Movies
The Big Clock (1948, Charles Laughton, Ray Milland)
In The Big Clock crime-rag publisher Charles Laughton tries to tag his editor (Ray Milland) with the savage murder of the publisher’s mistress when he glimpses the editor skulking out of her apartment. The twist to an otherwise familiar tale is that Laughton assigns Milland to find the killer even as the clues start pointing right at the editor himself.
Two real-life married couples worked on The Big Clock: co-stars Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester, and star Maureen O’Sullivan and director John Farrow (their daughter is actress Mia Farrow).
Based on Kenneth Fearing’s novel, the film was remade in 1987 as “No Way Out.”
production details
USA / 95 minutes / 1948
Director: John Farrow
Writers: Kenneth Fearing, Jonathan Latimer,
cast
Charles Laughton as Earl Janoth
Ray Milland as George Stroud
Maureen O’Sullivan as Georgette Stroud
George Macready as Steve Hagen
Rita Johnson as Pauline York
Elsa Lanchester as Louise Patterson
Harold Vermilyea as Don Klausmeyer
Dan Tobin as Ray Cordette
Harry Morgan as Bill Womack
Richard Webb as Nat Sperling
Elaine Riley as Lily Gold
Luis van Rooten as Edwin Orlin
Lloyd Corrigan as Colonel Jefferson Randolph aka McKinley
Frank Orth as Burt
Margaret Field as Second Secretary
Henri Letondal as Antique Dealer
Bess Flowers as Woman in Conference Room
Douglas Spencer as Bert Finch
Theresa Harris as Daisy
Noel Neill as Elevator Operator
Frances Morris as Miss Adams