From Here to Eternity
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Movie Reviews of From Here to Eternity
Movie Review: Fine Film about Military Life on the Cusp of WWII
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow. I saw this last night on TCM for the first time. I really wish I'd taken the time to see this movie earlier. This film is so much more than the classic beach scene they play constantly on greatest movie moments clip shows. Burt Lancaster gives a strong performance as Sgt. Warden, the first sergeant to an incompetent, philandering captain. Warden begins an affair with the captain's wife, Karen, played with aplomb by Deborah Kerr. The romantic beach scene is nice, but the real fireworks come right after, when Warden demands to know how many men she's been with. Deborah Kerr's performance when she answers makes watching the film worthwhile and it's barely begun!
The other main plot follows Montgomery Clift as Pruitt, a private and his buddy, Maggio, played by a charismatic Frank Sinatra, who almost steals the whole film. He's a confident, funny drunkard of a solider, an absolute delight to watch. Pruitt has his own problems, in that Captain Holmes wants him to box, which he cannot do after an incident from his past. Consequently, (with the exception of Maggio), he is made a pariah within the unit. Soon, his work ethic and love for the Army forge a bond between him and Warden. Pruitt also is in love, with Lorene, played by Donna Reed, a social club girl. Meanwhile, Maggio runs afoul of the stockade sergeant, a brilliantly nasty Ernest Borgdine.
The depiction of military life and the bond between the men in this movie was really well done. All three of the main male characters face conflict, but they never buckle, sticking to their convictions, no matter the cost. The relationships between the men and women were never facile, but multi-layered, as complex as any in real life. The actors all give amazing performances in this movie, never falling to soap opera hysterics. The ending came as a complete shock to me. I never expected the film to end as it did, and it was a nice change from most of the current Hollywood schlock that's out there. It's been quite some time since a movie surprised me. Little wonder that it took a film from 1953 to do so.
I have to say, there are so many fine moments in this film, it really surprises me that the kiss in the water is the one most deeply associated with this movie. In my opinion, the scene in which Montgomery Clift plays "Taps" is a much more striking scene, much more symbolic of the film as a whole. I had goosebumps during that whole segment, and at the end, where Lorene/Alma meets Karen on the ship. This is a romantic film, but it is so much more than that. A classic truly deserving of the label.
Movie Review: Regarding the urban legend that George Reeves was cut from this film:
Summary: 5 Stars
Actually, it's an urban legend of sorts that George Reeves's role in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY was cut down due to his sudden popularity as Superman. The source of this tale is Jack Larson, who starred with Reeves as Jimmy Olsen on the Superman show. He saw the film (FHTE) the day it opened and remembers audience members calling out "There's Superman." The next time he saw the film, he says Reeves's role had been severely cut.
The problem with this is manifold. First, Jack's next viewing of the film, as he told me personally, was some twenty-five years later. I'm convinced that his memory of what he'd seen in that initial viewing had "expanded" over the years, particularly in light of the impact of Superman typecasting
on Reeves's career and life. Secondly, Daniel Taradash's first-draft screenplay, and every draft thereafter, contains exactly the scenes for Reeves's character that are in the film as released and as now seen, and not one scene more nor less. Taradash told me personally that he did not write a single scene for Reeves's character that was not in the final release
print or in subsequent video releases. Thirdly, director Fred Zinneman told me personally that not only was not one of Reeves's scenes cut from the film, but that not one frame of the film was cut after the first audience screenings. He was at the same viewing that Jack Larson attended and, while he allowed as that there might have been some muttered reference to Superman from audience members, he does not remember any and that in any case, there was no impact whatsoever on the film as released, nor even any discussion of the matter. He said the video release of the film is identical to the original theatrical release and that not one frame of Reeves's scenes was cut for any such reason. Fourthly, the editor of the film and its assistant director also confirmed and concurred with the statements of Taradash and Zinneman. Fifthly, several of the cast members, including Frank Sinatra and Claude Akins, assured me they knew of no such reduction in Reeves's screen
time for any reason.
Part of the problem may stem from the fact that Sgt. Maylon Stark, Reeves's character, is a vastly more important character in the novel of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. Scores of characters from that huge book were either trimmed or eliminated. Sgt. Stark remained, but in a smallish way, in the film. But it was a small part in the first place, long before George Reeves was cast. It was never reduced further, due to his Superman fame or for any other reason.
Movie Review: 6 great stars in a 5 star movie
Summary: 5 Stars
This wonderful movie was based on a novel by James Jones,which was so controversial for it's time that it had to be toned down.It was a harsh look at military life in the days shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The story revolves around 5 main characters, who live in and around the base at Pearl Harbor. Robert E. Lee Prewitt ("Prew") played by Montgomery Clift is a boxing champion, transfered to the base on the whim of the Captain. But "Prew" refuses to fight anymore because of an unfortunate incident and he pays the price for his refusal. His buddy "Maggio" played by Frank Sinatra is scrappy and ill fated. "Lorena"(Alma) played by Donna Reed is the girl "Prew" falls for. She's a "working girl" but forms a deep attachment to him. Sargent Warden who is played powerfully by Burt Lancaster, is always looking out for his men, but has an affair with his Captains wife, Karen Holmes played by Deborah Kerr. Karen by the way is no stranger to stepping out on her husband. It is in this film that we see the famous love scene on the beach with them.
"Prew" and "Maggio" are both treated indecently by the military but to Prew the army is his home and he sticks by his loyalties.
There's another character that needs to be mentioned here and that is "Fatso". Played brillantly by Ernest Borgnine. He is the guard in stockade and is brutal in his treatmentof the G.I.s.
The story draws you into to the lives of these characters and culminates with the attack on the Pearl Harbor base. It was directed by Fred Zinnemann, shot in Black and White, in Hawaii. It won 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture(1953) Best B&W cinematography, and both Frank Sinatra and Donna Reed won Best Supporting that year.
The DVD is a GOOD transfer. There are though some spots where it's a little grainy but this does not take away from the enjoyment of this film. It only ocassionally reminds us that this IS a film that was made 50 years ago but is still one of the finest ever. The sound is great, the full screen, is the original theatrical presentation.
If your looking for extras there are several goodies with this DVD. My favorite was the interviews with Fred Zinnemann, we get to see a little of his personal home movies made during the shooting of this film (and in COLOR!). I also enjoyed seeing the theatrical trailers for this and The Guns Of Navarrone, and The Bridge on The River Kwai which are included.
This is one of those movies where you just don't want it to end!
so kick back and enjoy.....Laurie
Movie Review: "Why doesn't that officer stop that fight?"
Summary: 5 Stars
U.S. Army private Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) is fighting for his life in a boxing match with another officer who started the fight. His commanding officer, Captain Holmes, had been pressuring him to fight with the company's boxing team, but he had refused. Holmes' commanding officers observing this from above make the above comment.
In the movie, the year is 1941, the place is Schofield barracks, where some of the shooting for the film actually took place, just 8 miles from Pearl Harbor. The movie was based on a book of the same name, a bit controversial in that its depiction of Army life was graphic and not commending. The fate of the really harmless, Maggio (Frank Sinatra), another private first class who half the time is near dead drunk, is one of the many tragedies of the story. The men in the barracks are merely biding their time, training, boozing, chasing skirts while their officers, during their breaks, read the newspaper on events of the war in europe. Pearl Harbor is just 8 miles down the road...Two separate love stories develop between Seargent Warden (Burt Lancaster) and Mrs. Holmes (Deborah Kerr), the wife of the Commanding Officer of the barracks, and Prewitt and a call girl, Lorene (Donna Reed).
This movie is not over-rated; it's still a classic in my book. I was moved the first time I saw this years ago as much as I am now. Although, the second time around, I'm more enamored with Clift's acting, the other hero in the story. Interestingly his birthday was yesterday, and he died young at 46 of a heart attack. He started out on Broadway, was reluctant to try Hollywood, was very selective about the parts he'd choose to be in. He was unique, untraditional in many ways. It was rumored that he was a homosexual, though I'm not so sure, neither do I care; he was just a d--n good actor who prepared the way for Brando and Dean. There are so many other great actors in this film too, and the footage of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, from newsreels of other naval battles, is so realistic, so effectively woven into the story. Well worth watching several times over, and never mind the famous, steamy smooching scene on a beach of Honolulu; there's much more to the story than that. True gem of a movie.
Movie Review: This film gets it right
Summary: 5 Stars
This is exactly what I am talking about. This film gets it right. The entire film is about people. It has characters and it has action; what make the film really work is that so much time is spent on the characters that by the time we get to the action we really care about the outcome. We know who these guys are, what they are fighting for and how much the have to loose. This is what Pearl Harbor tried to do but failed to achieve.
This film isn't a feel-good picture. Apparently at the time it was released it was very groundbreaking in terms of showing the darker side of the army. The characters in this film all have problems. They aren't perfect. They have flaws, they make mistakes, and they suffer for them. It makes the film very real. It isn't the storybook love story with all the loose ends tied up nicely at the end of two hours.
The story revolves around Robert E. Lee Pruitt who joins the army to be a bugler but they just want him to be a boxer. Pruitt won't box because he put his best friend in a coma a while back and he is still haunted. The army is not taking no for an answer. They are determined to get him to compete in the boxing championships at all costs. Then there is Sgt. Warden who is having an affair with the commanding officers wife (this leads to one of the most famous scenes ever of the couple kissing on the beach as the waves wash over them). There are also a couple subplots in this movie involving actors Frank Sinatra and Donna Reed.
The writing in this film is just great. All the characters have backstories. There are no cardboard characters in this movie; they all have strengths and weaknesses, wants and needs. Apparently as edgy as this film was for its time, it would have been much more so if Fred Zinnemann had been allowed to have his way. It makes you wonder what kind of films would be made if great directors were allowed to really put their visions on film regardless of how dark they might be.