Clean Slate

Clean Slate

Year: 1994

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

Director: Mick Jackson

ComedyMystery

Pogue, a private investigator, suffers total amnesia each morning, waking up with a blank slate. While he’s deep in a high‑stakes investigation and a budding romance begins to blossom, his daily memory loss turns every new day into a fresh, perilous mystery he must piece together before nightfall.

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Timeline & Setting – Clean Slate (1994)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Clean Slate (1994). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Los Angeles, San Francisco

The action unfolds mainly in Los Angeles with key moments in San Francisco, giving the film a sun-soaked yet shadowy West Coast atmosphere. The city’s offices, fashion shows, and a courthouse provide glossy backdrops for a crime story driven by memory and manipulation. The setting blends neon-styled noir with legal proceedings, underscoring the tension between truth and deception.

🏙️ Urban setting 🌁 West Coast cities 🕵️ Private investigation backdrop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:05

Main Characters – Clean Slate (1994)

Meet the key characters of Clean Slate (1994), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Maurice L. Pogue

A private investigator in Los Angeles who suffers retrograde amnesia, preventing him from recalling events from the day before. He documents his own case to stay informed and acts as the key witness against Cornell. His memories surface in fits and starts, driving him to reconnect clues like the mysterious coin and the identity of Sarah. He is determined, resourceful, and increasingly suspicious of those around him as the truth emerges.

🧠 Amnesiac 🕵️ Private investigator 🗝️ Clue seeker

Sarah Novak / Beth Holly

A woman tied to Cornell and to a dangerous blackmail plot, who claims to be living under an alias. She appears in Pogue’s life as both a lover and a potential ally, but her true affiliations remain murky until the plot’s twists reveal whether she is a genuine ally or a pawn. Her movements—of modeling, meeting in secret, and being targeted—drive the manipulation at the story’s core.

💃 Alias 🕵️‍♀️ Double life 💔 Blackmail risk

Philip Cornell

The mastermind behind the crime Pogue is called to testify against. He offers large sums to deny involvement and orchestrates plans to retrieve a stolen coin. His control over the legal process and his willingness to exploit fear and leverage demonstrate a ruthless, calculated criminal.

💼 Criminal mastermind 🗝️ Theft ⚖️ Power

Dr. Anthony Doover

Pogue’s doctor, who knows little about Pogue’s condition beyond what is necessary and becomes entangled in the scheme to recover the coin. He participates in the manipulation and helps coordinate the deception that advances Cornell’s interests. Doover’s role exposes the way trusted professionals can be drawn into criminal plots.

🧪 Doctor 🗝️ Conspiracy 🕵️‍♂️ Manipulation

John Dolby

Pogue’s friend who provides moral support and confirms key facts about Sarah’s death. He helps anchor Pogue’s memories by offering a trusted perspective and occasionally challenging his assumptions. Dolby’s steadiness contrasts with Pogue’s volatile memory, guiding him toward the truth.

👥 Friend 🗣️ Confidant

Judge Block

The judge presiding over Cornell’s trial, whose rulings shape the progression and outcome of the case. The courtroom becomes a stage where the truth about memory and manipulation is weighed. His presence underscores the formal, procedural side of how justice attempts to resolve the conflict.

⚖️ Courtroom 👨‍⚖️ Authority

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:05

Major Themes – Clean Slate (1994)

Explore the central themes of Clean Slate (1994), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Amnesia

The protagonist Maurice Pogue lives with retrograde amnesia, forcing him to rely on self-recorded notes to stay in control of a case he cannot fully remember. Memory loss drives the entire plot, creating constant uncertainty and doubt about what is real. The narrative hinges on moments when memory flickers back, reframing what has happened and who is trustworthy.

🕵️‍♀️ Double lives

Sarah Novak’s alias Beth Holly and her involvement in a broader blackmail scheme expose the fragile nature of identity in the story. The plot continually tests who is truly who they claim to be, using impersonation and deception to manipulate Pogue and the legal process. The film toys with the idea that appearances can mask dangerous truths beneath the surface.

🏛️ Truth and justice

The courtroom becomes a crucible where memory and evidence collide, ultimately forcing a reevaluation of what Pogue remembers and what actually happened. The trial acts as the catalyst for revelation, as memory recovery shifts the balance of power and alters Cornell’s chances. Justice is presented as something fragile that depends on accurate recollection and credible testimony.

💰 Crime and manipulation

The narrative centers on bribery, blackmail, and plotted theft, including a stolen coin and a scheme that relies on convincing Pogue to deny his observations. Doover’s manipulation and Cornell’s criminal network illustrate a system where money and influence attempt to corrupt memory and truth. The film keeps the audience guessing who benefits from each secret revealed.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:05

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Clean Slate Summary

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Clean Slate Summary

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Clean Slate Timeline

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Clean Slate Spoiler-Free Summary

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