From Here to Eternity is a film filled
with old Hollywood legends and rumors, some
true and other not, but all have had an impact on the film’s longevity beyond
the cinematic story. Shot in a mere 41 days, this Fred Zinnemann adaptation of
the James Jones novel became a surprise hit that swept the 1953 Academy Awards
with eight wins and revitalizing effects on the career of its stars. Frank
Sinatra was at a low point in his career at this point, and the non-singing
role earned him a Best Supporting Actor award. There were a lot of unexpected
casting choices within From Here to Eternity keep this film a beloved classic
even sixty-years later.
The film follows
the melodrama unfolding on a Hawaiian military base in December of 1941, leading
up to the inevitable attack on Pearl Harbor .
Sergeant Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster) treads dangerous water when he begins a
passionate affair with Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr), the wife of the sinister
Captain Dana Holmes (Philip Ober). Captain Holmes is too distracted attempting
to bully former boxer Private E. Lee Prewitt into fighting again. Private
Prewitt also fall for a social club employee named Lorene (Donna Reed) and
befriends another soldier being bullied by superiors, Angelo Maggio (Sinatra).
With Zinnemann
refusing to shoot in color or widescreen as to not trivialize the material, From Here to Eternity is still a sharp
looking film in full-frame black-and-white. Even with the limited willingness
to adhere to technological advances in film, the high definition presentation
is notably sharper than the DVD. The Blu-ray exclusive special features include
a playback feature which allows historical information graphics to pop up. The
other special features include a commentary track from Tim Zinnemann and Alvin
Sargent, as well as a making-of featurette and an excerpt from “Frad Zinnemann:
As I See It.”
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 9/10
Historical
Significance: 10/10
Disc Features: 9/10
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