The Big Clock [Blu-ray]

The Big Clock [Blu-ray]

Director: John Farrow Cast: Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton
, Ray Milland
Ray Milland
, Maureen O'Sullivan
Maureen O'Sullivan
, George Macready
George Macready
John Farrow
The Big Clock [Blu-ray]

The Big Clock [Blu-ray]

Director: John Farrow Cast: Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton
, Ray Milland
Ray Milland
, Maureen O'Sullivan
Maureen O'Sullivan
, George Macready
George Macready
John Farrow

Blu-ray

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Overview

Told in the back-to-front fashion typical of film noir, The Big Clock opens with George Stroud (Ray Milland) trapped, his life in danger, his survival measured in the minute-by-minute movements of the huge central clock of the office building where he's hiding. In flashback we learn that Stroud works for media baron Earl Janoth (Charles Laughton) as the editor of Crimeways magazine. Janoth is a manipulative megalomaniac with various obsessions, including clocks; among other manifestations of the latter fixation, the skyscraper housing his empire's headquarters has as its central feature a huge clock that reads out the time around the world down to the second. Twenty-four hours earlier, on the eve of a long-delayed combined honeymoon/vacation with his wife (Maureen O'Sullivan), Stroud was ordered by Janoth to cancel the trip, and he resigned. In his depression, Stroud missed his wife's train and crossed paths with Pauline York (Rita Johnson), Janoth's very unhappy mistress, and the two commiserated by getting drunk together in a night on the town. While hurriedly leaving Pauline's apartment, he glimpsed Janoth entering. George sobers up the next day and joins his wife on their vacation, but is soon contacted by Janoth -- he apologizes to Stroud and wants him to lead an investigation into a criminal on the run. It immediately becomes clear to George that the man Janoth wants found is Stroud himself, a fact of which Janoth is unaware, because he did not see the face of the man who saw him entering York's apartment. And Stroud has to return to work on the case, or risk exposure in a scandal that could end his marriage -- but when he returns to New York and starts running the investigation, he soon realizes that he's caught up in a murder, and that he may be next, if Janoth ever realizes the identity of the man he's trying to find. The two play a clever, disjointed game of cat-and-mouse, Janoth in partnership with his general manager Steve Hagen (George Macready) pushing the investigation, knowing they plan on bringing the suspect in dead, and Stroud doing his best to delay and sidetrack the investigation, playing for time, knowing that the man they're looking for is standing right next to the two conspirators. Janoth seems near to be unraveling at the lack of conclusion to the hunt, but Stroud can't ignore the trail of proof and guilt winding ever tighter around both of them, even as it takes some grimly comic twists, mostly over the presence of Elsa Lanchester as a witness who has seen the "suspect." Milland is perfect in the role of the hapless Stroud, and Laughton is brilliant as the vain, self-centered Janoth, but George Macready is equally good as Hagen, his smooth, upper-crust Waspy smarminess making one's skin crawl. Also worth noting is Harry Morgan's sinister, silent performance as Janoth's personal valet; and sharp-eyed viewers will also recognize such performers as Douglas Spencer and Noel Neill (especially memorable as a tart-tongued elevator operator). Additionally, the Janoth Publications building where most of the action takes place is almost a cast member in itself, an art deco wonder. This film was later remade -- much less effectively -- as No Way Out.

Product Details

Release Date: 05/14/2019
UPC: 0760137242581
Original Release: 1948
Rating: NR
Source: Arrow Video
Region Code: A
Presentation: [B&W]
Sound: [monaural]
Language: English
Time: 1:36:00
Sales rank: 21,017

Special Features

High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation from original film elements; Uncompressed Mono 1.0 PCM Audio Soundtrack; Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing; New audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin; Turning Back the Clock, a new filmed analysis of the film by the critic and chief executive of Film London, Adrian Wootton; A Difficult Actor, a newly filmed appreciation of Charles Laughton and his performance in The Big Clock by the actor, writer, and theatre director Simon Callow; Rare hour-long 1948 radio dramatization of The Big Clock by the Lux Radio Theatre, starring Ray Milland; Original Theatrical Trailer; Gallery of original stills and promotional materials; Reversible sleeve featuring two artwork options

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Charles Laughton Earl Janoth
Ray Milland George Stroud
Maureen O'Sullivan Georgette Stroud
George Macready Steve Hagen
Rita Johnson Pauline York
Elsa Lanchester Louise Patterson
Harold Vermilyea Don Klausmeyer
Dan Tobin Ray Cordette
Harry Morgan Bill Womack
Richard Webb Nat Sperling
Tad Van Brunt Tony Watson
Elaine Riley Lily Gold
Luis Van Rooten Edwin Orlin
Lloyd Corrigan McKinley
Margaret Field Secretary
Philip Van Zandt Sidney Kislav
Henri Letondal Antique Dealer
Douglas Spencer Bert Finch
Frank Orth Burt the Bartender
Bobby Watson Milton Spaulding
Frances Morris Grace Adams
B.G. Norman George Jr.
Theresa Harris Daisy
James Burke Building Cop
Erno Verebes Bartender
Noel Neill Elevator Operator
Earle Hodgins Guide,Guide
Edna Holland Staff Member
Lane Chandler Doorman
Lester Dorr Cabby
Bert Moorhouse Editor
Bess Flowers Stylist in Conference Room
Napoleon Whiting Bootblack
Diane Stewart Girl
Eric Alden Guard
Ralph Dunn Guard
Harry Anderson Guard
Lucille Barkley Hatcheck Girl
Harland Tucker Seymour Roberts
Joe Whitehead Fisher
Henry Guttman Man at Van Barth's
Len Hendry Bill Morgan
Harry Rosenthal Charlie
Bea Allen Elevator Operator
Mary Currier Ivy Temple
Robert Coleman Messenger
Norman Leavitt Tourist
William Meader Airways
Jerry James Man with Fish
Julia Faye Secretary
Pepito Pérez Headwaiter at Van Barth's
Barry Norton Man at Van Barth's
Ruth Roman Bit Part
Victor Young Composer

Technical Credits
John Farrow Director,Producer
Jonathan Latimer Screenwriter
Richard Maibaum Producer
Gordon Jennings Special Effects
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