Customer Reviews

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Paramount's new DVD of ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER is probably the best "version" of the film Streisand fans have seen in years. I can finally ditch my old VHS tape.

For those of us who weren't old enough to see it in movie theaters, it is finally available for us in WIDESCREEN, too! Paramount did the widescreen television owners a favor by releasing the DVD in ANAMORPHIIC format, too -- thank you!

The depressing fact that there are no bonus items is tempered by the gratitude of simply, finally having it available on DVD. [Although it wouldn't have killed Paramount to include the two featurettes (The "Reincarnation Ball" and the behind-the-scenes featurette) that still exist...]

The DVD itself does look good. This discerning eye, though, felt that the colors are a bit off -- dark, too. The greens aren't quite green enough. And that orange Scaasi dress at the end of the movie is kind of muddy. I'm sure Paramount did the best job possible. What CLEAR DAY really needs is a makeover from the negative up! (i.e. a restoration). The colors aren't as brilliant as the HELLO DOLLY! restoration, which really *pops* off the screen.

The sound .... oy. Paramount has created a 5.1 mix that, for the most part, sounds good. Most of the musical numbers really open up and have good fidelity. Some, though, sound "processed", especially "Go To Sleep".

Finally, I've given up on the cut scenes. It's doubtful they still exist. Film studios simply didn't keep that stuff back then. The "deleted scenes" phenomenon is fairly new, due to the development of the DVD format. We didn't have that back in 1970. Unless Streisand herself or the Minnelli estate have the scenes, I doubt they exist any more. Recently in a home video forum, someone who worked for a laser disk company in the 90's said that they worked with Paramount on the laser disk version of CLEAR DAY and they could not find any of the cut scenes.

As most of the CLEAR DAY fans out there know, the film was cut from a "road show" version (with intermission and more songs and scenes) to what we have today. Excised were a duet with Larry Blyden (WAIT TILL WE'RE 65), a Jack Nicholson song (WHO IS THERE AMONG US WHO KNOWS?), a Yves Montand reprise (SHE ISN'T YOU) and many acting subplots, including more Nicholson scenes, more flashback scenes with Robert Tentrees, and a bit more. I just discovered that the other long-lost song, E.S.P., was sung by Yves Montand, not Streisand. It's questionable whether E.S.P. was ever filmed, though. You can read more about the "lost" CLEAR DAY cut at my Streisand fan site barbra-archives dot com.

So .... it's nice to have CLEAR DAY on DVD finally! Now ... if only Warners & MGM would get in step and release A STAR IS BORN and YENTL!

Based on the marginally successful 1965 Broadway musical with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Learner and a solid score by Burton Lane, the 1970 ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER was no box office disaster--but it was a disappointment, failing to draw a broad audience and performing much more poorly than any one had imagined. This is a pity, for although it cannot be classed among the truly great movie musicals it is nonetheless a very good one, imaginatively filmed and beautifully performed.

The story concerns a scatter-brained young woman named Daisy Gamble (Barbra Streisand) who is desperate to quit smoking and who lays siege to a noted hypnotist Dr. Charbot (Yves Montand.) But it happens that Daisy, for all her goofiness, is unexpectedly gifted: she can find lost items, she knows when the telephone will ring--and once under hypnosis she stuns Charbot by transforming into Melinda, a woman who lived, loved, and died more than a century before.

The cast is superior. Streisand is memorably fresh in the role of Daisy and performs her numbers with remarkable youthful zeal and a flawless artistry; she is a tremendous amount of fun to watch and an endless pleasure to hear. Although it seems many Americans fail to see the appeal of the great French singer and actor Yves Montand, he handles his songs with the same world-weary style that first brought him to the attention of the legendary Edith Piaf--and it proves a remarkably effective foil for Streisand, setting off her expansive performance to perfection. The remaining cast, which includes a very young Jack Nicholson and Bob Newhart, is equally fine.

This was the last musical for Vincent Minnelli, perhaps the greatest director of golden age musicals and creator of such films as MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, and he endows the film with his very elegant eye; the "past life" sequences, in which designer Cecil Beaton had a hand, are particularly beautiful. Add in such beautifully orchestrated and performed songs as "It's Lovely Up Here," "Come Back To Me," and the title piece--and when all is said and done ON A CLEAR DAY is a very enjoyable film indeed.

The film was originally intended to be released in a three hour version--but in the wake of several box office disasters for large scale musicals both Minnelli and the studio thought better of it and cut the film significantly. It would seem these scenes are gone forever, and more's the pity. Still, this no-frills DVD release offers a best-possible print in terms of both sound and picture, and both long-time fans and newcomers will adore it. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

This is one of my favorite musicals. The color, music, and production numbers are all sumptuous. It is not quite what the original stage show was, what with much of the original songs changed to suit Ms. Streisand, and Yves Montand's fractured singing. That aside, it's a pleasure in itself, and I only wish that Paramount had dug through the vaults to try and restore this film to the full length that it never had a chance to be seen in. Hopefully one day we can hope to see a revival of it in that form.

This DVD release is quite nice visually, with a clean anamorphic transfer. Certainly better then the bleached out, cropped VHS releases of the past. There are no extras at all (not even the trailer, which exists), but the best part of all, is that the soundtrack has been remastered for 5.1 Surround, and it is WONDERFUL, with many audible nuances that were lost in the previous mono mixes. Not even the earlier laserdisc release accorded such a nice stereo mix.

This is definitely a movie for the musical and/or Streisand fan. I still think it's her best film.

Both the score and the movie itself are fantastic.

On A Clear Day is probably the last of the old time, "big" movie musicals. Opulent in every detail, Vincente Minelli and Streisand make quite a team. Every aspect and detail of the film is flawless.

Of particular note is the English country estate scene. Cecil Beaton designed some of the most beautiful costumes ever photographed and Barbra, singing a smashing number "Love With All The Trimmings", was never more lovely. Somewhat reminicent of the dining scene in Tom Jones, it plays quite funny and totally sensual.

The songs, scoring, acting and directing are all noteworthy. In fact, this is as near a perfect film as you are likely to find.

Originally it was three hours in length but, to accomodate more showings per day in the theaters, it was cut down considerably. If the "lost" footage is half as good as what remains here, I wish somebody would come up with a Director's Cut of the film.

Originally, the play was conceived as a vehicle for Richard Rogers. He backed out and Alan Lerner kept at it. Produced on Broadway, it did so-so business; it was the song "What Did I Have I Don't Have Now" that saved the musical from obscurity. Barbra takes that song and makes it an unforgettable tour de force. As she goes back and forth between Daisy and Melinda (her English accent was carefully tutored by Deborah Kerr), the transformation is stirring.

If you are looking for a good time, feel good, family film, treat yourself to On A Clear Day. Everything about this movie is perfect.

This beautiful little gem needs to be on DVD period. The color is absolutely fabulous, the costumes beautiful. It's a colorfull cleaned up snip-et of 60's style. My favorite Barbra Striesand musical. And for those of who believe in re-incarnation or even just like to toy with the concept it is enjoyable fun.

I realize it's a bit campy, but I just love this film, and I'd love to see it on DVD in widescreen. But I've no idea why this hasn't been done. The music is great and la Streisand is in top, youthful musical form here. (Forget about Yves). But, don't miss a young Jack Nicholson as Daisy's half-brother. "Love with all the trimmings" has to be one of the sexiest numbers ever filmed, not to mention a great song. I love this film. Please, someone! Do a DVD!!!

Original little gem about love, hypnosis, and reincarnation all queezed into the package of a bright, colorful musical. Yves Montand plays a college professor who begins hypnosis treatment on Daisy (Barbra Streisand) in order to help her stop smoking. While under, he discovers she lived a former life as a 19th century vixen who was stood up by her husband and beheaded for treason. The doctor slowly falls in love with the woman of the past, while, in the present, Daisy (unaware of her former exsistance) falls in love with him.

Big-budgeted film was a box office flop when first released, but it's actually pretty enjoyable. The offbeat story line and the public's sudden lack of interest in musicals are the probably the main reason for the film's failure.

As a Barbra Streisand fan I must say that she is great even though this film is far from her best. She is adorable as Daisy and divinely sensual as the gold digger from England that she ecomes once hypnotized. Montand is a little too stuffy and mechanical as Dr. Charbot, but he and Streisand do share some chemistry.

Streisand's good, Montand is acceptale, but on the whole the movie is was too long and even a bit forced at times. Still, it worth seeing. The costumes and sets are beautiful, the ending is sweet, and there are some great songs.

Bottom line: the movie's cute, often funny, occasionally silly and sometimes moving.

This is one beautiful movie. About 4 years ago I found this movie on DVD but it cost over $40.00 so I pass it up. Ever since then I have regretted my mistake. The movie was presented in its true ratio aspect 2.35:1 and I have never seen it this way. The video I still own is Formatted 1.33:1 for TV and so we are missing most of the picture. I don't know if they converted the sound to Dolby Digital 5.1 or 2.0 Surround sound or not but if they do re-release this on DVD I hope they give us that option.

The movie itself is entertaining and Barbra Streisand does a convincing part playing two different characters. I know both characters (as she pointed out in one of her songs) is her but, they were totally separate as if they were two separate women. It was also entertaining seeing Jack Nicholson playing as her x-step brother. I know he had small parts but they added taste to the movie.

Again, I hope Paramount and who ever else is evolved would consider re-releasing this on DVD in 2.35:1 ratio and Dolby Stereo Sound.

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.

About the DVD: The film's print has obviously not undergone an extensive restoration (there are quite a few nicks and visible dirt), however, Paramount has given the an well-balanced transfer that is above average for a vintage catalog title. Contrast, sharpness, and especially those vibrant colors are all well-rendered. The new Dolby 5.1 sound is top-notch, however, there are no supplemental features.

I have never really understood why this film didn't get more attention? I love it. Barbra Streisand is so perfect in the part of Daisy Gamble. Boy is she ever glamorous in those Cecil Beaton Costumes! There isn't anything about this film I don't like. I remember seeing it in the theater when it first came out. I thought WOW! This girl (Streisand) has really got what it takes. One thing I'm a bit disappointed in is that there are no extras. It would have made a get deluxe set with deleted numbers added. I still highly recommend this DVD. It's vintage Streisand at her best.