Powerful film from Fred Zinnermann

Rating: 9/10 (30 September 2010)

I personally consider The Nun's Story as Fred Zinnermann's best film, but From Here to Eternity is another one of his best efforts. It is very powerful, with themes of bullying, sadism and adultery giving away to themes of heroism and sacrifice. The cinematography is stunning, the direction is great and the screenplay is really brilliantly written and powerful. The acting is superb too, none of the actors ranging from Burt Lancaster to Deborah Kerr, from Montgomary Clift to Frank Sinatra and Ernest Borgnine give a bad performance. In some ways the characters can be seen as stereotypes, Lancaster's macho Sergeant, Kerr's unhappy wife, Clift's reluctant boxer, Sinatra's persecuted Italian GI and Borgnine's sadistic stockade sergeant, but the performances and the depth the script goes to developing them ensure that the characters are much more than that. From Here to Eternity also contains one of the most iconic clinches in cinema with Lancaster and Kerr embracing in the pounding surf. Overall, powerful and very well acted film from Fred Zinnermann. 9/10 Bethany Cox