On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

This lesser-known of Ms. Streisand's musicals will gradually pull you in, just as Dr. Chabot is gradually pulled into belief in Melinda. This is one of the few musicals I actually enjoy and l have have viewed many times. The songs support and advance the plot, instead of the usual bursting into song about something that has already been stated. Two of my favourite scenes are the breathtaking Royal Pavilion in all its Recency decadence and the song "Come Back to Me." Miss Gamble shouting "Shut up!" at the end of that number I think very humorous. I rated this film a 9 instead of a 10 because, though I admire M&s. Streisand's attempts, her Cockney accent is none too good. Her Received Pronunciation is better. So, some dull Sunday afternoon, give this nice little film a chance.

First of all, I must admit that I've just watched the film tosee Jack Nicholson for few minutes. Even though it is a shame that most of his scenes were cut, including the scene where he is singing 'Who Is There Among Us Who Knows?'. Anyway, it is always a pleasure to see Jack on the screen. But If we go back to the movie, I can say that it was far beyond my expectations. Apart from the master acting of Yves Montand, I've also really impressed by the vivacious acting of Barbara Streisand. As Yves Montand play the French doctor role readily, Barbara Streisand leads her role with a pure joy of harmony. Besides the acting, the other factors that contributed the movie are the set architecture and costume designing. That perfectly planned interior design, and detailing of the environment evoke me the finickiness of Alfred Hitchcock. On the other hand, the 70's style multifarious and colorful dresses of Barbra Streisand virtually bloomed the movie.The only weak point of the movie is the inadequacy of the scenario. Yet it is a musical, it would be a much better film if it has a richer and more filled script.

Although you would never know it by the scope of the cinematography with its breathtaking shots of New York, topped by Yves Montand singing on top of the World Trade Center, the film version of On A Clear Day You Can See Forever is actually quite an edited version of what was on stage. Having been one of those fortunate enough to see one of the 280 performances during its run in 1965-1966, I can tell you this for a fact. Quite a bit of the Regency England flashbacks is cut out and even some of the modern era numbers.Still On A Clear Day You Can See Forever retains both the title song and Come Back To Me which are the two numbers that have lingered on. Robert Goulet had a big hit record of the latter song, elbowing its way into the charts dominated by the British Rock invasion. The original show starred Barbara Harris and John Cullom and had such worthy folks as Hamilton Camp, William Daniels and Titos Vandis in the cast.As my father's profession was psychology this show was a must item to see in our house. With the powerhouse name of Barbra Streisand now in the lead playing Daisy Gamble, Streisand seeks out noted psychologist Yves Montand to cure her of an incredible five pack a day smoking habit with hypnosis. But under hypnosis Streisand proves to be a remarkable subject, revealing a past life as an Englishwoman of means who didn't always have those means and was quite the the figure during the Regency. She was also hanged as a traitor when her psychic ability to predict disasters at sea made authorities think she was collaborating with the French.Montand's pretty excited about his subject, giving her quite a buildup with colleagues like Simon Oakland and Bob Newhart. In the meantime Montand is falling for some aspect of Streisand, but is it who she is or who she was? As for Streisand she's engaged, kind of, to Larry Blyden who is chasing the everyman suburban dream in America. Blyden's got an interesting character, it's a combination of his own creation Sammy Glick from What Makes Sammy Run and the worst aspects of some of Jack Lemmon's everyman characters from several films. William Daniels played his part on stage.Jack Nicholson plays Streisand's former step brother and I'm surprised because even then Nicholson was a rising star, that he would do such a small part. His scenes are mostly with Streisand, but he's got one devastating scene with Blyden in which in his own droll way, he punctures a lot of his pretensions.This was the next to last film directed by Vincente Minnelli who did a few good musicals in his time and this certainly belongs among them. Though I would have liked to have heard more of the Burton Lane-Alan Jay Lerner score, what was left was sung well indeed by Streisand and Montand. In an age when musical budgets were catastrophic because of the studio system breakdown, all the good ones, in fact just about every one seemed to star the only bankable singers around, Barbra Streisand and Julie Andrews. I'm glad this one got preserved.

This was one of the very last of the lavish screen musicals to be made in the classic mode, and, by the time of it's early 1970 theatrical release, it already seemed tired and dated. This is why it is somewhat shocking that, when viewed today, ON A CLEAR DAY is not only tremendously entertaining, but that it's also possibly the most underrated film of both director Vincent Minnelli and star Barbra Streisand. The film's reincarnation theme was pretty cutting-edge back in the early-seventies, and it still feels unique even today. The film received fair-to-negative reviews from critics at the time, and even though it proved to be a modest hit at the box office, it has been long forgotten by the general public, and it even goes unlisted on many of Streisand's selected filmographies. This is a shame, for Streisand's highly impressive dual performance may prove to be a revelation for some of her admirers and critics alike.Streisand does some of her very best screen work in the film's frequent flashbacks. Not only does she look absolutely beautiful as Melinda in Cecil DeVille's many elaborate costumes, but her Regency- era poise and accent are completely flawless. Streisand also gives one of her most likable performances as kooky Daisy (her character's present-day incarnation), and her outstanding performance(s) make the contrast between the two characters completely convincing and believable. Yves Montad is acceptable in his role - I don't believe he really deserved all of the criticism that he's received over the years, yet I do find his performance to be somewhat stiff. Having said that, though, Montad is perfectly serviceable as the skeptical hypnotist. Jack Nicholson, Bob Newhart, and John Richardson appear in small supporting roles, and, though they all feel rather underused, their appearances here are all great fun.However, there's something about the Streisand-Minnelli pairing that seems to have brought out the best in the two legendary talents. The flashback segments in particular provide the perfect showcase for Minnelli's imaginative visuals, and these are also the very scenes that allow Streisand to stretch the most as an actress. In particular, the "Love And All The Trimmings" sequence is easily one of the best moments that Minnelli ever captured on film, and Streisand has rarely been more intensely seductive than in this one sequence. Score-wise, the soaring title song is the only real classic of the eight Lenner-Lowe compositions, but a few of the others (the comic "Go To Sleep," the gorgeous "He Isn't You") are nearly as great. Bottom line: ON A CLEAR DAY is a film that's usually funny, sometimes touching, and always inventive and enjoyable. It's undervalued gem if there ever was one.