MovieChat Forums > The Big Clock (1948) Discussion > Question on snippet of dialogue

Question on snippet of dialogue

posted 18 years ago by fast_fierce_and_funny
3 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone have a DVD of the film handy?

I'm wondering if someone would be kind enough to post Laughton's first half-dozen lines. I'm seeing the film in a couple of days (please God...) and I'm trying to get myself "psyched up" for the experience.

I've tried looking for a copy of the script online, but alas, no luck.

[–] goofy-3 18 years ago

Probably way too late for you, I just ran across your post, but I did pull out the dialogue.

JANOTH'S FIRST 6 LINES

SIT DOWN, GENTLEMEN, SIT DOWN.
I RESENT THIS, I RESENT THIS DEEPLY.
IN THE 281,376,000 SECONDS OF THE AVERAGE MAN'S LIFE THE TICK OF THE CLOCK IS A BEAT OF THE HEART.
AND YET YOU SIT HERE USELESSLY TICKING YOUR LIVES AWAY BECAUSE CERTAIN MEMBERS OF OUR CONFERENCE ARE NOT ON SCHEDULE ... WHERE IS GEORGE STROUD?
(HAGEN) ROY'S TRYING TO FIND HIM
I DO NOT PROPOSE TO BE HELD UP, NOT EVEN BY MR. STROUD
HAVE YOU, UH, TOLD THE OTHERS WHAT WE WANT?
(HAGEN) I DID, TO BUILD CIRCULATION
JUST IDEAS, STEVE? DYNAMIC ANGLES. WE LIVE IN A DYNAMIC AGE, GENTLEMEN,
DYNAMIC COMPETITORS, RADIO, NEWSPAPERS, NEWSREELS. AND WE MUST ANTICIPATE TRENDS BEFORE THEY ARE TRENDS.

[–] fast_fierce_and_funny 18 years ago

Probably way too late for you, I just ran across your post, but I did pull out the dialogue.

That's quite all right. I do appreciate your posting the dialogue all the same. When I read it, I can just hear Charles Laughton speaking the lines. [smiles]

I must confess, though, that after seeing the film, I liked Elsa Lanchester's character a great deal, too:

"Penelope! You left your roller skates on the front steps!"

What a brilliant film...

[–] geoffzman04 11 years ago

The writing and Elsa's nuanced portrayal was genuine creative genius!