The Clock

1945

The Clock

Critics Consensus

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The Clock Photos

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Movie Info

The Clock was designed by MGM as a "small" picture--though characteristically, it was a bigger production than most "A" efforts from any other studio. Paul Gallico's simple story involves a girl (Judy Garland) and a GI (Robert Walker), who meet under the huge clock at New York's Pennsylvania Station. Over the next 48 hours, the girl and the soldier fall in love, make the acquaintance of such lovable gotham types as cabbie James Gleason and inebriate Keenan Wynn, and decide to get married before the GI is shipped out again. The enormous Pennsylvania Station set, combined with some unusually convincing back projection (MGM was hitherto notorious for the worst back projection in the business) has convinced even lifelong New Yorkers that The Clock was actually lensed in Manhattan rather than Hollywood. Director Vincente Minnelli injected further visual dynamism in The Clock by seldom repeating the same camera angle twice.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Classics, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Romance
Directed By:

Vincente Minnelli
Written By:

Joseph Schrank, Robert Nathan
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1945 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Feb 6, 2007
Runtime:

90 minutes
Studio:

MGM

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Cast

Robert Walker
as Cpl. Joe Allen

Judy Garland
as Alice Maybery

Keenan Wynn
as The Drunk

James Gleason
as Al Henry

Lucille Gleason
as Mrs. Al Henry

Marshall Thompson
as Bill

Ruth Brady
as Helen

Paul E. Burns
as Bartender

Chester Clute
as Michael Henry

Wheaton Chambers

Dick Elliott
as Friendly Man

Moyna MacGill
as Luncheonette Lady

Arthur Space
as Blood Tester

Ray Teal
as Cop

Robert E. Homans
as Official

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Critic Reviews for The Clock

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (1) | DVD (2)

Director Vincente Minnelli's talents are so many-sided and generous that he turns even the most over-contrived romanticism into something memorable.

Feb 28, 2018 | Full Review…

James Agee
TIME Magazine
Top Critic
The film creates an environment bereft of cynicism.

Dec 27, 2018 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…

Nathanael Hood
The Retro Set
Billed in some circles as the original Before Sunrise, Vincente Minnelli's The Clock doesn't come particularly close to reaching those hallowed grounds, but its structure and conclusion certainly make the comparison understandable.

Sep 15, 2010 | Rating: 65/100 | Full Review…

Gabe Leibowitz
eCinemaCenter.com
Evanescent romance braving urban landscapes and wartime ruptures, captured by a gliding-craning-caressing camera

Feb 12, 2010 | Full Review…

Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
...generally as affable and lighthearted as its premise might have indicated.

Mar 19, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
It's hard not to be moved by its heart-warming romantic tale.

Jan 5, 2007 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Drama with spectacular crowd scenes, showing life in New York City.

Aug 26, 2006 | Full Review…

Michael E. Grost
Classic Film and Television
The beginning and ending are symmetrical: Story opens at Penn State, picking up a soldier (Robert Walker) in the crowd, and it ends when Alice (Judy Garland) sees him off at Penn State, when her figure is lost in the crowd

Jun 28, 2006 | Rating: A- | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A nice little wartime romance. Garland and Walker are sweet at the young couple in love.

Nov 14, 2002 | Rating: 3/5

Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

View All Critic Reviews (9)

Audience Reviews for The Clock

Sep 05, 2010

Two people meet, fall in love at first sight, and get married the end. Interesting and sweet, but predictable and silly at the same time.

Aj V Super Reviewer
Apr 26, 2010

Very romantic and emotional. Certain parts are so corny but somehow, before you realize it, your spirit is captured and floating away with the emotion in the film.

Dannielle A Super Reviewer
Apr 04, 2007

sweet gentle low key film with a non-singing Judy.

jay n Super Reviewer