Review of From Here to Eternity (1953) by Chris H — 11 Feb 2014
Glossy Hollywood romance set in an army barracks in the build up to the Pearl Harbor bombing.
Apparently the movie is very diluted from James Joyce's source novel, with the foul language, violence and sex removed for something a little more soap opera-esque, but the movie still works incredibly well without resorting to turning the air blue.
Montgomery Clift is a new recruit transferred to the Hawaiian barracks, unfairly treated because he refuses to participate in the company boxing team. He does however, strike a friendship with wisecracking Italian Private Angelo Maggio (Frank Sinatra) and falls in love with 'nightclub hostess' Alma (Donna Reed).
Meanwhile, senior officer Burt Lancaster begins an affair with his superior officers wife (Deborah Kerr) and they deliver one of the most iconic movie kisses of all time (the infamous beach scene).
Although quite wishy-washy in parts, the movie comes alive in scenes with Clift & Sinatra.
It's your archetypal Hollywood melodrama with routine flagwaving, but I fully understand why it's deemed a classic.
To think that Michael Bay tried to emulate this with Pearl Harbor is quite laughable.
This review of From Here to Eternity (1953) was written by Chris H on 11 Feb 2014.
From Here to Eternity has generally received very positive reviews.
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