Big Clock

Rating:
Summary: VICERAL NOIR DRAMA TINGED WITH COMEDY
Review: "The Big Clock" is a brilliant labyrinth of dark humor and cyclical twists and turns - rather like riding a funhouse car into the murky blackness of uncertainty but with the nervous expectation that you are about to be frightened out of your mind. The film is a taut, lean thriller that presents a curious predicament for its hero, George Stroud (Ray Milland). He's a star reporter who is assigned to cover the murder of a mysterious woman by his punctually obsessed editor, Earl Janoth (Charles Laughton). There's just one little wrinkle that needs to be overcome; the overworked Stroud not only knows the woman in question but spent the night with her before she met with her untimely demise. There's also something else to consider; the woman was Janoth's mistress. Now the question arises for Stroud: how to accurately cover the scoop, report all the facts, expose the killer and keep his own name out of the proceedings. Both men are feverishly working to solve the crime, unwittingly culminating in accusations that will expose both their prior relationships with the corpse. Elsa Lanchester appears as Louise Patterson, the high-strung painter whose sketch of the prime suspect slowly begins to take on the figure of George Stroud. "The Big Clock" was remade in 1987 as the Kevin Costner thriller, "No Way Out".
THE TRANSFER: The gray scale is very nicely balanced with solid, deep and rich blacks and very smooth looking whites. There are instances where contrast levels appear somewhat low and fine detail seems slightly out of focus, but truly, there's nothing to generally disappoint one from this visual presentation. Occasionally pixelization breaks apart the background information - but only briefly and usually between dissolves. There's also a minor hint of edge enhancement that is barely noticeable. The audio is mono but very nicely cleaned up. There are no extras.

Rating:
Summary: Taut and suspenseful
Review: "The Big Clock" is a taut, suspenseful drama about a magazine editor, George Stroud played by Ray Milland, who is framed for murder. The murder was committed by his ruthless, maniacal boss, Earl Janoth portrayed with relish by Charles Laughton. Janoth is a powerful media mogul who has a strange fascination with clocks. He is obsessed with the measurement of time. (In one amusing scene occurring in a board room, Janoth, while staring at his watch, gives his editors the luxury of one minute each to explain how they will dramatically increase sales of his magazine. Then Janoth succinctly shoots down their ideas in a matter of seconds.)

The screenplay of "The Big Clock" is cleverly constructed. It's not until the final five minutes of the movie that you learn whether or not Stroud can finally prove his innocence.

The atmosphere of "The Big Clock" is very much in the tradition of film noir. There are plenty of scenes photographed in shadows or semi-darkness. Shady, eccentric characters (who may or may not prove vital in clearing Stroud's name) creep in and out of the story. The plot keeps you guessing.

My only criticism is of the character played by Maureen O'Sullivan, Georgette, who is Stroud's wife. The scenarist could have given her more depth and made her more realistic. Instead, she is a one-dimensional doormat for her insensitive, self-centered husband. When Stroud is fired by Janoth, he is so inconsiderate and selfish that he decides to get drunk with a blonde instead of meeting his wife at the train station to leave on a long overdue honeymoon. Repeatedly, Stroud puts his career ambitions ahead of the emotional needs of his wife and child. The wife gets dragged into a potential murder case because of her husband's faithlessness. Yet by the end of the movie, Georgette continues to passively and unquestioningly support her husband. That's quite a stretch.

Overall though, "The Big Clock" is an engrossing and entertaining movie which is worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: Ray Milland and Charles Laughton Together. Enough Said...
Review: As my title reads, this is indeed a captivating film-noir. The idea of a boss trying to blame an employee for murder might not have been a new one even in 1948, however with all its intriguing actors, witty taglines, and outstanding artistic quality, this film is perfect in the mystery world. Everybody should own a copy of "The Big Clock."

Rating:
Summary: Time for a restoration
Review: Humor is pretty scarce in film noir -- the giggles come hard while staring into the abyss. Paramount's ''The Big Clock'' pauses for comic relief while recounting the story of a media executive (Ray Milland) racing to solve the murder of his boss's mistress. The film feels like one of Hitchcock's wrong-man tales. ''Big Clock'' is rightly famed for its sweeping modernistic sets, but this disc's indifferent transfer makes it hard to appreciate them. Time for a restoration.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I dislike people who call movies, symphonies, operas, books, etc. etc. "excellent." I think it's very affected, and I think they're more interested in appearing superior than expressing a feeling about whatever they're praising. But this flick was excellent! Everything in it is unpredictable. Except that Ray Milland will get off. And that Charles Laughton will not. I don't like Ray Milland, having only seen him in 2 movies, "Dial M For Murder" and this, but I almost liked him in this. Not too much of the "sophisticated suaveness" from M was in his acting in this. Elsa Lanchester was herself (except as the bride of Frankensein's monster) and was a delight. Colonel Potter's character didn't say one single word through the entire film. The movie was full of twists and surprises, got me excited (even though the happy ending was a foregone conclusion), and the actors and characterizations were all eccentrics and idiosyncrasies and a delight. Anyone who (and I already read a couple reviews on this page that did, creeps) gives away ANY of this plot beyond the obligatory synopsis (and even that) ought to meet Laughton's fate! I highly recommend this interesting, often humorous, totally original flick. I rented and half-watched it, liked what I saw but didn't finish it (missed the last 10 minutes), bought it and just watched it intently all the way through. I loved it. It is one of a kind. Very clever premise.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for Elsa + 0 stars for the rest = 2 stars overall
Review: I loooooove old B&W classic flicks. I love film noir. This movie, however, I just could not get into. Even though it has the fabulous Charles Laughton in it! The lead actor (Ray Milland) did absolutely NOTHING for me -- his character was boring and I didn't give a flying rat's behind what happened to him. In addition, the movie was not very well put together. It was hard to follow and seemed very disjointed or edited really badly. I do not recommend purchasing this DVD. I do, however, recommend spending a couple of bucks and renting it for the sole purpose of the fabulous, fantastic ELSA LANCHESTER. The only time this movie came to life was when Elsa, playing an eccentric painter, was on screen. What a presence she was! I don't know why she wasn't more popular in films, although I believe it was her choice as she preferred the theater. Watch "The Big Clock" for Elsa and only Elsa, and forget the rest!

Rating:
Summary: A Good Film From a Great Novel
Review: I read Kenneth Fearing's "Big Clock" more years ago than I care to tell (hint: JFK was president). Even then, the book was something of an echo from the past: closer in style, if not chronology, to Hammet than Spillane, yet with a poetic style that used symbolism more artfully than either of those two authors. The inexorable ticking of the metaphorical big clock rang in my ears on every page as the hero of the tale, George Stroud, sank deeper and deeper into a complicated web of corporate politics, sex, and murder.

The movie, which I just saw, retains some of the symbolism of the novel but it turns most of the book's symbolic objects into little more than props. The screenplay suffers from its determination to erase anything from the book that was sexy, ethnic or subtle. George doesn't sleep with the blonde in the movie, he just passes out in her apartment. The blond's last name is changed from the Greek-sounding "Delos" to the more Anglo "York." And George doesn't call the painting of the two hands "the Judas Picture;" it's just "two hands." So we lose the metaphorical connection between the picture and the back-stabbing hypocrisy that threatens George throughout the film.

Ray Milland is fairly solid as George, but, although Laughton is always interesting to watch, his mustache-twisting villiany sometimes makes him look like a pudgy Snidely Whiplash. However, I do think the scene involving Laughton, the blonde and the sundial, is brilliantly acted and directed.

Costume design is good: the corporate "suits" in their ivory towers look appropriately polished while they cheat, lie, and point accusing fingers at each other. But set design is terrible: the exterior of the building that houses the vast publishing empire looks like a Travelodge and the interiors look like they were assembled from concrete blocks. Charles Laughton, who plays the CEO, has an office that's so barren it looks like they repossesed the furniture.

With all its faults, though, the movie still manages to retain much of what's good about the novel and it is a fairly good example of American Film Noir. If you are a died-in-the-wool fan of that genre, you'll appreciate this movie.


Rating:
Summary: THE BIG CLOCK IS A BIG LETDOWN
Review: I remember this movie from years back, and thought it was a pretty nifty noir thriller. A repeat viewing reveals it to be a bit on the trite side. Maybe it's Ray Milland's bland performance, but I had trouble getting through this one. Not all old films are true "classics" and this one is better left on the shelf, in my opinion.

There are many better examples of Film Noir out there. Give me LAURA or OUT OF THE PAST any day over this.

Rating:
Summary: The Clock's Ticking!
Review: John Farrow's "The Big Clock" is one of the great noir films of the 40's. The downside is many people have 1) rarely seen it. 2) Many haven't even heard of it! Ray Milland stars as George Stroud a man who as the film goes on will have to track down a murderer when all the clues lead to one man, him! How can he prove his innocence. And how will he get anyone to believe him? These are the interesting questions that arise as you watch this film.
George Stroud (Milland) works for a publication that somehow manages to break cases before the police do. He is also suppose to go on his honeymoon with his wife Georgette (Maureen O' Sullivan) which is long overdue ( they now have a 5 year old son!). But, his boss Earl Janoth (Charles Laughton) wants him to postpone his honeymoon. Claiming he'll give him higher pay and a month's vaction. But George knows his wife will kill him if he's not there ready to leave with her lol. Now, one thing leads to another ( I don't want to give anyway too much of the plot). But George ends up missing his train and spends the night with Janoth's mistress! Later on that night, he finds that Janoth's mistress is dead! Was it murder? Well, all directions point that way since George saw Janoth go into Pauline York's (Rita Johnson) apartment. In an attempt to cover up his actions, Janoth tells George he has to solve the case before the police get involved. "The Big Clock" has a great musical score by Victor Young, nice cimatography by Daniel L. Fapp & John F. Seitz. And, fammed costume designer Edit Head does wonderful work. All of these things give this movie the "classic" noir feel to it. There are good, solid performances by everyone, and nice directing by Farrow. This is a very pleasurable film to watch on one of those rainy, dark nights, that just feels like watching a noir film. One of the best noir films I've ever seen.

Rating:
Summary: Laughton and Milland at thier BEST
Review: The Amazon review already posted gives a very detailed breakdown of the plot...so I will skip to the chase here.
Hollywood has seemingly forever lost the capabilities, or the mindset, or the desire, or the talent to make films like this today.
Everything about this film works like a Big Swiss clock...excuse the pun.
The Writing is lean, tight, and sharp… on the mark.
The lighting is the work of a master at his craft and the camera work is a near Orwellian case study in the artistry of NOIR.
Nothing about this film falls flat.
I've seen this DVD version now several times and it gets better every time.
Have you noticed on all the Movie posters these days Will Smith and all the rest of those guys are frowning and trying to look ridiculously serious and absorbed?
That is because the shallow films they are advertising are usually contrived, vulgar, noisy, profane and greatly lacking in artistic substance.
They want you to believe that something serious and worthy of your attention is occurring. Unfortunately it is usually just a headache that is occurring.
Films like “The Big Clock” harkens to a time when Hollywood was overrun with stunningly talented non-patronizing actors who did not think of themselves as gods walking the earth on some cosmic self congratulating Liberal agenda.
This is just a brilliant film that overflows with the best writing, lighting and acting and suspense you will have seen in years.
No profanity, no perversion, no robots, no explosions, no over-acting, no skull shattering screaming.
Just a mesmerizing movie heralding from a time before Hollywood lost its moorings and forgot what once made it great.
If you liked "The Thief" or "Witness for the Prosecution" then "The Big Clock" is a must see, must have Film.
If you have not seen "The Thief" or "Witness for the Prosecution,"
then all three of them are Must Have-Must See films.
Lastly this Universal release DVD has great Captioning, a Flawless print and wonderful sound mix.
Universal Studios may not know how to create great films anymore but at least they didn’t screw up the release of this one
The price for all this was under $10.00 for me. The enjoyment I got in watching it was worth much, much more.