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From Here to Eternity

Director: Fred Zinnemann
Actors: Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Category: Movie

Buy New: $9.99

Rating:

90 reviews
Sales Rank: 5180

Genre: Drama
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 119 Minutes

ASIN: B000V9W2QK

Theatrical Release Date: December 31, 1969
Release Date: December 26, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Synopsis:

It's 1941. Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) has requested Army transfer and has ended up at Schofield in Hawaii. His new captain, Dana Holmes, has heard of his boxing prowess and is keen to get him to represent the company. However, 'Prew' is adamant that he doesn't box anymore, so Captain Holmes gets his subordinates to make his life a living hell. Meanwhile Sergeant Warden (Burt Lancaster, Academy Award winner Best Actor in a Leading Role, Elmer Gantry, 1961) start's seeing the captain's wife, who has a history of seeking external relief from a troubled marriage. Prew's friend Maggio has a few altercations with the sadistic stockade sergeant 'Fatso' Judson, and Prew begins falling in love with social club employee Lorene. Unbeknownst to anyone, the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor looms in the distance.

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Customer Reviews: Read 85 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

6 great stars in a 5 star movie September 30, 2002
L. Shirley (fountain valley, ca United States)
39 out of 45 found this review helpful

This wonderful movie was based on a novel by James Jones,which was so controversial for it's time that it had to be toned down.
It was a harsh look at military life in the days shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The story revolves around 5 main characters, who live in and around the base at Pearl Harbor. Robert E. Lee Prewitt ("Prew") played by Montgomery Clift is a boxing champion, transfered to the base on the whim of the Captain. But "Prew" refuses to fight anymore because of an unfortunate incident and he pays the price for his refusal. His buddy "Maggio" played by Frank Sinatra is scrappy and ill fated. "Lorena"(Alma) played by Donna Reed is the girl "Prew" falls for. She's a "working girl" but forms a deep attachment to him. Sargent Warden who is played powerfully by Burt Lancaster, is always looking out for his men, but has an affair with his Captains wife, Karen Holmes played by Deborah Kerr. Karen by the way is no stranger to stepping out on her husband. It is in this film that we see the famous love scene on the beach with them.
"Prew" and "Maggio" are both treated indecently by the military but to Prew the army is his home and he sticks by his loyalties.
There's another character that needs to be mentioned here and that is "Fatso". Played brillantly by Ernest Borgnine. He is the guard in stockade and is brutal in his treatmentof the G.I.s.
The story draws you into to the lives of these characters and culminates with the attack on the Pearl Harbor base. It was directed by Fred Zinnemann, shot in Black and White, in Hawaii. It won 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture(1953) Best B&W cinematography, and both Frank Sinatra and Donna Reed won Best Supporting that year.
The DVD is a GOOD transfer. There are though some spots where it's a little grainy but this does not take away from the enjoyment of this film. It only ocassionally reminds us that this IS a film that was made 50 years ago but is still one of the finest ever. The sound is great, the full screen, is the original theatrical presentation.
If your looking for extras there are several goodies with this DVD. My favorite was the interviews with Fred Zinnemann, we get to see a little of his personal home movies made during the shooting of this film (and in COLOR!). I also enjoyed seeing the theatrical trailers for this and The Guns Of Navarrone, and The Bridge on The River Kwai which are included.
This is one of those movies where you just don't want it to end!
so kick back and enjoy.....Laurie

5 out of 5 stars

Montgomery Clift At His Best August 19, 2000
James L. (Toronto, Canada)
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

From Here To Eternity is probably best remembered for the famous beach love scene of Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr, but there's a lot more to this legendary film. It tells the story of the lives and relationships of several characters in the time leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. The film is well cast. Lancaster gives a strong performance as the tough sergeant in love with his superior's wife, and Kerr is equally fine as the frustrated wife who has become famous for her dalliances. Frank Sinatra gives a charismatic performance as Maggio, the soldier with a love of drinking who gets himself into trouble. Donna Reed convincingly plays a "toned-down" prostitute who doesn't want to fall in love with a soldier, but does. The best performance is given by Montgomery Clift as the soldier Reed loves, a bugler and former boxer who critically injured a man in a fight and doesn't want to step back in the ring. Clift was an actor capable of digging deep into his characters, and unfortunately, he seems not to be as well known today as others from his time. The dialogue is sharp and mature, the attack scenes are excellent, and there are a number of dramatic, memorable moments in this film. Watch it for the beach scene, for Clift's superlative performance, and for all the qualities one would expect in a top notch film from Hollywood's Golden Era.

5 out of 5 stars

One of the greatest films of all time! March 22, 1999
Monroe (KAMO@Blomand.net) (Tennessee)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

From Here To Eternity is an outstanding adaption of the popular James Jones novel. It's an extremely romantic film that deals with the lives and loves of several soldiers just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Even if you've never seen the film, you've probably seen the famous "beach scene" between Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster. It is considered one of the most romantic movie scenes ever, and it certainly deserves that title! Deborah Kerr gives what many consider her finest performance as Karen, the woman whose marriage has had no meaning to her for a very long time. She frequently has scandalous affairs with the men in her husband's company. This was a giant leap for her, since before that time, Kerr's career had been built on playing prim, no-nonsense English ladies. This is a heart-wrenching movie, and it should be seen by all!

5 out of 5 stars

Top Rate Acting! March 24, 2005
Louise Cazalet
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

The first time I saw this movie it immediately went on my top five list of favorite classics. I was highly impressed with the acting, especially Montgomery Clift and Frank Sinatra. Frank Sinatra truly deserved the Academy Award he received as the hilarious yet tragic soldier, Maggio. Donna Reed received an Academy Award, too, for her fabulous portrayal as a dance hall girl who wishes to lead a proper life back home in Oregon when she has saved a large bag of money. Ernest Borgnine is excellent as the vicious James "Fatso" Judson, the army stockade leader. The ending of the movie is so sad it makes me feel like crying sometimes!I can't recommend this film enough!

5 out of 5 stars

War, in this film, is bigger than people... December 31, 2006
Roberto Frangie (Leon, Gto. Mexico)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Fred Zinnemann's "From Here to Eternity" and David Lean's "The Bridge on the River Kwai" have one thing in common: a good war story about people with whom we are extremely identified and concerned...

It may seem strange to consider "From Here to Eternity" as a war film, since a great part of it deals with the military life in a peacetime army... But war is very important to this motion picture... The December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is its definite point, its explosive end, the ruthless attack on U.S. military mind...

The attack is one of the great sequences in War Films... The sound of the Japanese planes is heard, then there are explosions, and confused soldiers rising from their early breakfast... The Japanese Bombers dive and sweep firing with machine-guns the courtyard and its large buildings, while men run in every direction...

When a non-fighting companion refuses to pass out arms to his pals, the soldiers break down the door of the ammunition room, take the machine guns to the roof and fire to the flying planes...

When they succeed in hitting one plane they are delighted by the flavor of war...

With this powerful scene all the connecting parts that hold together the characters of the story are permanently altered... The great event reduces the characters' pains and passions... World War II is a force that modified everything... War, in this film, is bigger than people...

The highlights of the film are many, but let me mention the best: Clift playing a flamboyant blues in a local beer joint... The blues came rushing out, expelled from his body by the strength of his feelings; the romantic-erotic scene between Lancaster and Kerr on a deserted beach; Clift playing "Taps" and his tears running down his face...

Burt Lancaster portrays the tough 'efficient' sergeant who knows how to bend the rules without breaking them... He guides and supports his 'philander' pretentious Captain... He proves himself as an inspiring leader of men when the barracks were under attack...

Montgomery Clift gives, perhaps, the best performance of his career as the bugler-boxer soldier, whose convictions are stronger than 'The Treatment.'

Deborah Kerr plays the cool and reserved young lady stimulating her feelings of love in different ways...

Frank Sinatra is terrific in his rebellious role of Angelo Maggio... He gives a deep and intense characterization, winning an Academy Award...

Donna Reed is excellent as the charming social woman of the evening...

Winner of eight Academy Awards, "From Here to Eternity" is a clear indicative of how war comes into collision with the destinies of people, throwing them violently into a turbulent and dangerous situation...