Judy Garland @ 100: "The Clock"
by Eurocheese
After the milestone of her smash hit Meet Me in St. Louis, having proved herself as a now adult leading lady, where would Judy head next? She decided to build up her acting cred with her first purely dramatic role in The Clock, a romance wherein Garland’s character Alice falls for a soldier on leave in New York City. It’s not surprising that audiences at the time were expecting her to sing (she always had before), especially since the music swells in several moments as if she's about to do so. Despite the lack of songs, critics at the time appreciated the film's sweet tone and it's hard not to get swept up in the couple’s earnest romance.
Garland had struggled with addiction for years, but as she fought to maintain her weight and supported co-star Robert Walker as he drank his way through his deteriorating marriage, her addiction grew...