The Big Clock (1948): Running out of time
1948 • John Farrow • 1.37:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
The Big Clock is a film noir directed by John Farrow and adapted from the novel of the same name by Kenneth Fearing. It tells the story of a magazine editor who becomes the prime suspect in a murder he inadvertently helped to conceal. Forced to lead the investigation to find the murderer, he constructs a suspect profile to avoid revealing his own identity.
By incorporating corporate settings and architectural design into the plot, the film establishes its own identity within the genre, moving beyond the traditional urban street backdrop. Much of the action takes place in a vast publishing building with large offices and a notable mechanical clock at its heart. The clock is the main visual motif in the film, adding constant pressure to the protagonist, who is racing against time to save his life.
The Big Clock occupies a distinctive position within the noir genre, focusing not on shadow-heavy streets but on bright corporate interiors where hiding is almost impossible. This approach emphasises the paranoia and tension built around a story of entrapment.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: A crime magazine editor is tasked with solving a murder, only to discover he’s the prime suspect in a case where every clue leads right back to him, and the clock is literally ticking. Read my review of The Big Clock.
- Actors: Ray Milland, Charles Laughton, Maureen O’Sullivan, George Macready, Rita Johnson, Elsa Lanchester, Harry Morgan.
- Director: John Farrow
- Year: 1948
- Cinematographer: John F. Seitz
- Origin: American Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
- Genre: Film Noir
