The big clock (movie review)

The Big Clock (1948) (drama) (1 hr 35 mins)

This film noir from director John Farrow (father of Mia) is based on an excellent novel of the same name by Kenneth Fearing and boasts one of the best plots in its genre. It was remade in 1987 as No Way Out starring Kevin Costner, a film ruined by an absurd ending that undermined the rest of the film. This first film version keeps closer to the original story and ramps up the tension as the story unfolds.

George Stroud (played by Ray Milland) is the editor of a magazine called Crimeways, which not only publishes crime stories but has a team of investigators who solve crimes. As the film opens, we see him in his office building hiding from security men behind the ‘big clock’, the largest and most elaborate clock ever built. The clock dominates the lobby of Janoth Publications, the New York publishing company where Stroud works.

Stroud reflects that only two days before he could never have dreamt he could have found himself in such a dire situation as the one he now faces. In flashback we then see the events that have led up to his current predicament.

Stroud had been about to meet his wife to go on a long-postponed honeymoon when he was diverted by a mysterious woman called Pauline who turns out to be the mistress of his boss, Janoth (Charles Laughton). They spend the evening together, visit a bar and Stroud buys a painting (unwittingly outbidding the woman who painted it) and a clock. When he has one too many drinks, he goes back to Pauline’s apartment to sleep it off. He is awoken by her when Janoth calls round. He  exits by a side door. Crouching on the stairs, he is seen by Janoth but not identified.

Thinking the man on the stairs is a departing lover, Janoth picks an argument with Pauline. Losing self-control, he picks up the clock and strikes her down, killing her. Distraught, he jumps into a taxi and goes to the home of Stephen, his deputy. They concoct a plan to pin the murder on the stranger on the stairs, using the investigating might of Crimeways to track him down. They give Stroud the task of leading the investigation.

Stroud’s team of investigators are soon on the case and manage to track down the barman, the painter and the owner of the antiques shop who sold him the painting. This man sees Stroud disappearing into a lift inside the building and raises the alarm. Janoth orders that no-one be allowed to leave the building before they have passed by the antiques dealer. His security men guard all of the exits. Stroud is trapped inside the building, leading an investigation that he knows is drawing the net tighter and tighter around him. The big clock is ticking and the only way he can save himself is to find some evidence against Janoth.

The characters are hardly developed (though Laughton gives a fine turn as the sinister, manipulative Janoth) but the story is intriguing enough to hold your attention. As more witnesses are brought forward to identify the stranger on the stairs, Stroud is at his wits’ end to stay one step ahead of the encircling net. This is an impressive thriller, even if doesn’t manage to capture the rawness of the novel.

Rating: 8/10