Big Clock

Rating:
Summary: The Big Snooze
Review: The basic premise of this is a good one, a crime editor racing to solve a murder where the clues all point to him. Too bad this film fails in the execution of this premise. The direction seems stilted, the delivery by the actors is so bland. The only performer who distinguishes themself here is Elsa Lanchester as the eccentric artist. It may be sacrilege, but the remake of this film, "No Way Out" is far superior to the original. It was sexually charged (impossible for production code days) and had your heart racing throughout the various plot machinations.

Rating:
Summary: The Big Clock Ticks With Anticipation
Review: The Big Clock is an excellent suspense film that contains all the essentials of classic noir. When an advertising executive, Stroud ( Ray Milland) orchestrates a murder investigation that might implicate him as the murderer, empathy swells for the protoganist who seems to have "no way out". Unlauded director John Farrow's use of camera angles, dark lighting, and intriguing sets created a precarious tone throughout the film. The death scene down the elevator shaft is one that present directors should study. The film's creative highlight is the exceptional acting that Farrow drew from his superb cast. Not since the Maltese Falcon did a film contain such an array of interesting characters; each exhibiting indelible performances that enhanced the film's appeal. Charles Laughton as the pompous, authoritative, magnate Mr. Janoth, is convincing. His condescending speech, portly mannerisms, and facial expressions are deviously concocted. Rita Johnson as Pauline, Janoth's mistress, delivers a fresh performance and her truthful tirade aimed at Janoth's manhood is a powerful revelation. George Macready's performance as the loyal, staid, Mr. Hagen exudes latent homosexuality. Burt the bartender, Mr Mckinnley the radio actor, and Louise the eccentric artist seem like Damon Runyon's poker partners. Even the bartender who is appalled that Stroud and Pauline order stingers with green Cream de Menthe has a place in the labyrinthine plot. Ray Milland is brilliant as the exectutive with a quick smile, glib tongue, and a fast thinking mind who is torn between career responsibilities and family life. When the walls begin to close in on Stroud, Milland shines. His lines, timing, and facial expressions coax viewers to accept his innocence. The weak link in the cast is Maureen O'Sullivan, who plays Stroud's wife Georgette. Her only concern is whether her husband was faithful to her. Maybe director Farrow could have given the character more depth if Mary Astor had assumed the role. The Big Clock is an enjoyable film and one that every noir collector should own.

Rating:
Summary: The clock is ticking for Ray Milland in classic noir...
Review: This classic film noir starts out slow, almost deliberately slow, but it builds & builds until the incredibly suspenseful climax with Milland confronting Charles Laughton. The plot isn't nearly as complicated as other noirs such as "The Big Sleep" & also isn't depressing like most. The only complaint I have is with the quality of the dvd. For most of the movie the dialogue is several seconds off from the actors' moving lips & this gets destracting & annoying very quickly. A major problem like this should've been corrected by Universal. It's not like this is a low-budget spaghetti western with bad dubbing. This is a classic noir with great performances (including great comic support from actress Elsa Lancaster) that needs to be properly restored. The movie easily deserves 5 stars, but the dvd is a 2 star disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Well Done Noir, Well Worth Watching
Review: This is not, in my opinion, one of the great noirs, but it tells a fast-paced, well-acted story with style, tension and humor. Ray Milland plays George Stroud, dynamic editor of a crime magazine, one of many in Earl Janoth's (Charles Laughton) publishing empire. Through circumstances, he meets Laughton's mistress one evening. She later is killed. Janoth puts Stroud in charge of tracking down the murder to get an exclusive for the magazine...(not much of a spoiler ahead; the killing is shown early)...and to cover the fact that Janoth was the killer. Milland is quickly set up to take the fall.

Milland was edging into middle age and this added to the authority he brought to the role. Although he still had the charm and light comedy springingness, he is believable as a quick-thinking potential victim.

Laughton is first rate. In a couple of scenes he scurries to the elevator or across a hall and looks like a fat, dangerous spider. He helps define Janoth's character as an indulgent, morally corrupt egoist by touching his mouth and grooming a small, ridiculous moustache with a little finger.

Rita Johnson plays the mistress and is terrific. She's shrewd, sexy and sophisticated. She didn't have much of a career and, according to IMDb, apparently had a death worthy of a noir movie.

George Macready plays a smart, cold, condescending lawyer whose ethics are flexible. His range may have been be limited, but Macready was one of Hollywood's great character actors.

You might be able to find an old, used paperback of the book by Kenneth Fearing. He was a good poet who never made it. In the three or four mystery/novels he wrote he uses the device of having the characters speak for themselves in the first person, each to his or her own chapter. It takes getting used to but it becomes quite effective. Dagger of the Mind and The Loneliest Girl in the World also are very good and also, I suppose, long out of print. If you like mysteries (or dead American poets), give him a Google.

Kevin Costner's No Way Out was based on the book and this movie. In the ring, I'd give Milland over Costner on points by a wide margin; Laughton over Hackman on points but close; Macready over Patton by a knockout in the sixth; and Johnson over Sean Young by a knockout in the first. And this version over the other by a knockout in the fifth. No Way Out's conclusion is, for me, unsatisfying because it drains sympathy from the Costner hero. In The Big Clock, the ending is satisfyingly concluded with an elevator shaft and, later, a hug and a laugh.

The DVD transfer is quite good considering the age of the movie, and shouldn't be a reason for not getting the movie.

Rating:
Summary: The Big Clock
Review: Thrilling "Film Noir" type mystery. Ray Milland works for a magazine publisher who commits a murder. All the clues however point to Milland as the killer. He races against time to prove his innocence. First Rate Thriller!

Rating:
Summary: The Big Clock
Review: When powerful publishing tycoon Earl Janouth commits an act of murder at the height of passion, he cleverly begins to cover his tracks and frame an innocent man, whose identity he doesn't know, but who just happen to have contact with the murder victim. That man is a close associate on his magazine whom he enlists to trap this "killer" George Stroud. It's up to George to continue to "help" Janouth, to elude the police and to find proof of his innocence and Janouth's guilt.



Rating:
Summary: It's time...FOR MURDER!
Review: While watching The Big Clock (1948), I had the strangest sense of déjà vu...I mean, I had not seen this film prior to last night, but it just seemed so darn familiar...and then about halfway through I realized I had seen this story played out before, in the more recent film No Way Out (1987), starring Kevin Costner (damn you Costner for Waterworld and The Postman), Gene Hackman, and the slightly erratic (ask Tim Burton) Sean Young. Both films are based on the same book by author Kenneth Fearing, who, incidentally, was a native of Oak Park Illinois (howdy neighbor...oh wait, he passed some 40 years ago...), and both are very good, but if I were to pick the better of the two, I'd have to go with The Big Clock.

Directed by John Farrow (Hondo), the film stars Oscar winner Ray Milland (The Lost Weekend, Man with the X-Ray Eyes, The Thing With Two Heads) and Charles `I have a face like the behind of an elephant' Laughton (Island of Lost Souls, Mutiny on the Bounty). Also appearing is Maureen O'Sullivan (who appeared opposite Johnny Wiessmuller in a number of Tarzan films, and is also mother to actress Mia Farrow), George Macready (The Alligator People), Rita Johnson (Here Comes Mr. Jordan), and Elsa Lanchester (The Bride of Frankenstein, Bell, Book, and Candle, Mary Poppins).

As the film starts, we see a man, later identified as George Stroud (Milland), in an agitated state, hiding from security guards who, based on George's helpful internal dialog, have orders to shoot to kill...who? Him! Yikes! How did this seemingly normal man get into such a predicament? (actually, this kind of thing happens to me all the time) Well, we learn that as most of the film is told through a flashback, which leads up to, and past this point at the end. It seems George is an editor for a crime magazine, owned by the famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view, time-obsessed, and ruthless (he had a man fired for leaving a light bulb on in a broom closet) publishing mogul Earl Janoth (Laughton). George's ability to find highly wanted public criminals before the police do and securing interviews for his magazine have earned him the respect of his peers, but has also made him indispensable to the Janoth organization, which has resulted in his spending little time with his family, causing marital troubles with his wife (O'Sullivan). Stroud's difficulties at work entangle him with a woman who ends up passing away due to a severe case of murder, with Stroud being accused (he's not actually identified as the suspect, as the description and clues lead to a `mysterious stranger' who has similar features). Janoth now wants Stroud to use his skills to find the murderer forcing Stroud to work to not only clear himself before he's actually identified, but to find the real murderer before it's too late. Man, this seems convoluted...but it works...really well...

This is basically a murder mystery where all the pieces are presented to the audience (the killer, motive, etc.), and we get to sit back and watch as the characters within the film feverishly try to catch up. The story is pretty complicated, chock full of circuitous, tortuous goodness, but told in such a way that's it's very easy to follow so the complications rest squarely within the story, on the shoulders of the harried characters. I thought the film flowed very well, continuously picking up speed, which finally results in an impressively sensational and satisfying finish. I really appreciated the humorous elements incorporated within the story, as it gave the audience a few moments of respite, and served well to `humanize' the tale, raising its' affectivity above that of a more traditional thriller. Milland did a magnificent job as the wrongfully accused man, working to stay one step ahead of the investigation (which he himself is supposed to be leading) while trying to clear himself in the process, diverting attention away from himself. I really felt his character's dread as the situation became more and more desperate. His playing of his character reminded me a lot of characters played by James Stewart in his various Alfred Hitchcock films. Another wonderful performance is given by a portly Laughton, as the self-absorbed dictator Earl Janoth, a man accustomed to getting his own way in every aspect of his life, and seeing those who oppose him crushed beneath the heavy wheels of his wraith. Look for Elsa Lanchester's small, but memorable and effective role as the flighty artist who's called upon as a witness. She has a real flair for the subtle, comedic performance she provided for her role. Finally, as other's have noted, a youngish Harry Morgan (Col. Harry Potter on TV"S MASH) makes a non-speaking appearance as a menacing hired thug. The film was released as part of Universal's Noir Collection, and it seems applicable with regards to the content of the story and the effective, futuristic sets and appropriate lighting, both used often to heighten the tension, but then I thought the film sort of transcended this genre with its' tenuous, humorous undertones...I guess it doesn't really matter one way or the other, but rather that I believe this is an excellent film well worth watching whether you're a fan of the genre or not.

The full screen print provided on the DVD release is good, but certainly not pristine. Flaws are evident, but pretty minor and didn't hinder my ability to enjoy the story. The sound is also very good, and there are English subtitles available. The only special feature available here is a trailer for the film...slim pickings in that area, but oh well...

Cookieman108