Product ReviewsThe Big Clock (DVD, 1948)

A Suspenseful Movie with a Great Cast

This 1948 movie was the predecessor to "No Way Out" starring Kevin Costner in the 1980s.

George Stroud (Ray Milland) works for Crimeways magazine, a subsidiary of Jannoth Enterprises. He is in a hurry to leave on his honeymoon, but his boss Earl Jannoth (a young Charles Laughton) causes him to work late and miss his train. When he tells Jannoth that he must leave, Jannoth fires him. So Stroud cavorts with Jannoth's mistress, Paula York (Rita Johnson) for the evening. Later, after Stroud leaves Paula, Jannoth appears at her apartment, they argue, and Jannoth murders her with a clock.

The rest of the movie details Jannoth's coverup of the murder. He doesn't know that Stroud was with Paula that night, but he knows that someone was. And he tries to insist that that man caused her to go missing. As the movie goes on, all fingers seem to point to Stroud, but no one has put all the pieces together until the end. And when Stroud learns that Paula has been murdered, he doesn't know who the killer was although he saw Jannoth enter the apartment.

Elsa Lanchester as Patterson the artist provides comic relief and a serious side in the movie. She becomes a red herring in sketching the identity of the man who was with Paula during the evening. The movie also stars Maureen O'Sullivan as Georgette Stroud, George's wife, who was stood up on her honeymoon.

Since we know who the murderer was, the movie is suspenseful only to see how the plot will unravel to disclose Earl Jannoth. When it finally does, we are relieved. But then there is a susprise ending.

This movie is very good; but having seen "No Way Out," I enjoyed it more. And it has an even more surprising ending.Read full review...

The Big Clock Universal Noir DVD

This is another must have to all Noir collectors. The cast and dialogue are superb. DVD Transfer is not the greatest, wish criterion would remaster this but then again not bad at all! This is the best available source out there until a blu ray would be available in region 1 (usa) .Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: decluttr_store

very catchy

great film

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: ralfeminem

Very good movie

Very good movie and actors

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: muha950

One of my favorite old movies

I am a lover of old mystery movies and this is one of my favorites. There is a marque in the movie that has my birthdate on it..so that makes it just that much more special to me. How wonderful that I could find it on DVD. The movie is filled with great old actors.Read full review...

Looked Good

First of all, I LOVE Ray Milland.

There was NO cover art on the DVD case.

It says on disc Brooklyn Public Library.

I only got about half through, maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it, but, even with Mr. Milland, I didn't find what I was watching very good.

I'll pop it in again in about six months & update this.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: millparashort4

Great

Excellent

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: gruv-entertainment