From Here to Eternity

Rating: 7/10 (10 November 2008)

I guess the title is relating to the love story element, doesn't really matter, it's a pretty good war drama from Oscar and Golden Globe winning director Fred Zinnemann (High Noon). Basically its 1941, and the film shows the life at the US Army's Schofield Barracks at Pearl Harbor, in the days leading up to the December Japanese attack. Pvt. Robert E. Lee 'Prew' Prewitt (Oscar nominated Montgomery Clift) has requested transfer, and he doesn't want to box anymore (which he is good at doing), and because of this, Capt. Dana 'Dynamite' Holmes (Philip Ober) is getting others to make his life a living hell. 1st Sgt. Milton Warden (Oscar nominated Burt Lancaster) is seeing Holmes' wife Karen Holmes (The King and I's Oscar nominated Deborah Kerr), who has a history of going with other men during a troubled marriage, there is also the love story seen a little between Prew and social club worker Alma 'Lorene' Burke (It's a Wonderful Life's Oscar winning Donna Reed). Pvt. Angelo Maggio (Oscar and Golden Globe winning singer/actor Frank Sinatra) taking life pretty easy at the barracks, and getting drunk quite often, is having quite a few arguments with Sgt. James R. 'Fatso' Judson (Ernest Borgnine), until Judson beats Maggio to death, and Prew wants revenge when he finds out. Before the film ends, there is the Japanese attacking the near Pearl Harbor, which adds some needed excitement. Also starring While You Were Sleeping's Jack Warden as Cpl. Buckley, Mickey Shaughnessy as Cpl. Leva, Harry Bellaver as Pvt. Mazzioli, George Reeves as Sgt. Maylon Stark, John Dennis as Sgt. Ike Galovitch and Tim Ryan as Sgt. Pete Karelsen. Sinatra proves himself a good actors, with a tiny bit of his singing talent included, Reed also shines as the supporting actress, Lancaster and Kerr also have their moments, most notably the famous kissing on the beach as a wave washes over them moment. It won the Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Writing, Screenplay and Best Picture, and it was nominated for Best Costume Design and Best Music for Morris Stoloff and George Duning, and it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Film from any Source. Burt Lancaster was number 48 on The World's Greatest Actor, and he was number 19 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Men, Frank Sinatra was number 43 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, the film was number 52 on 100 Years, 100 Movies, it was number 70 on The 100 Greatest Sexy Moments, it was number 54 on The 100 Greatest War Films and it was number 20 on 100 Years, 100 Passions. Very good!