From Here to Eternity

Based on the novel by James Jones, From Here to Eternity is the story of three U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Pearl Harbor months before the attack as they deal with tribulations of their environment as well as the women in their lives. Directed by Fred Zinneman and screenplay by Daniel Taradash, the film is a look into the lives of soldiers as they deal with some of the cruelty of their work as a couple of men find themselves wanting a life outside of war. Starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Ernest Borgnine, Philip Ober, Jack Warden, Mickey Shaughnessy, Claude Akins, George Reeves, and Frank Sinatra. From Here to Eternity is a ravishing yet compelling film from Fred Zinneman.

Set months before the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the film revolves around a tough but fair sergeant who watches over a company that includes a new transfer and a fellow soldier who find themselves at odds with non-commissioned officers. It’s a film that play into the lives of three different men who are part of the same company as they deal with hazing and all sorts of things while two of them would find love during their time. Daniel Taradash’s screenplay does have a straightforward narrative that follows the lives of these three men as they deal with their duties at the Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Leading the company is First Sergeant Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster) who is the second in command to a rifle company that is mainly run by Captain Dana “Dynamite” Holmes (Philip Ober).

New to the company is Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) who was a bugler but is transferred hoping to do something else though Captain Holmes is aware that Private Prewitt is a boxer and hopes he can box for the company so he would get a promotion. For Private Prewitt, he isn’t interested in boxing due to actions that he committed as he’s consumed with guilt where Captain Holmes want to get other non-commissioned officers to make things tough for him to get him to box. Private Prewitt does get sympathy from another rebel of sorts in Private Angelo Maggio (Frank Sinatra) who is urging Private Prewitt to stay out of trouble but knows that Prewitt is being pushed. During the days where they would get day-leaves from service where Maggio is a member of an exclusive club, Prewitt meets a paid dancer in Lorene (Donna Reed whom he falls for and would have a relationship with. For Warden, he would engage into an affair with Captain Holmes’ wife Karen (Deborah Kerr) as she is known for a having a seedy reputation as Warden discovers that it’s actually much more complicated.

Fred Zinneman’s direction is largely straightforward in terms of the compositions yet it does play into this moment in time just before war is to happen in America. Shot on location in Honolulu and other parts of Hawaii, the film does play into a world of military service where it is set in this lovely and vibrant island but it’s not exactly what it seems. While Zinneman would use some wide shots to establish bits of the location as well as a few places the characters go to. Much of his direction is more based on medium shots and close-ups to play into the drama and the interaction between characters. Particularly a scene between Warden and Karen during a night out as it would lead to one of the most iconic moments in film as it play into this emerging romance and passion these two have for each other despite the complications that both of them have to carry in their secret affair. Zinneman’s direction also play into soldiers and the tension they have with their non-commissioned superiors such as Maggio towards the brutal Staff Sgt. James R. Judson (Ernest Borgnine) who runs the stockade.

Even as Prewitt is being pushed to try and submit to Captain Holmes’ wishes to box for his company with others making him do things as Zinneman doesn’t shy away from the awful treatment Prewitt is given. The third act isn’t just about the mistreatment of Prewitt and Maggio but also Warden realizing it’s gone far enough though he would try to persuade the former to just give in and save face while knowing that Prewitt is stubborn. It also play into the decisions Warden and Prewitt have about their possible life outside of duty as it relates to their respective relationships with Karen and Lorene. Even as the two women have ideas of what they should do but also what they want for themselves as there is this conflict that Zinneman would convey into a world that is full of love and safety or the world of duty. Overall, Zinneman crafts a captivating and evocative film about three soldiers dealing with their world just before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Cinematographer Burnett Guffey, with additional work from Floyd Crosby, does brilliant work with the film’s black-and-white cinematography as it play into the beauty of the daytime exteriors of Hawaii as well as the usage of low-key lights for the exterior scenes at night. Editor William A. Lyon does excellent work with the editing as it is feature some rhythmic cuts to play into some of the drama as well as these intense moments of confrontation between the protagonists and the non-commissioned officers. Art director Cary Odell and set decorator Frank Tuttle do fantastic work with the look of the nightclub that Maggio is a member of as well as the bars at the city and the interior of the barracks.

Costume designer Jean Louis does amazing work with the design of the dresses and gowns that Lorene and Karen wear as well as the casual clothes they would wear at home. The sound work of John P. Livadary is terrific for its sound in capturing the sound of soldiers marching as well as air sirens and bugles being heard from afar. The film’s music by George Duning is wonderful for its serene and sweeping orchestral score that play into some of the romantic elements of the film while providing some more rhythmic pieces for some of the suspense and scenes at the military station.

The casting by Maxwell Arnow is superb as it feature some notable small roles from Claude Akins as Warden’s friend Sgt. “Baldy” Dohm, Robert J. Wilke as Sgt. Henderson, George Reeves as Warden’s assistant Sgt. Maylon Stark, Jack Warden as Corporal Buckley who is trying to help Prewitt in not get anymore hazing, Harry Bellaver as Private 1st Class Mazzioli, Mickey Shaughnessy as Sgt. Leva who always carries a guitar, John Dennis as the brutish Sgt. Galovitch who tries to push Prewitt, and Ernest Borgnine in a terrific performance as the brutal Staff Sgt. James R. “Fatso” Judson who has issues with Maggio where he also runs the stockade as he is this sadistic figure that likes to push people around including Maggio in the worst way. Philip Ober is fantastic as Captain Dana “Dynamite” Holmes as an officer that wants to haze Prewitt so harshly so that Prewitt would give in and box for him as he’s a man that wants glory but is also flawed for being neglectful in his home life in favor of other activities.

Frank Sinatra is excellent as Private Angelo Maggio as a soldier who is in training for combat while doing other duties such as clean-ups and such as he’s also a man that likes to have fun but doesn’t like being pushed around as it is Sinatra in great form. Donna Reed is brilliant as Lorene as a woman at an exclusive club who is paid to dance with other men as she embarks on a relationship with Prewitt while admitting to having her own ideas of what she wants to do with her life as it’s a performance that is filled with layers and complexities on a role that could’ve been one-dimensional as Reed just manages to hit every note that is needed for that character. Deborah Kerr is amazing as Karen Holmes as the neglected wife of Captain Holmes as a woman that is aware of what others said about her as she has her reasons while is eager to leave her husband for something much better though she has a hard time understanding Warden’s reluctance in the idea of being an officer.

Montgomery Clift is incredible as Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt as a new transfer who endures a brutal hazing from non-commissioned officers so he can give and become Captain Holmes’ top boxer as he displays someone who is stubborn in refusing to give in while having valid reasons for not wanting to fight as it’s a riveting and complex performance from Clift. Finally, there’s Burt Lancaster in a phenomenal performance as 1st Sgt. Milton Warden as a man who runs the infantry company for Captain Holmes as he is tough but fair as he doesn’t like what others are doing to Prewitt and Maggio while he also copes with his love for Karen whom he wants to help but struggles with his devotion to his work as a soldier as it’s an iconic performance from Lancaster.

From Here to Eternity is a tremendous film from Fred Zinneman. Featuring a great ensemble cast, a compelling premise, gorgeous visuals, and a sublime music score, the film is definitely a riveting war drama that play into men dealing with the conflict of duty and love just before World War II was to come onto their turf. It’s also an unconventional war drama in some respects as it play into what men will not do to answer to those that want to break their spirit. In the end, From Here to Eternity is a spectacular film from Fred Zinneman.

Fred Zinneman Films: (Redes) - (That Mothers Might Live) - (Stuffie) - (Forbidden Passage) - (Kid Glove Killer) - (Eyes in the Night) - (The Seventh Cross) - (My Brother Talks to Horses) - (The Search) - (Act of Violence) - (The Men (1950 film)) - (Benjy) - (Teresa) – High Noon - (Oklahoma!) - (A Hatful of Rain) - (The Nun’s Story) - (The Sundowners) - (Behold a Pale Horse) - (A Man For All Seasons) - (The Day of the Jackal) - (Julia) - (Five Days One Summer)

© thevoid99 2018

High Noon

Directed by Fred Zinneman and screenplay by Carl Foreman from a story by John W. Cunnigham, High Noon is the story about a retired marshal who finds himself having to take a stand against a group of vengeful criminals in order to save his town. The film plays into a man reluctantly taking part in a stand against a villain and his gang as it’s told in real time. Starring Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Ian MacDonald, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Lee Van Cleef, and Robert J. Wilke. High Noon is a gripping yet mesmerizing film from Fred Zinneman.

The revolves around the release of a criminal named Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald) who is about to arrive at the town of Hadleyville in order to get revenge on the man that put him to prison in a marshal named William Kane (Gary Cooper). Once Kane hears the news on his wedding day and that Miller will arrive town at noon, trouble brews as Kane is about to retire and live the quiet life with his bride Amy (Grace Kelly). Kane reluctantly decides to stay to face Miller and his gang as he suddenly realizes he’s all alone with no one willing to take a stand with him. Even Amy reluctantly decides to leave Kane to take the train out of town along with a former lover of Kane and Miller named Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado) who is currently with Kane’s deputy Harvey Pell (Lloyd Bridges) who also decides not to help out Kane. Once noon comes in, it all comes down to this showdown between Kane and Miller with his gang.

What makes this film so engrossing isn’t just the fact that it’s told in real time but the way time is used to create this sense of tension and dread about the return of a notorious criminal who had brought chaos to this small town until a man named Kane brought law and order back to the town. Miller’s return causes worry as they’re all afraid of him and his gang forcing Kane to do everything by himself. Carl Foreman’s screenplay definitely plays to that sense of tension and dread as time is a real drive to the story. A lot of it features Kane having to go back to town and gather whatever posse he can get only to be turned down as many of the locals have no faith in the aging Kane despite what he’s done for the town. Still, there’s those who feel like Miller’s return will help things as Kane finds his back against the wall.

The script also plays into the people around Kane such as Amy and Helen as both of them each offer weight to the story. Amy is a Quaker who is worried about being a widow and doesn’t want to see Kane killed but also doesn’t want to deal with the sense of violence as she had horrific encounters with violence in the past. Helen is a woman was once a lover of Kane and Miller in the past as she had just made a new life for herself but Miller’s return forces her to flee in order to not just see Kane killed but also avoid Miller. Frank Miller doesn’t appear in the story until the moment the train arrives exactly at noon but still carries a presence that is disconcerting as he brings fear to this small town as the locals are unsure whether to take a stand against him or just let him and his posse take over.

Fred Zinneman’s direction is truly engrossing for the way he presents the film. Notably in the way he maintains this sense of tension in the film as time slows down where the pacing has this unsettling tone over what is coming. Zinneman uses a lot of close-ups and medium shots to play out the tension while always finding a way to put the clock in the frame to emphasize that time is a key proponent in the story. Zinneman also creates the sense of drama to help drive Kane’s decision of whether to face off against Miller or to run with Amy and hide from him. Yet, Kane is not a coward but he is aware of how dangerous Miller and his gang is.

Zinneman also employs an intimacy in some of the drama as well as scenes of the locals talking about Kane and Miller to help play into that sense of time as they all await for the showdown. It does add to that sense of dread where everyone is waiting for the train arrive including Miller’s gang as they wait at the station. Once the climatic showdown is coming, the suspense definitely amps to see what will happen and how will Kane go face to face against Miller and his gang. Overall, Zinneman creates a very intense and riveting film about a man taking a stand against a chaotic criminal.

Cinematographer Floyd Crosby does brilliant work with the film‘s gorgeous black-and-white photography in the use of shadows against the sun while creating low-key lights for some of the film‘s interiors. Editors Elmo Williams and Harry W. Gerstad do fantastic work with the editing as it plays to the sense of suspense and dread along with a few rhythmic cuts to play out some of the dramatic reactions and fights. Production designer Rudolph Sternad, along with set decorator Murray Waite and art director Ben Hayne, does excellent work with the set pieces from the look of the town to the hotel that Helen stays in.

The sound work of John Speak is superb for the atmosphere is created in the saloons as well as playing up to the suspense with the sound of clocks and train horns. The film’s music by Dimitri Tiomkin is amazing for its low-key yet somber score that is a mixture of country-western and orchestral music while using some orchestral music to play up the suspense and drama while the film’s title song co-written with lyricist Ned Washington and sung by Tex Ritter is a wonderful piece that helps tell the story.

The casting by Jack Murton is phenomenal for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable appearances from Harry Morgan as a friend of Kane who refuses to help out, Eve McVeagh as that friend’s wife who reluctantly lies to Kane, Otto Kruger as the judge who tells Kane to leave town, Lon Chaney as Kane’s old mentor who also tells Kane to leave, Morgan Farley as the town’s local minister and as Miller’s gang, there’s Robert J. Wilke, Sheb Wooley, and Lee Van Cleef as they bring a unique presence to the film. Ian MacDonald is terrific as the film’s antagonist Frank Miller as he appears late in the film but brings a great presence in the way he arrives to the film.

Lloyd Bridges is excellent as Kane’s successor who feels slighted by Kane as he abandons his post while trying to get him to flee. Katy Jurado is amazing as Helen Ramirez as a former lover of Kane and Miller as she is aware of the danger that is coming as she tries to get Kane to flee town as well. Grace Kelly is radiant as Kane’s new bride Amy as a woman who urges her husband to flee while dealing with the possibilities of what would happen as she would play a key role in the showdown. Finally, there’s Gary Cooper in an outstanding performance as William Kane as an aging marshal who is forced to face the man he put in prison while realizing how alone he is as it’s a performance that is truly engaging in the way Cooper maintains a sense of humility and determination to a man wanting to do what is right for himself and his town.

High Noon is a tremendous film from Fred Zinneman that features a brilliant performance from Gary Cooper. Along with noteworthy supporting performances from Grace Kelly, Katy Jurado, and Lloyd Bridges, it’s a film that is truly one of the defining films of the western genre. Particularly in the way it builds tension and suspense in real time as it doesn’t falter in its pacing while maintaining a sense of excitement. In the end, High Noon is a magnificent film from Fred Zinneman.

Fred Zinneman Films: (Redes) - (That Mothers Might Live) - (Stuffie) - (Forbidden Passage) - (Kid Glove Killer) - (Eyes in the Night) - (The Seventh Cross) - (My Brother Talks to Horses) - (The Search) - (Act of Violence) - (The Men (1950 film)) - (Benjy) - (Teresa) - From Here to Eternity - (Oklahoma!) - (A Hatful of Rain) - (The Nun’s Story) - (The Sundowners) - (Behold a Pale Horse) - (A Man For All Seasons) - (The Day of the Jackal) - (Julia) - (Five Days One Summer)

© thevoid99 2013