From Here to Eternity

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2:14

From Here to Eternity

Released Aug 5, 1953

1h 58m

Drama

Romance

War

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

100 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

At an Army barracks in Hawaii in the days preceding the attack on Pearl Harbor, lone-wolf soldier and boxing champion Prew Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) refuses to box, preferring to play the bugle instead. Hard-hearted Capt. Holmes (Philip Ober) subjects Prew to a grueling series of punishments while, unknown to Holmes, the gruff but fair Sgt. Warden (Burt Lancaster) engages in a clandestine affair with the captain's mistreated wife (Deborah Kerr).

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Critics Consensus

It has perhaps aged poorly, but this languidly paced WWII romance remains an iconic, well-acted film, featuring particularly strong performances from Burt Lancaster and Montgomery Clift.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Jones' bulky book does such an honest job of storytelling that it triumphs over its pedestrian prose; the movie succeeds by the smooth efficiency of Fred Zinnemann's lean, intelligent direction, and by the superlative casting.

Jul 28, 2022

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Richard L. Coe

Washington Post

You will ask how closely this follows the events and rugged dialogue of the book. There are omissions, particularly of language, but the story changes have a stunning ring of truth to them.

Jul 25, 2022

Full Review

Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

It is the film of the year from its professional production to its smallest characterization. It has authority and style as well as an entertainment value for every filmgoing adult.

Mar 17, 2022

Full Review

Ian Kane

Epoch Times

Its portrayal of military life was gritty for its time, showing that the struggles and flaws of service members are just as complex as those in civilian society.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 3, 2024

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Remembered best for its dreamy and iconic beach scene, From Here to Eternity was ahead of its time in the way it tackled topics of sex and infidelity.

Jun 14, 2023

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... Fred Zinneman’s classy adaptation of James Jones’ novel of soldiers in Hawaii in the days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor [is] an American screen classic.

Jan 7, 2023

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Per S

A true classic about love, conflict, friendship and commitment - with acting performances and perspective that can make one emotional.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

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Insomniac X

Well-acted tragic character drama set in the shadow of the Pearl Harbor bombing. Memorable for its unusually direct depictions of alcoholism, infidelity, corruption, and violence in the US military.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/25

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David E

Burt Lancaster gets Kudos as a really fine actor but Montgomery Cliff pulls off the greatest job, probably the best in his career. The tension is palpable in each scene in which he appears.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

Full Review

Scott M

Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this film. Montgomery Cliff and Burt Lancaster are really great as soldiers in the Army before WWII. The romantic scenes left me cold. As they usually do with movies from the 1950's. The complete lack of intimacy. But I did love the scenes with the soldiers.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/02/24

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Alec B

Iconic beach make-out sequences and good performances aside, the movie has so many noticeable compromises and cop outs in adapting its source material that it lessens the film's potential emotional impact.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/24

Full Review

A R

The casting in this movie is excellent and the actors do an excellent job with what they're given, but there wasn't enough for me to invest in these characters relationships or characters. I can tell there is depth to these characters, no doubt form the book, but the movie didn't delve into it and I had trouble believing in their short-lived, fairly under-developed relationships - particularly the romances. I think the iconic beach scene is incredibly well-done and obviously pushing the envelope for it's time, but I have trouble stomaching the sense that Kerr's character has to excuse her affairs, much less that they can only be excused by serious trauma - not a lesson I can get behind.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/12/23

Full Review

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Fred Zinnemann

Director

Burt Lancaster

1st Sgt. Milton Warden

Montgomery Clift

Pvt. Robert E. Lee Prewitt

Deborah Kerr

Karen Holmes

Frank Sinatra

Pvt. Angelo Maggio

Donna Reed

Alma Burke (Lorene)

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - Back Alley Knife Fight

2:36

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - The End of the Affair

1:49

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - Married to the Army

2:42

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - The Attack on Pearl Harbor

2:13

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - My Name Is Alma

1:56

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - Bar Fight

2:01

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - Love on the Beach

3:57

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - A Beautiful Woman Going to Waste

3:28

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - Beaten to Death

2:22

From Here to Eternity: Official Clip - Bare-Knuckle Boxing

3:47

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From Here to Eternity: Trailer 1

2:14

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Synopsis

At an Army barracks in Hawaii in the days preceding the attack on Pearl Harbor, lone-wolf soldier and boxing champion Prew Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) refuses to box, preferring to play the bugle instead. Hard-hearted Capt. Holmes (Philip Ober) subjects Prew to a grueling series of punishments while, unknown to Holmes, the gruff but fair Sgt. Warden (Burt Lancaster) engages in a clandestine affair with the captain's mistreated wife (Deborah Kerr).

Director: Fred Zinnemann
Producer: Buddy Adler
Screenwriter: James Jones, Daniel Taradash
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 5, 1953, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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