From Here to Eternity (A or 4/4 stars)
'From Here to Eternity', directed by Fred Zinnemann & adapted from James Jones' shocking (for the time) novel, is a tragic-romantic melodrama highlighting military life in Hawaii during 1941, & climaxes with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. It includes superb performances & won a staggering 8(!) Oscars: including Best Picture of 1953. The stage is set at Schofield Army Barracks in Honolulu, & the story focuses on the lives of several frustrated souls living on said army base. Loner misfit Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) is a new arrival; having been demoted from corporal to private when he transfers from the bugle corps to rifle infantry "G" at Schofield. As a former boxer, "Prew" now refuses to box for his company "G" because he is haunted by a tragic boxing experience from his past. But his company commander is BIG on boxing & thinks that a champ from his own company will earn him a promotion.
Because of Prew's refusal to box, he's treated horrifically by the commander & the other infantry men. The company is run to near-perfection by Sergeant Milt Warden (Burt Lancaster), who enters into an affair with Karen (Deborah Kerr), the bored, lonely, somewhat-trampy wife of his neglectful commanding officer. All the while, Prew's only pal, hard-drinking, wisecracking Private Maggio (Frank Sinatra) unwisely antagonizes/insults sadistic Sergeant "Fatso" Judson (Ernest Borgnine). A collision course btwn. these 2 are destined. And in fact, the only time Prew is inclined to actually box/fight is when Maggio is tragically beaten by the vicious, bullying "Fatso". Throughout the story, Prew also falls for Lorene (Donna Reed) a "lounge girl" (prostitute in the novel) at local hangout, The New Congress Club. These various melodramatic subplots are involving enough, but everything changes at once in the film's final 20 min. or so when the Japanese attack on the morning of 12/7/41. The focus of the plot turns to the war, & the emotional turmoil on the military base takes a backseat.
Other than some stunning black-&-white cinematography & some daring plotlines for the time, the real feature of this motion picture is the acting. Each performance is great, but the all-star cast jells together so well, too. Burt Lancaster received top-billing; and he's great as the rugged sergeant. But Montgomery Clift is the standout, here. His story 'arc' may not be as interesting as the iconic Lancaster/Deborah Kerr romance, but he makes the most of every scene he's got. Even Lancaster admitted to being intimidated by Clift's natural presence, charisma, & affecting performance skills. There's a scene near the end when he plays a bugle that really got to me. Deborah Kerr, inflecting a beautiful American accent, brings humanity & beauty to a character who isn't the most virtuous.
Frank Sinatra is stellar as the explosive, troublemaking Maggio; though, rumors abound that Sinatra's mob friends persuaded the studio to give him the role over Eli Wallach. Donna Reed went against type in her portrayal as the sexually-liberated Lorene. And smaller performances from Ernest Borgnine & Jack Warden are effective, as well. I mentioned before about the daring plotlines. Though this film feels outdated as you watch it now, it's important to note just how startling it was for a 1953 film to tackle such bold issues as adultery, passion, innuendo, alcoholism, bullying, & Anti-Semistism. I mean, Burt Lancaster & Deborah Kerr's iconic nocturnal romp on the beach (with the waves rushing on them) is iconic for a reason -- there just weren't depictions of steamy extra-marital affairs onscreen before.
Hollywood never liked to deal with uncomfortable subject matters, but this film sure did. Even showing incompetence/corruption within the US military was daring. So, on the whole, I found 'From Here to Eternity' to be an excellent film. There's little "action" to speak of aside from the massive Pearl Harbor attack. And the plot(s) are little more than voyeuristic observations of humanity (women with checkered pasts, how soldiers behaved on military bases). These people are strong, weak, violent, passionate, noble, & sometimes inhabit all of that at once. It's still a great film to just sit back & take-in. And if you're a fan of (or in the mood for) a smart, well-acted, old-fashioned ensemble piece ... than 'From Here to Eternity' should more than satisfy.
Because of Prew's refusal to box, he's treated horrifically by the commander & the other infantry men. The company is run to near-perfection by Sergeant Milt Warden (Burt Lancaster), who enters into an affair with Karen (Deborah Kerr), the bored, lonely, somewhat-trampy wife of his neglectful commanding officer. All the while, Prew's only pal, hard-drinking, wisecracking Private Maggio (Frank Sinatra) unwisely antagonizes/insults sadistic Sergeant "Fatso" Judson (Ernest Borgnine). A collision course btwn. these 2 are destined. And in fact, the only time Prew is inclined to actually box/fight is when Maggio is tragically beaten by the vicious, bullying "Fatso". Throughout the story, Prew also falls for Lorene (Donna Reed) a "lounge girl" (prostitute in the novel) at local hangout, The New Congress Club. These various melodramatic subplots are involving enough, but everything changes at once in the film's final 20 min. or so when the Japanese attack on the morning of 12/7/41. The focus of the plot turns to the war, & the emotional turmoil on the military base takes a backseat.
Other than some stunning black-&-white cinematography & some daring plotlines for the time, the real feature of this motion picture is the acting. Each performance is great, but the all-star cast jells together so well, too. Burt Lancaster received top-billing; and he's great as the rugged sergeant. But Montgomery Clift is the standout, here. His story 'arc' may not be as interesting as the iconic Lancaster/Deborah Kerr romance, but he makes the most of every scene he's got. Even Lancaster admitted to being intimidated by Clift's natural presence, charisma, & affecting performance skills. There's a scene near the end when he plays a bugle that really got to me. Deborah Kerr, inflecting a beautiful American accent, brings humanity & beauty to a character who isn't the most virtuous.
Frank Sinatra is stellar as the explosive, troublemaking Maggio; though, rumors abound that Sinatra's mob friends persuaded the studio to give him the role over Eli Wallach. Donna Reed went against type in her portrayal as the sexually-liberated Lorene. And smaller performances from Ernest Borgnine & Jack Warden are effective, as well. I mentioned before about the daring plotlines. Though this film feels outdated as you watch it now, it's important to note just how startling it was for a 1953 film to tackle such bold issues as adultery, passion, innuendo, alcoholism, bullying, & Anti-Semistism. I mean, Burt Lancaster & Deborah Kerr's iconic nocturnal romp on the beach (with the waves rushing on them) is iconic for a reason -- there just weren't depictions of steamy extra-marital affairs onscreen before.
Hollywood never liked to deal with uncomfortable subject matters, but this film sure did. Even showing incompetence/corruption within the US military was daring. So, on the whole, I found 'From Here to Eternity' to be an excellent film. There's little "action" to speak of aside from the massive Pearl Harbor attack. And the plot(s) are little more than voyeuristic observations of humanity (women with checkered pasts, how soldiers behaved on military bases). These people are strong, weak, violent, passionate, noble, & sometimes inhabit all of that at once. It's still a great film to just sit back & take-in. And if you're a fan of (or in the mood for) a smart, well-acted, old-fashioned ensemble piece ... than 'From Here to Eternity' should more than satisfy.