NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray May 19': Arrow have produced a stacked Blu-ray for the Noir The Big Clock. The transfer is more robust than the Koch (by about 50%) and advertised as 'transferred from original film elements' while the image is similar the detail, grain and contrast go toward the Arrow rendering.

Audio also goes to Arrow, with a linear PCM mono (24-bit) track (as opposed to Koch's 16-bit). There are no demonstrative effects per-se but the score, composed by the great Victor Young (The File on Thelma Jordan, Three Faces West, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate etc.), adds a some suspense atmosphere in the second half. The Arrow is a Region FREE Blu-ray.

Arrow add a new audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin who is at his usual top-form giving his analysis - with less reference as a film noir and more of The Big Clock standing on its own as opposed to pigeon-hold in a genre. It is, predictably excellent and well worth the indulgence. Turning Back the Clock, is a newly filmed 23-minute analysis of the film by the critic and chief executive of Film London, Adrian Wootton. It sheds new light on the film and is both educational and enjoyable. A Difficult Actor, is a newly filmed 18-minute appreciation of Charles Laughton and his performance in The Big Clock by the actor, writer, and theatre director Simon Callow who is always a pleasure to listen to. We get the rare hour-long 1948 radio dramatization of The Big Clock by the Lux Radio Theatre, starring Ray Milland, original theatrical trailer and gallery of original stills and promotional materials. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options and for the first pressing has an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Christina Newland.

Always a desirable 'dark cinema' accompaniment to a double-feature night and the mood is drenched with noir-ish atmosphere. The Arrow Blu-ray with its superior a/v, exceptionally probing commentary and other extras is, by far, the one to own and we strongly recommend!

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