The Clock (1945)

The Clock Poster

A G.I. en route to Europe falls in love during a whirlwind two-day leave in New York City.

Overview
"The Clock" is an American romantic drama film that was launched in 1945. The classic movie was directed by Vincente Minnelli with the script co-written by Robert Nathan and Joseph Schrank. Judy Garland and Robert Walker star as the primary lead characters whose love story unfolds in the city of New York.

Plot
"The Clock" is a romantic, heartfelt, and time-bound drama that depicts the charm of spontaneous and raw love, blooming under a ticking clock. The story focuses on the captivating yet simple romance of a soldier named Joe Allen (Robert Walker) and a girl named Alice Maybery (Judy Garland).

Joe, who is on a two-day leave before being released overseas to combat in World War II, shows up in New York City for the first time. He fulfills Alice, a dutiful and lovely secretary, at Pennsylvania Station when she journeys over his foot. This first encounter paves the way for a blossoming romance in between the two.

They initially hang around together sightseeing and checking out the city as Alice helps Joe to browse through the city's train modifications. The set start to understand their true feelings for each other as they continue to navigate the city, going on tours at Central Park, going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and having a casual meal under cabanas.

Rising Action
Unfortunately, the clock keeps ticking reminding them their time together is going out. As Joe's leave comes to an end, they deal with the heart-wrenching reality of needing to bid farewell and potentially never seeing each other again.

With time going out, they experience a series of unfortunate events consisting of a lost hotel reservation and limitless rain saturating the city, but it couldn't dampen their spirits as they eventually decide to get wed. They withstand the obstacles of acquiring a marital relationship license, gathering required witnesses, and finding a priest to bind them in matrimony.

Climax
Their rash wedding event, carried out by the only offered judge in the middle of the night, circles back to the short lived style of time. In a vital and moving scene, as they exchange pledges, the ticking of a clock is plainly audible in the soundtrack, underscoring the urgency and the preciousness of each minute they have together.

Ending
After getting married, they spend their honeymoon in an over night taxi flight driven by a friendly cabby. They lastly state a tearful goodbye at the train station the following early morning. The movie ends on an enthusiastic note, with them making guarantees of a terrific future after the war ends.

Reception and Legacy
"The Clock" is considered a capitivating wartime romance that has actually successfully endured the test of time. The film, with its honest story and emotional intensity, represents a fascinating romance unfolded against the background of the severe realities of wartime. Judy Garland's very first non-musical role and the imaginative direction by Vincente Minnelli are often credited for its favorable reception among audiences and critics alike. Today, the movie is hailed as a timeless and is remembered for its moving representation of love, the inevitability of time, and the power of human connection.

Top Cast

  • Judy Garland (small)
    Judy Garland
    Alice Maybery
  • Robert Walker (small)
    Robert Walker
    Corporal Joe Allen
  • James Gleason (small)
    James Gleason
    Al Henry
  • Keenan Wynn (small)
    Keenan Wynn
    The Drunk
  • Lucile Gleason (small)
    Lucile Gleason
    Emily Henry
  • Marshall Thompson (small)
    Marshall Thompson
    Bill
  • Ruth Brady (small)
    Ruth Brady
    Helen
  • Chester Clute (small)
    Chester Clute
    Michael Henry
  • Dick Elliott (small)
    Dick Elliott
    New Jersey Man at Penn Station
  • Moyna MacGill (small)
    Moyna MacGill
    Patron at Diner
  • Ruby Dandridge
    Milk Customer