From Here to Eternity (film)
**From Here to Eternity (film) Overview**
"From Here to Eternity" is a critically acclaimed film adaptation of James Jones' novel, exploring the profound impact of World War II on the lives of American soldiers. The story centers around two main characters: Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt, a rebellious individual who resists conformity, and Sergeant Milton Anthony Warden, who embodies a more traditional, conservative approach to military life. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the film serves as a reflection of the complexities of American society at the time, illustrating themes of power, sexuality, and violence within a rigid military hierarchy.
The narrative draws parallels between the experiences of the soldiers and broader societal issues, hinting at the challenges of the working class, particularly in light of the looming threat of McCarthyism in the 1950s. The film's poignant exploration of these themes resonated with audiences, contributing to its recognition as a cultural touchstone for wartime experiences. Released in 1953, "From Here to Eternity" not only won the Academy Award for Best Picture but also left a lasting legacy, capturing the fears, contradictions, and aspirations of a generation shaped by conflict.
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From Here to Eternity (film)
Identification Novel set during World War II
Date Published in 1951
Author James Jones
A best-selling novel about the lives of enlisted men, along with the people with whom they interact, in the U.S. Army on the eve of World War II. Critics and audiences alike lauded it for its unglamorous portrayal of war as well as the beauty and power of its narrative.
Key Figures
James Jones (1921-1977), author
James Jones served in the United States Army from 1939 to 1944 and rose to the rank of sergeant. He was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He was injured in combat on Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. A decorated soldier, Jones was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
From Here to Eternity probes the effects of World War II on the individual soldier. Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt and Sergeant Milton Anthony Warden are the principal protagonists whose lives are defined by power, sexuality, and violence. The army in which they serve is a mirror of American society during the Great Depression: a class-oriented institution populated by automatons and sadists, as well as individuals and philosophers. The rebellious Prewitt and conservative Warden represent the two futures of the working class: the revolutionary and the conformist. In the end, Jones suggests there is no future for the revolutionary in the United States, an apparent parable for an America under the threat of McCarthyism during the 1950’s.
Impact
From Here to Eternity topped the national best-seller lists in 1951, became a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and won a National Book Award in 1952. Its 1953 film adaptation garnered an Academy Award for Best Picture. For many Americans, From Here to Eternity came to symbolize the contradictions, fears, and hopes of their wartime experiences.
Bibliography
Beidler, Philip D. The Good War’s Greatest Hits: World War II and American Remembering. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1998. Provides a thoughtful analysis of the cultural influences on the nation’s collective memory of the war. Included is a study of the transformation of From Here to Eternity from best-selling novel to top-grossing film.
Fussell, Paul. Wartime: Understanding and Behavior in the Second World War. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989. An insightful study of the World War II experience, which echoes many of the themes in Jones’s novel.