Seen a Remake?
It’s been decades. We are living in the era of the "prestige limited series." You’d think a streaming giant like Netflix or HBO would have snatched this up by now. A ten-episode arc would be the perfect way to give all sixteen characters the screen time they deserve.
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Actually, there was news about a new version. Back in 2020, reports circulated that HBO Max was developing a The Westing Game series with Elizabeth Banks’ Brownstone Productions. Fans went wild. Then... silence. The project hasn't officially been canceled, but it’s stuck in that frustrating place called "development hell."
Part of the problem is the complexity. To do it right, you need a massive ensemble cast. You need a director who can handle non-linear clues. You need a script that doesn't treat the audience like they're stupid. The 1997 movie failed because it tried to simplify a story that is defined by its complications.
The Cult Status of the 1997 Version
Despite its flaws, the 1997 The Westing Game movie has a weirdly loyal following. It’s nostalgic. For a lot of people, this was their first introduction to the "whodunnit" genre. There’s a certain charm to the low-budget practical effects and the 90s fashion.
Is it a good movie? Not really.
Is it a good adaptation? Definitely not.
Is it worth watching? If you’re a die-hard fan of the book, yes—just for the "what were they thinking?" factor.
You can occasionally find it streaming on platforms like Hoopla (if your local library supports it) or for rent on Amazon. Sometimes, full versions pop up on YouTube, though they get taken down pretty fast for copyright stuff.
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How to Approach the Movie if You’ve Only Read the Book
If you decide to hunt it down, you have to go in with the right mindset. Don't expect the intellectual rigour of the novel.
- Think of it as an "Alternative Universe." This isn't the Sunset Towers you pictured. It’s a 90s TV version.
- Focus on Ray Walston. He really is the best part. His performance as Westing/McSouthers/Northrup/Eastman (spoiler?) is surprisingly nuanced given the material.
- Look for the Easter eggs. Even though they changed a lot, there are small nods to the book that show the screenwriters did at least read the SparkNotes.
The book is about the American Dream, about identity, and about how people use money to control others. The movie is about a bunch of people running around a house trying to win a prize. If you can accept that gap, you'll have a much better time.
Finding the Movie Today
Finding a physical copy of The Westing Game movie is like playing the game itself. It wasn't exactly a blockbuster, so DVD prints were limited.
Check eBay or your local thrift store’s media section. The DVD was released under the title The Westing Game, finally ditching the Get a Clue branding to appeal to book fans, but the cover art looks like a generic thriller from the bargain bin.
Practical Steps for Fans
If you're looking to dive back into this world, don't just stop at the 90s film. The legacy of Sam Westing is best explored through a mix of media.
- Re-read the Anniversary Edition: The 40th-anniversary edition of the book includes an introduction by some heavy hitters in the mystery world. It highlights things you definitely missed as a kid.
- Track down the 1997 DVD: If you’re a collector, hunt for the version released by Kino Lorber or similar boutique labels. The transfer isn't great, but it’s the best we’ve got.
- Watch for Series Updates: Keep an eye on trade publications like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter. If the HBO Max (now just Max) project ever moves out of development, that’s where the news will break first.
- Explore Similar Media: If you want the "vibe" of The Westing Game but better produced, watch Knives Out or the series The Afterparty. They owe a huge debt to Ellen Raskin’s structure.
The 1997 film serves as a reminder that some stories are incredibly hard to film. It’s a time capsule of an era where children's media was often "dumbed down" for TV, but it also proves that the core mystery of Sam Westing is so strong that even a mediocre adaptation can’t quite kill the intrigue. Grab some popcorn, lower your expectations, and enjoy the weirdness of 90s cable cinema.