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The Big Clock

Play trailer Poster for The Big Clock 1948 1h 35m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Anticipating a much-needed vacation from Earl Janoth (Charles Laughton), his abusive boss, magazine editor George Stroud (Ray Milland) finally reaches a breaking point when Janoth insists he skip his honeymoon and go out of town on assignment. Stroud resigns and finds solace over multiple drinks with his boss' unhappy mistress, Pauline York (Rita Johnson), at a local bar. Together they come up with a half-inebriated plot to embarrass Janoth -- but the plan takes an unexpected turn toward murder.
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The Big Clock

Critics Reviews

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Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 11/16/2024
'The Big Clock' has one of the most deliciously noir twists in a genre known for its ruthless characters, cold-blooded betrayals, and twisted plots. Go to Full Review
Film Daily Staff The Film Daily 07/21/2021
After dawdling for about a half hour, this whodunit gets into gear and becomes an engrossing contest. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 05/20/2019
3.5/4
Zesty performances and superb art direction -- the Janoth Publications building, complete with the titular object, is an architectural marvel -- are just two of the pluses in this riveting film that builds to a satisfying conclusion. Go to Full Review
Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia 05/09/2019
A classic noir which twists and turns towards a riveting finale. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 01/10/2007
3/4
...there's no denying that the movie possesses a surprisingly contemporary vibe. Go to Full Review
Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal 07/22/2005
4/5
Terrific suspense ... still packs a punch. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Will G Jun 29 A great noir movie. There was romance and drama. There was a murder and it was solved. I enjoyed the music. It was made by Paramount and I’ve been there before with my Dad. See more Insomniac X Jan 28 A well-acted thriller with plotting and pacing as fine tuned as the gears of its eponymous clock. Starts with a clever premise and successfully builds on it through complications and escalating tension. The third act reaches a frenzy that feels almost farcical, but lands on a gripping and powerful climax. Charles Laughton, Ray Milland, and George Macready are all at the height of their powers here. See more Alec B 11/05/2024 A delightfully strange little noir. There are solid performances all around but its the near dystopian mid century building that's the real star of the movie. Its like an Ayn Rand fever dream. Incredible stuff. See more nick s 10/05/2024 Can't argue with the directing as it flowed nicely and was great moment by moment. But TBH I wasn't enamoured with the storyline & plot elements. It seemed like one of those mysteries that read well in a book but didn't translate into the real world so well. See more Simon L 08/16/2023 Tension is consistently heightened along it's character-driven plot until the climax near the end. This is a truly great classic suspense film. My wife and I watched it together and both of us loved it. At that time I had already watched the re-make "No way out" made in 1987. I appreciate this original version better for it's crisp story telling with less distractions. See more steve d 01/09/2023 A thrilless thriller that has aged terribly. See more Read all reviews
The Big Clock

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Movie Info

Synopsis Anticipating a much-needed vacation from Earl Janoth (Charles Laughton), his abusive boss, magazine editor George Stroud (Ray Milland) finally reaches a breaking point when Janoth insists he skip his honeymoon and go out of town on assignment. Stroud resigns and finds solace over multiple drinks with his boss' unhappy mistress, Pauline York (Rita Johnson), at a local bar. Together they come up with a half-inebriated plot to embarrass Janoth -- but the plan takes an unexpected turn toward murder.
Director
John Farrow
Producer
John Farrow, Richard Maibaum
Screenwriter
Kenneth Fearing, Jonathan Latimer
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 9, 1948, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 35m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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