Customer Reviews

From Here to Eternity [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There are TWO versions of this film on VHS. The short version -- and the 3 tape (278 min) version. GET the latter. I have both, and Natalie Wood's BRILLIANT performance is severely minimized in the short version, as it leaves out her most powerful scenes!!! Over all, its a well done film from the mini series genre of the late 70's early 80's. William Devane gives a strong performance along with the ever SEXY Natalie Wood (middle age didn't dim her light at all). Also includes a young Kim Bassinger. Nancy J/Ordinaryfool

I was expecting the original length mini series,this version is chopped by more then half, a major disapointment and in my opinion misleading.

"He was the best soldier. Hell, he was the only soldier."

Okay, I'm not going to go so far as to say this version of the James Jones novel is better than the 1954 "classic" movie, although in some respects I do think it is superior, in others not, I believe its merits make it the equal of the celebrated film.

The greatest strength this miniseries has for lovers of the novel is having the time to tell the full story, fleshing out several of the subplots, most especially Maggio's ordeal in the stockade, while also having time to more deeply examine the relationships between Warden and Karen Holmes and Prewitt and Loreen. So much of the story was necessarily truncated in the film that much of what was loved in the novel was missing.

Next of course, the miniseries could be more honest about the sexuality of the relationships, and more graphic about the brutality visited upon Prew in "the treatment" and, again, Judsen's persecution and torture of Maggio.

Finally, casting. And here the heresy. I find this cast in some ways superior to the film. Although she displayed a harder edge, it was a bit of a stretch buying Donna Reed as a prostitute. The very young Kim Bassinger, though inexperienced as an actress, brings the right beauty and youth to the role and the depiction does not have to be sanitized as it was in the 1950's film. I know Sinatra won the Oscar for his Maggio, and he was fine. But I think a very young Joe Pantalione did just as well, and had the benefit of more screen time, especially in his brutal descent into madness. I am fond of Deborah Kerr in many of her roles, but quite frankly for my money she can't hold a candle to Natalie Wood's Karen Holmes for pure sexual heat coupled with vulnerability. I think Monty Clift was one of our greatest actors, but I don't think he came as close to embodying the Kentucky hillbilly of Steve Railsback's Prewitt. Clift is always a tremendous screen presence, and Railsback might have not fared as well on the big screen, but I never believed Clift was a Kentucky coalminer's son, but I did believe Railsback. Finally, Burt Lancaster again had the big screen presence and was an athletic Warden, but I am very fond of William Devane's cynical and knowing Top Sgt. and we get more of him and some of his better dialogue with the extended format. Oh, and Peter Boyle makes a nasty Fatso Judsen to equal Ernie Borgnine's.

So, I believe the expanded story is better, deepening the characters and giving us more of the stories that made the novel beloved by many. It is at least on a par as far as cast. It obviously does not have the precision of the film and Fred Zinneman's excellent direction, but Buzz Kulik handles the bigger story well. It suffers from the lower production standards of TV films, but manages to get a credible Pearl Harbor attack by incorporating some Tora Tora Tora footage.

All in all, the update allows Jones's sexy, funny, complex and tragic story a full-telling without the prudery and reticence of the 50's, and without emulating the earlier film but rather re-imagining the novel on film with an excellent cast. And no, they don't duplicate the celebrated dopey beach scene, but instead depict the novel's more explicit interlude.

All in all, well worthwhile, and I wish it was on DVD because it is going to be hard to find this one.

Natalie Wood Shines in 'From Here to Eternity'..................

I enjoyed this version more than the old 50's movie because the story in more in depth.....being 4 hours and 38 minutes long. ... there was a lot more time for character developement. Also it is a lot more sexual than the 50's movie. In this vertsion the prostitute, played by Kim Basinger, is a bit more slutty than Donna Reed's version.

It's also the only movie I've liked William Devane in. He and Natalie Wood really heat up the screen and do some fabulous work together. Natalie Wood is brilliant in this TV movie. She is always so vulnerable and fascinating to watch. She has some really great scenes and sometimes breaks your heart.

It's a wonderful tale of many lives converging on Hawaii that infamous day in December which kicked off the war for the USA.

The version I purchased was cut considerably. Originally a six hour mini-series, my version was condensed to 110 minutes. While enjoyable if you've read the novel by James Jones, there were several key scenes missing. The acting is very good, but the missing scenes make it difficult to recommend.

I enjoyed this version more than the old 50's movie because the story in more in depth.....being 4 hours and 38 minutes long. ... there was a lot more time for character developement. Also it is a lot more sexual than the 50's movie. In this vertsion the prostitute, played by Kim Basinger, is a bit more slutty than Donna Reed's version.

It's also the only movie I've liked William Devane in. He and Natalie Wood really heat up the screen and do some fabulous work together. Natalie Wood is brilliant in this TV movie. She is always so vulnerable and fascinating to watch. She has some really great scenes and sometimes breaks your heart.

It's a wonderful tale of many lives converging on Hawaii that infamous day in December which kicked off the war for the USA.

I have been looking for this movie for many years and I found it here at Amazon.com in it full 4.5 hour format without it be cut down. (The movie From Here to Eternity [VHS] with Natalie Wood)
I was very pleased to find it after the years that I have search for it for so long. And it was in new condition. I would like to see it or get in DVD format but at least I have it on VHS. It's a great movie and staring Natalie Wood, which is one of my favorite actresses.
I rate the move a 5 stars and it a great find if you can find it. Thanks Amazon.

Where is the rest of the mini series?! This VHS has been cut to shreds! Of course it has my darling Natalie Wood in the lead in her Golden Globe winning performance and as usual she is stunning in a role originated by Deborah Kerr...it's worth the viewing just to watch Miss Wood in a performance that simply drips with sensuality and longing!

I purchased the used three-VHS videos "From Here To Eternity" with Natalie Wood and was very disappointed. One of the VHS videos was defective. Why didn't the Seller (ATM) check them before sending it off to me? I gave a negative feedback and got a response from the Seller (ATM). The Seller (ATM) wanted me to delete my feedback, keep the VHS defective video, and would send a refund "right away." Unfortunately, I deleted the feedback early the next morning and sent a response back to the Seller (ATM). After seven days, I still did not receive the refund. I trusted the Seller (ATM) to do the right thing. I told Amazon and quickly got a response back letting me know that I would receive my refund. In the future, I will not buy used videos, nor will I trust the word of the Seller (ATM).

Unfortunately this doesnt come in DVD and VHS of course isnt HD, but in spite of that this mini-series has Natalie Wood and William Devane at their best. Always wondered why it hasnt been replayed on TV. Shipped very quickly and in good condition. Very happy