An oppressive preoccupation with time hangs heavily over everything that transpires in "The Big Clock". The eponymous timepiece is an enormous structure that dominates the entrance hall to the head office of "Janoth Publications". The clock is the most accurate in the world and is synchronised with all the other clocks in the Janoth organisation. Its size and position are symbolic of the importance that's given to time in everything that the organisation does. The proprietor, Earl Janoth (Charles Laughton), lectures a group of his managers about the importance of punctuality and the costs involved if people attending meetings are late. In one conversation with his mistress, he complains about being six minutes behind schedule and in another conversation, when he issues an ultimatum to one of his employees, George Stroud (Ray Milland), he gives him just six minutes to make a decision. Similar references to time and clocks continue to be made throughout the story and when a murder is committed, the weapon used is a sun-dial.
George Stroud is the editor of "Crimeways" magazine and is expert at leading investigations in which his team find criminals on the run before the police do. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot fulfil his commitments to his family because of the demands placed upon him by his job. Things are so bad that, although he has a five year old son, he hasn't yet been able to get time off to go on his honeymoon. He promises his wife Georgette (Maureen O'Sullivan) that he will definitely go on their next planned vacation and although she is sceptical, he assures her that he will go whatever the circumstances. Predictably, when he is due to leave, he gets pressured by Janoth to cancel his arrangements so that he can see through an important project. Janoth threatens him with being fired and blacklisted so that he won't be able to get similar employment with another magazine. Stroud stands his ground and eventually joins his family on vacation. After only a matter of minutes with them, he gets a telephone call to tell him that he's wanted to manage the hunt for a murder suspect. He has no choice; he has to meet this request because he recognises that he is the suspect. He goes back to work and again finds himself placed in an even worse trap as he attempts to sabotage his team's hunt for the suspect who he knows is innocent and has been made the fall guy. A desperate battle against time follows as he tries to sidetrack his team's efforts whilst, at the same time, attempting to find the evidence he needs to nail the real culprit.
"The Big Clock" is a film noir thriller with a plot which includes murder, manipulation and entrapment and with a group of main characters who are all suffering from various degrees of mental anguish. Light relief is also provided, however, by many moments of wit and comedy. Ray Milland delivers a typically strong performance as the fast talking Stroud, Charles Laughton excels in his role as the ruthless, time obsessed Janoth and Elsa Lanchster's portrayal of the artist Louise Patterson is both humorous and eccentric.
George Stroud is the editor of "Crimeways" magazine and is expert at leading investigations in which his team find criminals on the run before the police do. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot fulfil his commitments to his family because of the demands placed upon him by his job. Things are so bad that, although he has a five year old son, he hasn't yet been able to get time off to go on his honeymoon. He promises his wife Georgette (Maureen O'Sullivan) that he will definitely go on their next planned vacation and although she is sceptical, he assures her that he will go whatever the circumstances. Predictably, when he is due to leave, he gets pressured by Janoth to cancel his arrangements so that he can see through an important project. Janoth threatens him with being fired and blacklisted so that he won't be able to get similar employment with another magazine. Stroud stands his ground and eventually joins his family on vacation. After only a matter of minutes with them, he gets a telephone call to tell him that he's wanted to manage the hunt for a murder suspect. He has no choice; he has to meet this request because he recognises that he is the suspect. He goes back to work and again finds himself placed in an even worse trap as he attempts to sabotage his team's hunt for the suspect who he knows is innocent and has been made the fall guy. A desperate battle against time follows as he tries to sidetrack his team's efforts whilst, at the same time, attempting to find the evidence he needs to nail the real culprit.
"The Big Clock" is a film noir thriller with a plot which includes murder, manipulation and entrapment and with a group of main characters who are all suffering from various degrees of mental anguish. Light relief is also provided, however, by many moments of wit and comedy. Ray Milland delivers a typically strong performance as the fast talking Stroud, Charles Laughton excels in his role as the ruthless, time obsessed Janoth and Elsa Lanchster's portrayal of the artist Louise Patterson is both humorous and eccentric.