The Clock (1945) - Episode 132

Back to Hollywood's Golden Age! Following our recent episode on David Lean's The Passionate Friends, Chris picks another gem from the '40s: Vincente Minnelli's The Clock, starring Judy Garland opposite Robert Walker. Does the perfect romance film exist? Take it from Haddaway: "What Is Love?" This one makes a strong case — strangers on a New York street become strangers on a train, and strangers fearing the future become strangers in love in the present. Who cares what tomorrow brings when happenstance can unlock romance like this? It's a film of rare firsts and lasts: one of only three non-singing roles in Garland's career, and one of Walker's few against-type performances. The tragically short lives of both leads add a haunting layer to the film's meditation on time — could a movie like this get made today? Join Chris and Kevin as they roll back the nitrate reels of Golden Age Hollywood to find out.