Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

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.

To live a beautiful love story need not ostentatious, or clipping or anything that exceeds what is innate in man... The only thing needed is given unconditionally from within, from the sincerity, respect, kindness is to be... prodigal in clean words, in looks transparent and edifying proposals. To live an unforgettable love story, you must not look for it, and only you feel that you are willing (to) give you when you feel entirely, before you, is crossed that being that, like a stroke of fate, feel he's the one. With a perfect match, the wonderful Judy Garland and Robert Walker efficient, both small in stature but big in heart, an original story of marriage Paul and Pauline Gallico, as simple as dry leaves that sit around a tree, but as great as your ability to see the human potential and the infinite love that two people can translucid simple and common. In times of war, Grand Central Station New York, is a soldier named Joe Allen, who has two days off before traveling to Europe to be part of the war there. Oblivious to the city, Joe feels adrift... until a small incident, puts it in the presence of a young office worker named Alice Mayberry. Alice and Joe. Joe and Alice. Two names that abound in the streets and seem lost in the crowds.But these two things modest, will take us down a path where we can see no pink roses, a black and white world that looks full of color sensitivity and tenderness. And with them, other unique and lovely human beings we will realize the warmth, generosity and simple greatness that abounds on every street. Vincente Minnelli is beyond the scope colorful, almost ostentatious, that characterized many of his films (especially musicals) to enter, with deliberate modesty, in a deep and meaningful story that many of those of high complex budget and paraphernalia, which financed the MGM. And hence arise after the marriage Minnelli-Garland, soon to spawn at that phenomenal voice of the great Liza Minnelli.If you are of those who get to see beauty in the strong wall of an old adobe house, a bent branch tree about to fall or a drop falling intermittently rippling in a small pond, "CLOCK" will come to you soul.Maxim Gorky was right when he wrote: "All that is truly wise is simple and clear."

"The Clock," like "Waterloo Bridge," is one of those films that doesn't conform to any set rules, but breaks them instead.Robert Walker is a soldier on leave and has 48 hours to do whatever he wants and arrives at Grand Central Station friendless and nowhere to go in particular. He asks a gentleman how to "get out of this place" trying to make a friend, but the man leaves him to his own devices. Judy Garland is an ordinary girl who stumbles over Robert's feet, and from there on in, they're like glue. (By the way, Judy does not sing at all in this film.) At first, she keeps saying she has to be somewhere. But finds herself wondering why and will it hurt to be nice to this soldier and keep him company. As they spend time together, she gets to like him. But for him, it didn't take that long. They wander around New York with nothing to do in particular but just being together. But what happens when his leave is over, and is it right to marry a girl at all, given the circumstances? Will she wait for him? And, who knows what condition he'll be in, if he comes back at all!"The Clock" may be overshadowed by Vincente Minnelli's "Gigi," "An American in Paris," and others, but I would go so far to say, that not only is this his most personal film, but maybe even his crowning achievement in simple storytelling and conveying the reality of the common people. You don't see Garland and Walker, but a girl and a guy. You feel like you're seeing portions of a real day in the life of these people. A true testament to the talent of the stars and the movie's director and a loving look at the dreams of us all.

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!