Odelecol
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Skyler
Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.
Jerrie
It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...
Keith Orr
I don't believe it would be much of a spoiler alert to say that the title of the film refers to Streisand's character Daisy Gamble's extraordinary gifts for clairvoyance, ESP, past life regression as well as an uncanny ability to make her rooftop plant life grow that goes quite beyond having a mere green thumb. And she discovers these deeply- suppressed talents with the aid of Dr. Marc Chabot (Montand) who inadvertently dredges them to the surface in an effort to get her to kick an everyday commonplace nicotine habit to empress her stuffy staid fiancée whose strictly squaresville. Coming after Streisand's Oscar winning role as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" (a shared win with Katherine Hepburn for a "Lion in Winter" that same year of 1968) and the miserable drubbing she received from the critics for her unique interpretation of Dolly Levi in "Hello Dolly" (1969), it was hoped by all that her performance in "On a Clear Day..." would solidify her prominence as a reigning star in Hollywood. Such was not the case. Nevertheless, Streisand's dominant bubbly, effervescent personality always managed to emerge transcending her many characterizations to radiate despite the various roles she elected to appear in establishing her considerable mainstay to this very day. Nor was this Vincente Minnelli's best directorial effort who was responsible for such cinematic musical milestones in everything from "Meet Me in St. Louis"(1944) to the Oscar-winning Best Picture for 1958 "Gigi" as well as keeping his hand in as an unqualified expert dramatist with film adaptations such as "Tea and Sympathy" (1956). Still, there's still quite a bit of magic evident in this film to have made this journeyman effort on his part a bright enough light among so many musicals which lit up Broadway to justify the estimated $10,000,000 Paramount Pictures sent on "A Clear Day..." well worth anyone's while.
simplemansc6
Frankly, I think the discussion of this movie will never end. We don't know what director's cut was like...may have been better or worse. The release was just bad timing. and there was no appetite for this in the "movie going" public. It is a dinosaur.Streisand was at her best in this film. Montand wasn't awful, just miscast. I recently watched some of his other movie performances, and was left with a question about the appeal that folks had in him to begin with. The music/songs were only brought to life by Streisand....who else could have held your interest in the lyrics? If this had been released before "Hello Dolly" it would have been a hit. Instead, it made Streisand look like a "one-trick-pony".Director V.Minnelli was the right choice, in my opinion, and any adaption from stage to screen is always risky. Especially with a musical. No matter how you feel about this movie, try to imagine it without her. Who could pull it off? Your answers will thrill me. I think, all in all, it was just made at the wrong time. When I watch it now, I feel very nostalgic about the past. Yeah! It was cool to have your bedding match your nightgown!
raymond-106
First of all I'd like to say I'm no great lover of Barbara Steisand's work so I even surprised myself that I would want to view another of her films. Perhaps I was charmed by the title "On a clear day you can see forever" which has a certain magic about it.I once knew a gardener who talked to his plants and we have all had odd experiences concerning a telephone call or a knock at the door or meeting a long lost friend. i suppose you would call them premonitions and quite unexplainable. So Daisy Gamble with her cigarette addiction as well was not so different from the rest of us and she had enough sense to seek psychiatric help.Flashbacks in the film added a welcome degree of variety because for me the film lacked sparkle and at times was on the edge of boredom. At times I was wondering how much longer the film would continue because it was beginning to feel rather drawn out. In a really good film you are craving for more.I think the songs were a really great let down. None of them was particularly catchy, a tune that would stay with you for the next few days or so. I can understand why the original Broadway production was not an outstanding success.The actors in this film seemed somewhat tired and disinterested. As a comparison check out once more "Hello Dolly" with an enthusiastic cast and great vocals and you'll see what i mean.
Amy Adler
Daisy Gamble (Barbra Streisand), a young Manhattanite engaged to a stuffy businessman, needs to quit smoking in the worst way. Her fiancé, you see, is angling for a higher paying job and is hoping to make the best impression possible on his future bosses. A chain-puffing partner, therefore, might be a liability. To help her overcome her addiction, Daisy seeks out the aid of a psychology professor, Dr. Marc Chabot (Yves Montand) who specializes in hypnosis. But, once under Chabot's "spell", Daisy channels a former life, where she was a British rags-to-riches lady named Melinda. In a strange twist of fate, Chabot falls in love with Melinda and schedules sessions with Daisy, just to talk to her past self. Daisy, on the other hand, soon has her heart set on the doctor. In this unusual love triangle, what will be the result? And, what about Daisy's former stepbrother, Tad (Jack Nicholson), who may have deep affection for his once-upon-a-time sibling himself? This is a nice and very unusual story, set to fine music. The cast is wonderful and musically gifted, as Streisand and Montand can sing with the best of them and act up a storm. The supporting cast, including Nicholson, is mighty talented, also. The New York City setting is compelling and the costumes are very well selected, especially Streisand's more unusual outfits. The camera work is a bit dated but not really a distraction to the story's telling. About the only objection any viewer might voice would be the running time of the flick, for it is a bit long. Nevertheless, it is possible to watch a film in two settings, is it not? For fans of Ms. Streisand, musicals, or imaginative tales, here is clearly a film you will enjoy, either for a day or forever.
