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09-07-2019 09:40 AM
Saturday midnight Eastern and Sunday 10:00 a.m. Eastern:
"The Big Clock" Ray Milland, Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sullivan, Rita Johnson, Elsa Lanchester, George Macready, Harry Morgan
Provocative late-Forties' film noir, set in the sophisticated, cutthroat New York media world. Ray Milland is a restless writer in the mammoth press organization of megalomaniac Earl Janoth (Charles Laughton). The huge company is housed in a downtown building dominated by a gigantic, looming, somehow sinister clock.
Recognize Harry Morgan (later beloved "Colonel Potter" in "MASH"), in the dark suit to the right of Laughton:
Milland wants more freedom to spend time with his wife (Maureen O'Sullivan) and young son, and Janoth wants him on the job, so the conflict is long standing. One boozy afternoon, Milland unexpectedly joins forces with Janoth's glamorous, alienated mistress (Rita Johnson). When circumstances escalate and murder enters the picture, Milland is forced into leading a bogus and very dangerous press investigation to uncover the miscreant...
By the way, the set design is great-- lots of luxe, Forties' "moderne":
This is a very unusual, highly atmospheric noir, with snappy writing, and even comedy. Based on a novel by the respected Kenneth Fearing. The cast is fabulous. Laughton is almost too well cast as the corrupt, power-obsessed media baron-- he must have loved this role! I'm always impressed by thready-voiced Brit George Macready, here in the perfect toadying sidekick role to Laughton.
Interestingly, there are two real-life married couples in the film-- Director John Farrow prevailed upon his semi-retired wife, Maureen O'Sullivan, to play Milland's wife. And of course, there's Laughton and Lanchester. Elsa Lanchester is magnificent comic relief here as a bohemian kook. Good job, "Noir Alley"!
09-07-2019 09:43 AM
Sounds like a goodie!! I'm a fan of Milland, Laughton and Lancaster so I will check this one out.
09-07-2019 09:47 AM
Thanks for the heads up, @Oznell . I caught the last forty minutes of it once . Even though I know the ending, I liked it so much, I want to watch it again from the beginning.
09-07-2019 09:49 AM - edited 09-07-2019 09:50 AM
Just don't remember this one. I thought you were talking about The Clock with Robert Walker and Judy Garland, lol.
I always liked Rita Johnson. Ever since My Friend Flicka I think, wayyyyy back. She has a way about her.
I also do not see this on my channel listing. Will check again.
Thanks for such an informative description @Oznell . As always!
ETA George MacCready made a great Nazi. Saw him in that role more than once.
09-07-2019 10:03 AM - edited 09-07-2019 06:44 PM
@Judaline wrote:Just don't remember this one. I thought you were talking about The Clock with Robert Walker and Judy Garland, lol.
I was thinking the same thing. I do not remember "The Big Clock". But have seen "The Clock". I kept looking for Judy Garland's name to pop up.
Look forward to watching "The Big Clock".
09-07-2019 10:11 AM
I've always liked Ray Milland. The Lost Weekend is also on TCM's schedule.
Will DVR both...
09-07-2019 10:23 AM
And, what an ending, right, @lrmuffin?! (We won't breathe a word.)
09-07-2019 10:44 AM
🤫
I’ll just say it’s a great film, well worth watching, @Oznell .
09-07-2019 04:28 PM
Hey, I've never heard of this guy, Joe Dante, have any of you? Anyway, apparently he gives incisive, succinct little trailer reviews of films, and it turns out "The Big Clock" is one of his favorites.
He goes so far as to say, "The Big Clock" is one of the best films of the 1940's. I like this guy:
09-07-2019 04:34 PM
For some reason, though, the actual film quality of the clips used was crummy. Here's a clip from the film that shows how sharp and well done John Farrow's camera work is:
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