Very moving

Rating: 9/10 (31 May 2004)

Although this film is best remembered for the romance between the Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr (both of whom are very good in their roles) characters, especially their sensual encounter at the beach, my enjoyment of the film was mostly derived from the stories of Prewitt and Maggio, played magnificently by Montgomery Clift and Oscar winning Frank Sinatra respectively. Prewitt's endurance, physical and psychological, to the abuse he receives for refusing to fight is very inspirational as is Maggio's defiance of the sadistic Ernest Borgnine character. I am not ashamed to say when Prewitt played his trumpet in tribute to his fallen friend, my eyes welled up in tears.