From Here To Eternity
Amazon.co.uk Review
From Here to Eternity offers a much more heartfelt interpretation of the event that propelled the United States into World War II than any film made in recent years. Here there are no angst-ridden scenes where “true love” returns from the dead, no costly CGI and definitely no Hallmark happy ending. This is a film about illicit sex, military machismo and tragic loss of love, friendship and ultimately life. The filmmakers did, however, have to make some compromises when adapting James Jones’s novel: Alma becomes a “hostess” rather than a prostitute and the very downbeat ending, where Captain Holmes is essentially rewarded for his brutality by the military, was replaced with the morally acceptable punishment of his actions by a more self-aware army. Although Private Robert E Lee Pruitt’s story provides the meat of the film, there are other subplots woven into the narrative, including a couple of doomed love affairs, which explore themes of adultery and social acceptance. Sergeant Warden (Burt Lancaster) begins a torrid affair with the commander’s wife Karen (Deborah Kerr) leading to one of the most famous moments in movie history–the “clinch in the surf”. From then on everything is challenged. Love, honour and eventually whether you should conform or stand up for what you believe in. At the end the couples are left wondering about the future of their relationship, but fate decides for them as the Japanese launch their attack on Pearl Harbor, leaving us with one of the most dramatic and moving endings of any war film.
On the DVD: The black and white film is not anamorphically enhanced but presented full frame in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, although the transfer is well done and the picture is pretty sharp. Sound is 2.0 mono rather than the standard 5.1 reworking of the audio track, and it works. The dialogue is clear without any noticeable hiss. There’s a 22-minute “making of” documentary, which doesn’t really do justice to the film and contains very little information of interest. Along with this is Fred Zinnemann’s As I See It, an extract from the director’s home video footage from the shoot. You also get the theatrical trailer, but the best feature is the audio commentary, by Fred Zinnemann’s son Tim and screenwriter Alvin Sargent, which has some fantastic detail about the struggle between director and studio-head Harry Cohn over casting, along with the run-ins with the censor and US military over the “inflammatory nature” of the film.–Kristen Bowditch
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ONe of rhe worst thngs I’ve done in my life.
Okay I’m stupid. Why? i was not aware that there
are REGIONS in where DVD made to that region alone
My computer found out there are programs that can be used
to recitify this. * tried and failed.The program then alerts that
changing regions can be done only a few times and then you are stuck.
I may be wrong. Why? When I purchase a DVD I expect to take it out of its holder.
place it in my computer and with little fuzz the DVED is playing Whit this one that doesn’t happen Mac
Rating: 1 / 5
Until recently I had always turned a blind eye to the older films. I had the same mis-conceptions as everyone else, but now enjoy watching films from different eras to experience a different way of life (especially the 40s). Refreshing.
This film is exceptional with a wicked cast including the superb Donna Reed (criminally underrated actress and as charming and SEXY as ever) an excellent Montgomery Clift and a very funny guy in Sinatra. When the film concentrates on this trio it is a great example of Hollywood cinema at its best but the thing is Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr also star in this. No offense, Lancaster is a good actor but he pulls off his lines with overwhelming hamminess and woodiness, which doesn’t help when the lines he gets (especially in ‘romantic’ scenes with Kerr) are also pretty cr@p (hah hah). Kerr is a great actress and does her best but her lines are terrible also. Those not used to films from the golden era may find this unintentionally hilarious to put it bluntly, but fortunately their little affair does not take up the majority of the film (and that music is so annoying)
The film is shot in black and white and whilst it is arguable, I think it reinforces the feel and tone of the film to no end. The film starts off in Pearl Harbour with a guy called Prewit(Clift) declining to box for the camp, thus making life difficult for himself in the process. Also, Prewit fancies Reeds character Lorene the ‘hostess’, has a FUNNY mate called Maggio(Sinatra) and his boss is Warden (played by Lancaster). To make matters more intersting Warden is having an affair withi his captains wife. You can see it gets a little interesting from hereon in. The film concentrates on their lives prior to the japanese attack and culminates with the infamous bombing.
The film is not large scale like the sht poor recent ‘Pearl Harbour’ (which is not worthy of being in the same sentence) and lacks action and thrills of its recent counterpart, but is EXQUISITE film making and you really feel for the characters (Lancaster and Kerr not included).
See this forgotten gem and get ready for one of THE great films of the 50s.
Rating: 5 / 5
Purchased this item to a retired friend of mine, and he felt nostalgic watching it again, remembering old days
remembering old days, good memories and good times. Thank you
Rating: 4 / 5
This is the sort of classic film that is so easy to curl up and watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon or a cold and rainy evening. Burt Lancaster is surprisingly good in this as the officier who meets the neglected army wife played brilliantly by Deborah Kerr and between who the sparks really do fly – everyone remembers the scene on the beach!! Set against an army background this film involves more than just these two characters though and has drama and romance enough for anyone
Rating: 5 / 5
Entertaining as they may be, forget all the other movies purporting to dramatise the 1941 attack on the american pacific fleet at pearl harbour. This film depicts the event as it must have been – this is the real thing! Made only a dozen years after the actual event, this is a stripped down, streamlined production. The movie rejuventated Sinatra’s flagging career, brought Monty Clift to the public’s attention and reminded us all of Lancaster, Kerr , Borgine and Donna Reed, all beautifully cast in their roles. There are a few storylines threading their way through the film but the attack by the Japanese is the highlight of the movie and is a fantastically filmed event (certainly for 1953). It is one of the two highpoints of the movie; the other being the iconic romp in the surf by passionate drill sergeant Lancaster and a demur, frustrated Kerr. I like to think that each of them, spent many years dining out on that moment!
Rating: 5 / 5