Plot: The Clock (1945) is the story of a young soldier in a big city - and the girl who trips over him in the train station. Lonely, sensitive Joe (Robert Walker) and bright, confident Alice (Judy Garland) are seemingly thrown together in the middle of New York City; and New York keeps things moving so fast that Joe and Alice just can't seem to get away from each other, until they're separated in the city's largest subway station, without knowing each other's last name or destination. When they find each other again, they decide to get married - but it's a race against the clock to get through the red tape before Joe's two-day leave is up.
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High Points:
- Engaging, believable plot
- Sweet characters who grow and change
- Wholesome romance
- Excellent actors, both main characters and supporting cast
- Unusual plot depth involving the characters' destiny being manipulated by the setting (in this case, New York)
Could Be Better:
- Mostly not shot on location; lots of (well-done, but still) backdrops and projection screens
- May be disappointing for some people: Judy Garland doesn't sing at all in this movie
Possible Concerns:
- One scene where a woman changes her blouse on-screen. It is brief (about one minute), and when my family watches it, my dad and brother just close their eyes until it is over.
- A false suggestion by a secretary that Alice and Joe may be having an inappropriate relationship. It is subtly implied; nothing is directly stated.
- A drunk man in one scene; he is harmless and provides some comic relief, but this may be a concern for some families. Also, Joe and Alice are given some wine as a gift early in the movie; they each take one sip before getting back to their conversation. Again, it is unobtrusive, but might be a problem for some families.
Vicki's Vote: 10/5!!
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Review: The Clock is my favorite movie of all time because it is sweet and wholesome, but still poignant and dramatic. In many movies, even when the main characters are supposed to be young and innocent, the actors themselves still bring their own "baggage" into the part; but both Robert Walker and Judy Garland were very young when this movie was filmed, so their characters are fresh and youthful. Their romance really seems like the first one for both of them.
On paper, this movie's plot seems to fall into the usual "boy meets girl, they overcome obstacles, fall in love and live happily ever after" mold. However, many critics have noted that this movie actually contains a special kind of antagonist - in this case, the city of New York itself. Now, "the city" takes the forms of different supporting characters - the bus fare collector, the milkman, the Irish mounted police officer ... all of these people are sent at just the right time to either bring Joe and Alice together, or later on, to try to drive them apart. You can feel the unseen force of the city throughout the movie - the man who walks by just as Joe tries to express his feelings for Alice; the busboy eavesdropping on them in the restaurant - it seems maddeningly random, but when Joe and Alice triumph and everything works out at the end, you see that there was a meaning in it, after all.
Of course, this sounds a little mystic. :-P What it actually is, is really superb writing by the screenplay director. And that's what makes this movie a cut above other straightforward romances.
There are a lot of visual symbols and nonverbal communication in this movie that also help to make it special. In fact, this has been a much harder review for me to write than I anticipated, because so much of the movie is felt, rather than heard or seen. The best scene is the beautiful church scene at the end - I can't tell you more about it, though. You have to see it for yourself! :-)
In summary, this movie is one of the best to come out of World War II. It provides a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people during the war, the parts of their lives that didn't involve shooting, marching, sailing, or rationing. It is also timeless, though, in the way that it portrays two sweet young people who fall in love for the first time. I wholeheartedly recommend this movie!
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High Points:
- Engaging, believable plot
- Sweet characters who grow and change
- Wholesome romance
- Excellent actors, both main characters and supporting cast
- Unusual plot depth involving the characters' destiny being manipulated by the setting (in this case, New York)
Could Be Better:
- Mostly not shot on location; lots of (well-done, but still) backdrops and projection screens
- May be disappointing for some people: Judy Garland doesn't sing at all in this movie
Possible Concerns:
- One scene where a woman changes her blouse on-screen. It is brief (about one minute), and when my family watches it, my dad and brother just close their eyes until it is over.
- A false suggestion by a secretary that Alice and Joe may be having an inappropriate relationship. It is subtly implied; nothing is directly stated.
- A drunk man in one scene; he is harmless and provides some comic relief, but this may be a concern for some families. Also, Joe and Alice are given some wine as a gift early in the movie; they each take one sip before getting back to their conversation. Again, it is unobtrusive, but might be a problem for some families.
Vicki's Vote: 10/5!!
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Review: The Clock is my favorite movie of all time because it is sweet and wholesome, but still poignant and dramatic. In many movies, even when the main characters are supposed to be young and innocent, the actors themselves still bring their own "baggage" into the part; but both Robert Walker and Judy Garland were very young when this movie was filmed, so their characters are fresh and youthful. Their romance really seems like the first one for both of them.
On paper, this movie's plot seems to fall into the usual "boy meets girl, they overcome obstacles, fall in love and live happily ever after" mold. However, many critics have noted that this movie actually contains a special kind of antagonist - in this case, the city of New York itself. Now, "the city" takes the forms of different supporting characters - the bus fare collector, the milkman, the Irish mounted police officer ... all of these people are sent at just the right time to either bring Joe and Alice together, or later on, to try to drive them apart. You can feel the unseen force of the city throughout the movie - the man who walks by just as Joe tries to express his feelings for Alice; the busboy eavesdropping on them in the restaurant - it seems maddeningly random, but when Joe and Alice triumph and everything works out at the end, you see that there was a meaning in it, after all.
Of course, this sounds a little mystic. :-P What it actually is, is really superb writing by the screenplay director. And that's what makes this movie a cut above other straightforward romances.
There are a lot of visual symbols and nonverbal communication in this movie that also help to make it special. In fact, this has been a much harder review for me to write than I anticipated, because so much of the movie is felt, rather than heard or seen. The best scene is the beautiful church scene at the end - I can't tell you more about it, though. You have to see it for yourself! :-)
In summary, this movie is one of the best to come out of World War II. It provides a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people during the war, the parts of their lives that didn't involve shooting, marching, sailing, or rationing. It is also timeless, though, in the way that it portrays two sweet young people who fall in love for the first time. I wholeheartedly recommend this movie!
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For More Information:
Plot Synopsis With Spoilers
Plot Synopsis Without Spoilers
Trailer (With Spoilers)
Plot Synopsis With Spoilers
Plot Synopsis Without Spoilers
Trailer (With Spoilers)
