From Here to Eternity
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Movie Reviews of From Here to Eternity
Movie Review: Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
You can't get much better than this. Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, the war as a background. Wonderful acting. Great story line.Movie Review: wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars
A true classic with an all star cast. The movie is in great condition and got here two days early!Movie Review: Still a classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This was one of Hollywood's best films. It is still on of the classics of the Golden Years.Movie Review: timely fashion
Summary: 5 Stars
Was glad to find this movie. Received in a timely manner and in great condition.Movie Review: Still Powerful, Poignant and Memorable.
Summary: 4 Stars
From Here to Eternity is the highly regarded and awarded film from 1953, that explores the lives of hard drinking Army men stationed at Pearl Harbor, who don't always play by the rules. It's a film that is much more frank than most films of its era in its depictions of male camaraderie as well as romantic entanglements. It's the film that features that passionate embrace of Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr on the beach as the waves roll in. It's the film that featured the Oscar winning dramatic performance of Frank Sinatra and it's the film that concluded with a dramatic recreation of the bombing of Peal Harbor, December 7th. When viewed today the film is dated in several ways. Sinatra's performance seems somewhat forced (he was better in Man with A Golden Arm and Suddenly, for instance). Some of the dialogue and situations drip with too much melodrama. Over-all however the film works beautifully and remains a powerful and memorable film very much worth seeing. It's also a very mature and adult film that features some still quite torrid romances involving an Army officer and a married woman.
From Here to Eternity however is far less corny and a much better film than 2001's over-produced Pearl Harbor. The special effects may not be nearly as impressive but the screenplay, acting and impact of the 1953 film is far greater than the recent one.
Montgomery Clift plays Private Pruitt, a bugle player and boxer who has been transferred to the base because Captain Holmes expects Pruitt to be the star of his base boxing team. Pruitt however doesn't want to box anymore because he blinded a friend during a sparring match and is wrestling with his guilt over it. His refusal to box means he is given the worst details and is subject to cruel treatment from many of the enlisted men. The Army however is Pruitt's home and he loves it. Pruitt eventually falls for a club hostess played by Donna Reed (she won a Supporting Actress Oscar). Frank Sinatra plays Pruitt's best friend in the platoon and has several border-line comic run ins with Ernest Borgnine. Burt Lancaster delivers an almost understated performance as Sergeant Warden. He almost runs Captain Holmes' platoon. He is also involved in a passionate and very dangerous affair with Captain Holmes' wife, Karen who is well played by Deborah Kerr. This remains the most interesting story and one can imagine how controversial and shockingly adult it played to audiences in 1953, because it still holds up even today.
You won't confuse From Here to Eternity with a film that was made in the last 20 years, but it's a powerful and surprisingly adult film very much worth seeing. It's also an Oscar winning film that won't make you scratch your head trying to figure out why it won its Oscars.
The DVD's image and sound is above average but not pristine. From Here To Eternity is presented in the original 1.37:1 full frame aspect ratio. It's a black and white film and the overall quality is very good, but the outdoor scenes look darker and lack the kind of crispness that some black and white films on DVD have. I don't know if the fault is with how the black levels are set or with how the film was originally shot. I do know there is quite a bit of film grain visible but it is not distracting unless you've recently watched something utterly pristine like say the Citizen Kane on DVD.
The audio is present in the Dolby 2.0 mono mix format. The Dolby mix adds a little bit of depth to the sound effects but the dialogue sounds a bit disembodied. It's over-all a decent but not spectacular audio for a film nearly 50 years old.
Extra Features on the DVD
Often when a classic film is released you're lucky if you you get some decent production notes, filmographies and an original trailer as part of the DVD. Thankfully, Columbia Tri-Star has added several extras to the DVD. There aren't an over-abundance of extras as the hype might lead you to expect, but there are several worthwhile extras and they are greatly appreciated and will be enjoyed by film buffs.
There are three theatrical trailers included on the disc from : From Here to Eternity, The Guns of Navarone, And Bridge on the River Kwai.
The Making of From Here to Eternity is an interesting two minute puff piece that was produced to further publicize the film in 1953. It's way too short of course, but of interest.
There is a brief ten minute featurette: Fred Zinnemann: As I See It which gives us interview footage with the film's director. You'll wish there was more here than there is.
Filmographies are provided for the writer, director, and most of the cast.
I could not find the production notes that are listed on the cover as one of the DVD extras.
COMMENT ON THE COMMENTARY TRACK:
The feature length audio commentary is done by the director's son, Tim Zinnemann and one of the film's co-stars Alvin Sargent. It's a pretty laid-back dry commentary mixing tales from behind the scenes with some details on the film's production. Some interesting stories are remembered and repeated.
Christopher Jarmick, is the author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder a critically acclaimed, steamy suspense thriller.