Ziglet_mir Two-lonely, average souls. Overwhelming New York City. Two days. Circa 1945.There is a romance never before seen in "The Clock", mainly due to the unprecedented chemistry between Judy Garland and Robert Walker. A love story unravels while another one strikes you through the camera. Beautiful Judy, all in silver, finally shows her beauty in full bloom as an adult while also not singing a note. The plot is very simple. Almost too simple--two individuals who literally stumble over each other in New York's Pennsylvania Station, spend some time together, and fall helplessly in love. Almost seems too far-fetched, eh? But it's not. Minnelli does a remarkable job conducting the two leads, with timeless scenes at Central Park, the Italian restaurant, and the milk truck. Everything seems so right--the way that Garland and Walker make conversation, suddenly want to know more about each other, and have a grand old time together while meeting new people in the process.The raw chemistry between Garland and Walker leads me to the part of the film that truly took my insides and messed with them a little. By not giving away too much--they find themselves on a date, getting a lift from a milkman (played superbly by James Gleason--who cares if he's not looking!) that brings their date to a turn for the best. A small adventure occurs and once it's all over, you can't help but love Joe and Alice. Morning comes and we find the two leads wanting to spend Joe's last day together and so they do. They walk around the city and get to the subway, only to find themselves in a situation that messes with the love you've been building for Joe and Alice. It's an amazing turn in direction that could have been done so poorly but was not. Actually, the whole movie could have easily been done poorly, but while watching you can see the care that Minnelli puts in, as if his own love for Garland is the movie, and Walker is just a surrogate for him.There is just too much to talk about with a film that literally has it all. Do yourself a favor and watch it soon."The Clock" is just an excellent, excellent film. The best romance I've seen as a film-goer, and I'm ecstatic I now own this on DVD.

mark.waltz This is a love letter to World War II New York City with a bit of horrific reality thrown in as an Army private (Robert Walker) on leave in the Big Apple for the very first time finds romance with a sweet young woman (Judy Garland in a non-singing role) after meeting by chance in Penn Station during a Sunday afternoon rush. She's convinced by him to show him around a bit, and they end up on a bus heading uptown on Fifth Avenue, go to the Central Park Zoo, and end up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She's already committed for an evening date and breaks it with the promise to meet him under the clock in the Astor Hotel. From there, romance grows gradually as their personalities clash a bit, they fight a bit, make up, and end up on the all night route of a kindly milkman (James Gleason) who simply offered them a ride over to the East Side. By the time their first date is over, love has struck them, and he proposes to her. They only have another 24 hours in which to get a blood test to get the license and find a judge to override New York State regulations to get them hitched before he has to get back to boot camp.In watching this, it is ironic to see how much has changed in New York City and how much has not. The crowded subway trains seem twice as full here, and when Garland and Walker are separated at Grand Central, you can't help but feel their anguish as they try desperately to find each other in a city of over 10 million people. Every extra or minor character in this sweet romantic drama has a moment to shine, and some of them even shine more then the credited actors. One such delightful moment comes when Gleason, Garland and Walker end up in a diner and encounter the drunken Keenan Wynn who harasses everybody in the joint, most amusingly a very eccentric looking woman (Moyna MacGill). This lady is a combination Beatrice Lillie/Fanny Brice/Hermoine Gingold, and downright hysterical even without saying a word.Director Vincent Minnelli utilizes with great detail the city as another character in the film, whether it be the Fulton Street market where Gleason is obviously picking up his load of milk, various east side streets and even briefly Times Square. You really feel like you've been transported back to World War II, and in a wonderful follow-up to his similar character in "Since You Went Away", Robert Walker gives you hope that this time will work out. Judy Garland goes from the teenaged years of "Meet Me in St. Louis" to womanhood, and she rises highly above the ability to dramatically prove herself without the benefit of song. Outstanding photography, a touching musical score and sensational editing add to the power of this screenplay, making this valentine to love during wartime (in any city, not just New York) a wonderful trip down memory lane.

utgard14 Soldier (Robert Walker) on leave in New York City meets working girl (Judy Garland) and the two have a whirlwind romance. Old-fashioned, beautiful love story with two captivating leads. James Gleason offers some memorable support as a kindly milkman and Keenan Wynn has an amusing bit as a drunk. If this isn't Vincente Minnelli's best film, it's at least his second best. Those checking it out hoping to hear Judy sing might be initially disappointed, as audiences were at the time apparently. But give it a shot and I think you'll fall in love with it. Modern cynical viewers will probably find more faults with it than romantics.

Ilpo Hirvonen The Clock directed by Vincente Minelli (who by the way got married with the leading actress Judy Garland) is a romantic love story, which takes place in New York during the WWII.The story begins when a soldier (Robert Walker) travels to New York for the weekend and meets a girl (Judy Garland) at the railway station. They start spending time together, and fall in love without even knowing each other very well.Even that the story has its flaws and some plot twists are a bit unbelievable, it has something "magical" in it. Because the characters are still well created and the milieus of the movie are fantastic. Even that most of this movie was filmed in the Hollywood studios, but well the cinematography isn't the only thing which creates a good atmosphere.The sudden love of two strangers also seems a bit unbelievable at some points, but still, that probably is what many people dream of, and this was made in the year of 1945, pure escapism. A movie is always a reflection of its time.This is also great entertainment. They can't make romantic films like this anymore in Hollywood. I can name dozens of great love stories from 30-40's, but can I do the same from 90-00's? No I can't.7/10 A nice, simple love story with sympathetic characters. Recommended to everyone!