The Big Clock
1948


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Highlights
  • Inspired by the 1948 Paramount Pictures film The Big Clock directed by John Farrow, starring Ray Milland, Maureen O’Sullivan and Charles Laughton.
  • A career oriented magazine editor finds himself on the run when he discovers his boss, a powerful publishing tycoon is framing him for murder.
  • Base on the 1946 novel of the same name by American novelist Kenneth Fearing.
  • Lux Radio Theater, a long-run classic radio anthology series that ran for more than twenty years, broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of The Big Clock on CBS on November 22, 1948. Ray Milland and Maureen O’Sullivan reprised their onscreen roles.
  • Screen Director’s Playhouse, a popular radio and television anthology series which ran on NBC beginning in 1949 broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of The Big Clock on July 8, 1949. Ray Milland and Maureen O’Sullivan reprised their onscreen roles.
  • One of over 700 Paramount Pictures films made between 1929 and 1949 which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution. They have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.
  • The Big Clock was one of the 400 films nominated for the American Film Institute’s “100 Years…100 Thrills” list of the greatest thrillers in American film history.

WRITTEN BY RAY EVANS & JAY LIVINGSTON
COPYRIGHT 1948


Recording History
Lyrics
I love to see the time go by.
Glad to see it fly,
And I know why.
‘Cause ev’ry minute that ticks away
Brings her {him} nearer than today.
 
When I hear the big clock tick-tock, tick-tock,
I feel gay
‘Cause ev’ry little tick-tock
Moves the big clock farther on its way.
 
I’ve been waitin’ here a million years
Time! Time! Time!
Wish that clock would loosen up its gears
And chime! Chime! Chime!
 
Waitin’ for the one to run to come
To night and day
She’ll {he’ll} be comin’ by and bye and by
We’ll give the clock away.
 
I count each hour
‘Til she {he} comes headin’ my way
That’s why ev’ry little tick-tock of the big clock
Makes me shout “hurray!”
 
When I hear the big clock tick-tock, tick-tock,
I feel gay
‘Cause ev’ry little tick-tock
Moves the big clock farther on its way.
 
THE BIG CLOCK written for the 1948 Paramount Pictures film The Big Clock. Music and lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. (Publication Version)