Passion And The Pounding Surf

 From Here To Eternity (1953) – In the days before Pearl Harbor, passion springs up in unexpected and difficult places.  Two women find themselves trapped in lives they don’t want, and the men they love have struggles of their own in the Army.

Directed by Fred Zinnemann                               

Starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra, Donna Reed

Why I Liked It – A classic that stands up (mostly) to the test of time.

This movie has a lot going for it.  It’s status as a “classic” is based on a good script and a great cast.  It contains one of the best know movie scenes of the 20th Century.  It was considered so “erotic” that it was banned from use in promotional materials.  It won eight Oscars (tied for most for any one movie at that time with “Gone With The Wind”)  It had Frank Sinatra in his first dramatic role, and even Superman (TV’s George Reeves) in a small role.  All of that holds up well almost 70 years later.

Lancaster is working in his comfort zone as Sergeant Warden.  He’s tough, he’s fair, he’s a man’s man and the ladies like him too. This is the actor at his best for me.  Opposite him is Clift as the bugle playing former boxer who transfers into Warden’s company.  Prewitt blinded a man in the ring and has sworn never to go back.  But his new commander has his eye on the divisional boxing championships, and he wont’ take no for an answer.   Opposite them are Deborah Kerr as the commanding officer’s wife, and Donna Reed as the “hostess” that Prewitt falls for.  Both of them have “sordid” pasts, are waiting to be rescued.  That’s the most dated part of the story.  On the other hand, both Warden and Prewitt need a bit of rescuing themselves, so there’s some balance here.

This was a breakout performance by Sinatra.  As the drunken, combative Maggio, he brings both a little comedy and deep pathos to the movie.  He butts heads with Ernest Borgnine’s “Fatso” Judson, the sergeant in charge of the stockade.  Sinatra built on this role to create a respectable resume of good to great roles on the big screen.  Borgnine remains an actor that surprises me.  In my mind, he’s the funny but not too bright comic characters he played on television when I was growing up.  Truth be told, every time I see him on the screen, I come away impressed.

Meanwhile, watch the intensity in Montgomery Clift’s Prewitt.  He was renowned for the dedication he brought to every role.  That intensity burned bright on and off the screen.  A gay man at a time when that could keep you out of work the reputation nearly cost him this role), Clift’s drive eventually destroyed him.  A car accident scarred his face, and combination of drugs, alcohol and his internal struggles with his sexuality created what one observer called “the longest suicide in history”.  A brilliant star snuffed out too soon.  He did in 1966 at age 45.

There are quibbles to be made about this one.  The old school “women in need of rescue” is probably the worst.  I’ve seen much more over done visions of that than here.  And as noted above, both Prewitt and Holden need rescued as well.  It’s clear that Montgomery Clift didn’t know much about fighting.  There’s a clear difference in the style shown close up versus longer shots.  The wider views were all done by his stand-in.  On the other hand, the movie gives a more complex ending than I expected, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Overall, “From Here to Eternity” lives up to its reputation.

Rating – **** Recommended