Review of From Here to Eternity (1953) by Christina C — 10 Jul 2010

This is a film worth mulling over a bit ... It's not the instant classic I was expecting, but something a little bit more off-centre despite all the star trappings, parade and almost distracting beauty! Clift and Lancaster star as two sides of the same coin: a rebel whose same stubborn duty to his principles is also why he loves the system that "treats him like dirt"; and a smart, steadfast sergeant who knows he's better than the stupid orders he still has to enforce, and perhaps stays because he knows on some instinctive level that the system needs people like him.

Amazing performances all round - Monty was born to play the sensitive rebel, and Burt is just as human in his intelligent strength. Deborah Kerr is truly amazing - I love this woman to bits, her character is such a clearly defined, electric, sympathetic and deep portrait in relatively limited screentime! Donna Reed and Frank Sinatra both give humanity and even realism to their characters.

Despite the fact it's sprawling and occasionally disjointed, and the odd contrast between the grand overall scope and the intimate character moments ... I liked it (and want to read the supposedly much tougher novel to see how they compare). Do you play by the system which might screw you over, or rebel against it, or live outside it? And how does that change or should that change according to the circumstances? "From Here to Eternity" may not satisfactorily answer those questions, but it does ask them.