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The Big Clock

  • 19481948
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
Charles Laughton and Ray Milland in The Big Clock (1948)
A magazine tycoon commits a murder and pins it on an innocent man, who then tries to solve the murder himself.
Play trailer2:14
1 Video
92 Photos
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir
A magazine tycoon commits a murder and pins it on an innocent man, who then tries to solve the murder himself.A magazine tycoon commits a murder and pins it on an innocent man, who then tries to solve the murder himself.A magazine tycoon commits a murder and pins it on an innocent man, who then tries to solve the murder himself.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
    • John Farrow
    • Jonathan Latimer(screenplay)
    • Kenneth Fearing(novel)
    • Harold Goldman(contributor to screenplay construction and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Ray Milland
    • Maureen O'Sullivan
    • Charles Laughton
    • John Farrow
    • Jonathan Latimer(screenplay)
    • Kenneth Fearing(novel)
    • Harold Goldman(contributor to screenplay construction and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Ray Milland
    • Maureen O'Sullivan
    • Charles Laughton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 98User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:14
    Watch Trailer

    Photos92

    Ray Milland and Rita Johnson in The Big Clock (1948)
    Maureen O'Sullivan in The Big Clock (1948)
    Ray Milland, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Rita Johnson in The Big Clock (1948)
    Ray Milland and Rita Johnson in The Big Clock (1948)
    Maureen O'Sullivan in The Big Clock (1948)
    Charles Laughton, Ray Milland, and Maureen O'Sullivan in The Big Clock (1948)
    Charles Laughton, Ray Milland, and Maureen O'Sullivan in The Big Clock (1948)
    Charles Laughton and Ray Milland in The Big Clock (1948)
    Charles Laughton and Ray Milland in The Big Clock (1948)
    Charles Laughton, Ray Milland, and Maureen O'Sullivan in The Big Clock (1948)
    Charles Laughton and Ray Milland in The Big Clock (1948)
    Charles Laughton, Ray Milland, and Maureen O'Sullivan in The Big Clock (1948)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ray Milland
    Ray Milland
    • George Stroud
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    • Georgette Stroud
    Charles Laughton
    Charles Laughton
    • Earl Janoth
    George Macready
    George Macready
    • Steve Hagen
    Rita Johnson
    Rita Johnson
    • Pauline York
    Elsa Lanchester
    Elsa Lanchester
    • Louise Patterson
    Harold Vermilyea
    Harold Vermilyea
    • Don Klausmeyer
    Dan Tobin
    Dan Tobin
    • Ray Cordette
    Harry Morgan
    Harry Morgan
    • Bill Womack
    • (as Henry Morgan)
    Richard Webb
    Richard Webb
    • Nat Sperling
    Elaine Riley
    Elaine Riley
    • Lily Gold
    Luis Van Rooten
    • Edwin Orlin
    Lloyd Corrigan
    Lloyd Corrigan
    • McKinley
    Frank Orth
    Frank Orth
    • Burt
    Margaret Field
    Margaret Field
    • Second Secretary
    Philip Van Zandt
    Philip Van Zandt
    • Sidney Kislav
    Henri Letondal
    Henri Letondal
    • Antique Dealer
    Douglas Spencer
    Douglas Spencer
    • Bert Finch
      • John Farrow
      • Jonathan Latimer(screenplay)
      • Kenneth Fearing(novel)
      • Harold Goldman(contributor to screenplay construction and dialogue) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The novel on which this film is based was written by poet Kenneth Fearing, as revenge on publisher Henry Luce and his "Time" magazine. Fearing was obliged to work there (for financial reasons) for many years. The fearsome Earl Janoth is often regarded as a libelous parody of Luce, even though the book received a rave review from the "Time" critic, as did the film.
    • Goofs
      Killer Earl Janoth (Charles Laughton) dispatches his employee Steve Hagen (George Macready) to the crime scene to eliminate any evidence connecting him to victim Pauline York (Rita Johnson). Hagen alters the broken clock time as well as removing the murder weapon and miscellaneous incriminating evidence. What Hagen failed to notice and left behind is the potentially incriminating evidence of a photo of the real killer, Earl Janoth, prominently displayed in the apartment.
    • Quotes

      Earl Janoth: [talking on intercom to Steve Hagen] On the fourth floor - in the broom closet - a bulb has been burning for several days. Find the man responsible, dock his pay.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Clock (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm in the Mood for Love
      (uncredited)

      Music by Jimmy McHugh

      source music heard when Pauline first meets George at the bar

    User reviews98

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    "Where are the green clocks of yesteryear?"
    Taut thriller about a crime magazine editor (Ray Milland) trying to stay one step ahead of being framed for murder by his tyrannical boss (Charles Laughton). Ray Milland is great but it's scenery-chewing Charles Laughton that is the most memorable part of this movie. George Macready plays Laughton's crony and partner-in-crime. Rita Johnson is fantastic as Laughton's mistress. Elsa Lanchester has a small but amusing part that she makes the most of. Harry Morgan appears in an early role as a "problem solver" for Laughton. This was Maureen O'Sullivan's first movie in five years and her first non-Tarzan movie in seven. Director John Farrow was also her husband at the time so I'm sure that had something to do with her returning to the screen.

    A tightly paced film with a great script. Fine direction from Farrow. It was remade in 1987 as No Way Out, which isn't a bad movie itself. Thankfully it isn't a direct copy but a reworking of the original story. Both the remake and this original have wonderful (and completely different) endings. This is definitely one you'll want to check out if you're a fan of film noir or thrillers from the '40s.
    helpful•13
    1
    • utgard14
    • Jul 7, 2015

    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 9, 1948 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 35 minutes
      • Black and White

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