On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970)

Addicted to cigarettes, a young girl (Barbra Streisand) goes under hypnosis by a doctor (Yves Montand) who discovers that she has psychic abilities and has lead many past lives. Based on the Broadway musical and directed by Vincente Minnelli (GIGI). Originally intended as a prestigious "roadshow" release, the film was shortened considerably by deleting many scenes and a couple of musical numbers. It didn't help. The film was still indifferently received by both the critics and the public. And at 2 hours, 10 minutes is still seems unnecessarily long. Minnelli has the help of the marvelous Cecil Beaton (MY FAIR LADY) for the period costumes and Arnold Scaasi for Streisand's contemporary wardrobe and the clever production design of John DeCCuir (in some scenes, Streisand's costumes match the bed linen or the wallpaper) as well as the tuneful Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner songs. Streisand has never looked more movie star glamorous than as shot by the great Harry Stradling in the flashback period sequences. Perhaps the film's major flaw is the casting of Yves Montand. He and Streisand have no chemistry and he seems to be struggling with the English language and his music hall singing voice isn't strong enough to sock some of the songs over. With Jack Nicholson (whose one song was cut), Larry Blyden, Bob Newhart, Simon Oakland, Leon Ames, John Richardson, Mabel Albertson, Irene Handl, Roy Kinnear and Pamela Brown.