The Clock (film)

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The Clock
Directed by Vincente Minnelli
Produced by Arthur Freed
Written by Pauline Gallico
Paul Gallico
Starring Judy Garland
Robert Walker
James Gleason
Keenan Wynn
Marshall Thompson
Lucile Gleason
Ruth Brady
Music by George Bassman
Cinematography George J. Folsey
Editing by George White
Distributed by MGM
Release date(s) 1945
Running time 90 min.
Country U.S.
Language English
Budget $1,324,000
IMDb profile

The Clock is a 1945 film starring Judy Garland and Robert Walker and directed by Garland's then-future husband, Vincente Minnelli. This was Garland's first dramatic role as well as the first motion picture made by her in which she did not sing.

Contents

[edit] The Plot

The Clock is the story of a soldier named Joe (Walker) who, while on a 48-hour leave in New York City, meets Alice (Garland) in Pennsylvania Station. They fall in love and are married before Joe's leave ends and he returns to war.

Garland had asked to star in a straight dramatic role after growing tired of the strenuous schedules of musical films. Although the studio was hesitant, the producer, Arthur Freed, eventually approached Garland with the script for The Clock after buying the rights to the short unpublished story by Paul and Pauline Gallico.

[edit] Filming Problems

Initially, Fred Zinnemann was brought in to direct the picture. After about a month he was removed at the request of Garland. There was a lack of chemistry between the two and early footage was disappointing.

When Freed asked who Garland wanted to direct the film, she answered, "Vincente Minnelli". Minnelli had just directed Garland the previous year in Meet Me in St. Louis, which was a tremendous success. Moreover, she and Minnelli had become romantically involved during the principal photography of Meet Me In St. Louis. During production of The Clock, they rekindled their romance, and were engaged by the end of shooting.

Minnelli discarded footage shot by Zinnemann and reshaped the film. He revised some scenes, tightened up the script and incorporated New York City into the film's setting as a third character. As with Meet Me in St. Louis, he supervised adjustments to Garland's costumes, make-up and hair.

Though the film was shot entirely on the MGM lot in Culver City, Minnelli managed to make New York City believable, even duplicating Pennsylvania Station at a reported cost of $66,000.

Both stars of The Clock were plagued by personal problems that continued throughout their lives. During filming, Garland became increasingly addicted to prescription drugs given by the studio to control her weight and pep her up.

Walker, an alcoholic, suffered from depression. Just prior to filming the The Clock, Walker learned his wife, Jennifer Jones, was having an affair with film producer David O. Selznick and wanted a divorce. Walker began to spiral downward. During filming, Garland would often find him drunk in a Los Angeles bar and then sober him up throughout the night so he could appear before cameras the next day.

[edit] Popular and Critical Acclaim

Many audiences who were surprised and disappointed to find that Garland did not sing in the film, were nevertheless impressed by her performance. It would be sixteen years, however, before she would make another dramatic film (see 1961's Judgment at Nuremberg).

Garland was continually critical of her own on-screen appearances, and The Clock was one of the few films with which she was pleased. Minnelli was a considered a marvel at his craft, and knew how to film an actress to best enhance her beauty. Many fans feel Garland never appeared more alluring or lovely.

Fans point to two scenes that make this film most memorable. The first shows Alice and Joe reunited after being separated in the subway station and she rushes into his arms. The second occurs at the end of the film when she is swept into a crowd of people and is lost, creating a feeling of loneliness.

Although this film, released on May 25, 1945, made a respectable profit, it was not as successful as Meet Me in St. Louis, released the previous year. Because World War II was ending, The Clock's heartrending story was not a popular choice among film-goers who wanted to put the war behind them. Nevertheless, it was well received by critics who favorably noted Garland's dramatic talent and transformation into a mature actress.

Today the film is considered a romantic wartime classic and favorite among Garland fans.

Both Arthur Freed (the Producer) and Roger Edens have a cameo in this film. Near the beginning, Freed lights Walker's cigarette and then gives him the lighter. Edens, a music arranger and close friend to Garland, plays piano in a restaurant.

[edit] The Clocks

In the film, the titular timepiece is located in the Astor Hotel, Times Square. The famous hotel was once located at 1515 Broadway. Built in the Beaux Arts style in 1904, the Astor was demolished in 1967 and replaced by One Astor Plaza, a tall office-tower structure.

When Joe and Alice are accidentally separated, they find each other again at Pennsylvania Station near the information desk. Another clock is depicted hanging there, closely resembling the one prominently displayed in Grand Central Station.

Source: New York Architecture Images website.

[edit] Pennsylvania Station

According to Robert Osborne in his introduction of this film on Turner Classic Movies, because World War II had not yet ended, filming on location was not considered cost-effective or easy. Consequently, the Penn Station set was built inside one of the large sound stages at MGM Studios in Culver City, California.

[edit] Recent Re-Releases

Released on VHS in the early 90's, the film went out of print for several years until a limited colorized version of the film was released. Warner Brothers then released it on DVD in February 2007.

[edit] External links

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