The Clock

Description
Soldier Joe Allen is on a two-day leave in New York, and there he meets Alice. She agrees to show him the sights and they spend the day together. In this short time they find themselves falling in love with each other, and they decide to get married before Joe has to return to camp.

Sometimes simplicity can be heartbreaking. So it is with The Clock, a wonderfully simple love story that stands as one of the gems of the MGM golden years. It should be noted right off that this 1945 film is not a musical, despite a talent roster led by the maestro of MGM musicals, producer Arthur Freed. Rather, it's a straight, black and white romance about a soldier (Robert Walker) with a two-day pass in unfamiliar, overwhelming New York City. He meets an office worker (Judy Garland), and in the glow of the city and each other, they fall in love. Underlying the sweetness of the romance is the time limit of the soldier's leave, after which he will be sent overseas; the clock brings an urgency to the action, especially after the lovers lose each other in the crush of a subway. Veteran character actor James Gleason provides lovely support, as does his real-life wife, Lucile. Director Vincente Minnelli brought his designer's eye to the film, turning (by his own avowed intention) New York City itself into the third main character in the drama. It's not difficult to guess the reason for the film's strong emotional tug, or for Judy Garland's radiance; Minnelli had fallen in love with Garland during the making of Meet Me in St. Louis a year earlier, and they would marry after filming The Clock. She was never lovelier than in these two pictures. --Robert Horton

Time is running out!
I'm not really into chick-flicks. Sappy, sentimental schmaltz or sensuality is more likely to make me grimace that sigh blissfully. Not that I have anything against romance, only I appreciate it more in the context of an adventure film or light-hearted musical comedy. However, when I heard about Judy Garland's World War II drama, The Clock (her only non-singing role), I decided to watch it because I am a die-hard Judy Garland fan.

The story seems trite. Joe is a soldier from a small town bewildered to find himself in New York City during a layover. Alice has lived in New York for a few years as a sensible working girl. When she loses the heel of her shoe after tripping over the lonely soldier, they strike up an unlikely friendship that eventually leads to a whirlwind romance. But time, for him, is running out. As the clock's hands move towards his departure, the young lovers become desperate not to let anything end their newfound love for each other.

This movie could have taken so many wrong turns and become just another sentimental 1940s romance. However, even though the plot seems far-fetched, the story is captured with refreshing naturalness. Judy Garland, famous for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, turns in a lovely performance as the conflicted young woman who finds herself falling for a soldier against the advice of her bossy roommate. Robert Walker plays Joe, the inexperienced and kindhearted Midwestern boy with the utmost sincerity.

In fact, sincere is probably the best word for the whole production. You don't stop to question the story or the characters, because they all exude a real-life quality. The acting is excellent throughout the film, including the minor bit parts. James and Lucille Gleason, a real life married couple, are especially memorable as the elderly milkman and his wife who encourage Joe and Alice not to let fear influence their decisions. "If people thought about all the things that could happen, they'd never do anything," is what the experienced couple tells the young lovers.

The very talented director Vincente Minnelli captured the all of the subtle nuances of the story with grace and poignancy. At the time, he and Judy Garland were falling in love with each other, and were married soon after the filming wrapped. He filmed Judy as she had never been filmed before: as a gorgeous, sophisticated young woman full of beauty and love. The audience cannot help but fall in love with her, just as her director did. Consequently, I believe that this is one of the most romantic movies I have ever seen.

Is it a chick-flick? Well...maybe. Is it worth watching? Oh, definitely.

A Wartime Love Story
"The Clock" is rather sweet and touching WWII era story of a NYC working woman (Judy Garland) who meets a soldier (Robert Walker) on brief military leave.

There are a couple of especially curious moments in the movie. One is a scene in a diner in which a strange woman is eating in a bizarre and unrealistic manner. Another occurs when Garland is walking while touching a number of statues, and eventually sits, with her shoes off, at the base of one statue. But there are also a number of moving scenes, such as when Walker and Garland are at the home of a happily married milkman and his wife - especially the look Walker gives Garland as he silently observes her talking.

"The Clock" is also enjoyable for the shots of the city's 1940s locales (such as the old Penn Station) intertwining this love story. In fact, the bustling city, which dwarfs the characters, comes across as both a protagonist and antagonist as the relationship develops.

Romance Without An R Rating
Actually the romance between the two stars seems more realistic since we aren't privvy to all of their sexual hangups or bedtime details and can concentrate on the emotional interface. The shots of '40's New York are great and if you have an HDTV with a progressive scan DVD player, the sharpness of this movie in widescreen is excellent. This is the New York I remember from many childhood trips up from Washington and the people are realistic. Walker's dialogue is silly at first but as the plot unwinds he sounds more and more normal. If you can get through the first ten minutes or so with the hayseed dialogue and hang on in until they get on the bus you will be fine. It is interesting from a historical standpoint to view the military presence in Penn Station and all over town. During the war this was the way it was. I doubt that the majority of the travellers in the station were extras.

' This Is A Vincente Minnelli Classic Film'
And This Is A Judy Garland Classic Movie I Love Everthing About This
Film The Story And How They Meet.

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