Movie Review: When the Clock Strikes (1961)

Synopsis: On the eve of convicted murderer Frank Pierce's execution, grocer Sam Morgan, feeling guilty about the testimony he gave at Pierce's trial, ends up at Cady's Lodge near the state prison so he can talk to the warden. He is unable to stop the execution, and his guilt only intensifies when another man confesses to the crime too late. Broken and angry, the once honest Sam helps Pierce's widow, Ellie, who is also staying at the lodge, find $160,000 Pierce stole from a bank and eventually falls in love with her. However, while they are waiting for the money to be forwarded from a post office box to the lodge, the real Mrs. Pierce shows up and soon after, Sam is told a detective from New York has also checked in.

Who's in it? The movie stars James Brown, Merry Anders, Henry Corden, Roy Barcroft and Peggy Stewart.

Review: As has happened many times before, I ended up coming across When the Clock Strikes while scrolling through my movie library in search of a different film and picked it because the description sounded somewhat interesting. As it turns out, the description wasn't all that accurate, but it still turned out to be a good choice.

There were a couple things that really stood out for me when it came to this movie. One of the main ones was Sam (Brown), who basically ends up at the lodge because he is too honest of a guy - his testimony, which based on his own description, shouldn't have been enough to convict anyone, was the final nail because he was so honest and that made him feel guilty even though the movie made it clear Pierce was not a good guy.

Everything that happens following Pierce's execution is the result of Sam trying to change that about himself but there seemed to be moments of internal conflict while also seeming like the perfect situation for someone to take advantage of him again. It also made me want to watch solely to find out what happened to him. Would he get arrested? Would he get betrayed or killed? Would he succeed in getting the money but give up his morality in the process?

The other thing I liked about this film was the mystery surrounding the lodge's other guests. Ellie (Anders) lied about who she was and gave very few details about her past. Since it was clear she was only interested in the money, it was hard to judge if she really was in love with Sam or just using him. Then when the real Mrs. Pierce (Stewart) showed up, she too acted suspiciously and secretively while the lodge owner, Cady (Corden) was one of those characters that always seemed suspicious no matter what he did.

The movie also had quite a bit of suspense throughout, whether it was Mrs. Pierce wanting to talk to the sheriff, Ellie giving signs she planned to leave without Sam and the detective that checked in, hadn't been seen yet and might not actually be a detective, and an ending that ultimately put Sam in a precarious position that didn't seem like he'd be able to get out of. All of it had me interested from start to finish.

Final Opinion: It is an entertaining crime drama with intriguing characters, some mystery and what looks to be a potential no-win scenario for the protagonist. It's a movie I'd recommend.

My Grade: A

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Here are some reviews of other crime movies from 1961:

Movie Review: Shadow of the Cat (1961)

Movie Review: Five Minutes to Live (1961)

Movie Review: Anatomy of a Psycho (1961)

Movie Review: The Cat Burglar (1961)