Overview: After murdering someone, a magazine tycoon tries to frame an unknown, innocent man of the murder instead, while the innocent man tries to solve the murder himself.

'The Big Clock: Special Edition' [Blu-ray] is out May 14th, 2019 via Arrow Films UK / MVD Visual.

Blu-ray Verdict: The story begins via flashback. As it unfolds, Ray Milland's character (editor-in-chief of a crime magazine) inadvertently gets tied into a murder of a woman he met … who just happened to be the girlfriend of the magazine's owner (Charles Laughton) - a real sleaze bag and, quite possibly, the real killer!

All the cards are stacked against Milland, however, and his desperate task is to clear himself and implicate the real murdered (whom he thinks is Laughton's assistant). What happens in between all this is clever and different, with a host of odd characters.

Milland, whom I've come to respect more lately as I've seen some films of his of which I was not previously aware, is excellent here. So is Charles Laughton, although this is another role of Laughton's where we love despising him.

And incidentally, Laughton's mustache here may be one of the worst in any film in cinematic history! The other main character is Maureen O'Sullivan as Milland's wife, though this is quite a step down from her as she plays a supporting, rather than a starring role.

You'll recognize quite a few other characters, though none are truly that memorable, despite each being key to the plot. Oh, and the ending is a total surprise although it happens just a tad too quickly to savor.

By way, near the beginning of the film you should pay attention to the elevator operator in a tiny uncredited part. She is Noel Neill - the same lady who would play Lois Lane in the 1950s 'Superman' show.

Her voice was a dead giveaway and later you will see Harry Morgan in a small role as a combination masseur and 'fixer'.

One last thing, as it should have a big part to play is that the film dispenses with this metaphor, at least in such an obvious way.

Instead, it gives us a great big clock in the skyscraper's lobby (although there's no such thing in the book.) Beyond that, no one bothers to explain the title, sorry (but that means it's left to YOU to figure it out, I guess!) This is a Full Screen Presentation (1.33:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs via a new HD (1080) Presentation and comes with the Special Features of:

High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation transferred from original film elements
Uncompressed Mono 1.0 PCM audio soundtrack
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
New audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin
Turning Back the Clock, a newly filmed analysis of the film by the critic and chief executive of Film London, Adrian Wootton
A Difficult Actor, a newly filmed appreciation of Charles Laughton and his performance in 'The Big Clock' by the actor, writer, and theatre director Simon Callow
Rare hour-long 1948 radio dramatization of The Big Clock by the Lux Radio Theatre, starring staring Ray Milland
Original Theatrical Trailer
Gallery of original stills and promotional materials
Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
+ FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Christina Newland