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The Clock

Play trailer Poster for The Clock 1945 1h 30m Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
While on a two-day leave in New York City, soldier Joe Allen (Robert Walker) meets secretary Alice Mayberry (Judy Garland) when she trips over him. They hit it off, and Alice decides to show Joe around. As they tour the sights of New York, they begin to fall in love. After inadvertently meeting a milk deliveryman (James Gleason), they befriend him and help him finish his route. The next morning, they decide they should get married before Joe must return to duty.
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The Clock

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker Apr 14, 2020
This rapturous wartime romance, starring Judy Garland and Robert Walker, is also a rowdy and tender paean to the liberating vitality of New York's public life and its chance encounters. Go to Full Review
James Agee TIME Magazine Feb 28, 2018
Director Vincente Minnelli's talents are so many-sided and generous that he turns even the most over-contrived romanticism into something memorable. Go to Full Review
Sean Burns Crooked Marquee Jun 23, 2022
A musical in spirit, if not execution. Judy Garland doesn’t sing, but she might as well. Go to Full Review
Ellie Lucas From the Front Row Jun 15, 2022
3.5/4
One of Garland's finest films, and one of the era's most piercing romances. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jun 12, 2022
3/4
As the couple spend time together and we spend time with the couple, the film blossoms into a touching romance. Go to Full Review
Andrew Chan 4Columns Apr 10, 2020
Like all the best melodramas, it shows us how society is set up to keep our hopelessly ambiguous interior worlds in check. But all you have to do is look at Garland to feel that racing pulse beneath the skin...she knew that love is anxiety. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Rachel P @RT56806427 Sep 7, 2026 What an unexpected refreshing joy of a movie! It leaves me giggling and feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Much needed at the moment! Garland was stunning and I was pleasantly surprised to see it was just her acting and not singing. I liked that it showcased her talents other than singing. Walker was so earnest and was a great wholesome male lead. I found the movie delightful! See more Richard G @RT02166007 Nov 29, 2025 Judy Garland's first foray into a strictly dramatic performance has her as a young New Yorker, who encounters a soldier on a 48-hour leave. Their developing relationship takes them from strangers to two people discovering all of there is to know about the other, and quickly falling in love. Director Minnelli really wanted to make NYC a central character in the telling of this simple story and succeeded beyond expectations. The performances of Robert Walker as the soldier and Garland blended together so well, you would think they really a couple in love, telling their story. See more Aldo G @RT54480587 Jun 8, 2023 A simply love story that contains one scene - a reunion - that will touch those emotional chords a film like this should do. It was Judy Garland's first role playing an adult and she delivers. Robert Walker isn't who I would have cast (Jack Lemmon, maybe), but he's acceptable. See more Jun 18, 2022 A wonderful WW2 romantic tale represents the times. See more Jesse D @RT65417321 Sep 7, 2021 A dear, beautiful, kindhearted movie. See more David Windsor Mar 3, 2020 Absolutely charming. See more Read all reviews
The Clock

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Movie Info

Synopsis While on a two-day leave in New York City, soldier Joe Allen (Robert Walker) meets secretary Alice Mayberry (Judy Garland) when she trips over him. They hit it off, and Alice decides to show Joe around. As they tour the sights of New York, they begin to fall in love. After inadvertently meeting a milk deliveryman (James Gleason), they befriend him and help him finish his route. The next morning, they decide they should get married before Joe must return to duty.
Director
Vincente Minnelli
Producer
Arthur Freed
Screenwriter
Robert Nathan, Joseph Schrank
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 25, 1945, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 30m
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