From Here to Eternity 1953

As February 1941 dawns on Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt, affectionately known as “Prew”, steps into a new chapter of his military career with G Company, an infantry unit stationed on the island paradise. A seasoned soldier with six years of service under his belt, Prew boasts impressive credentials as a bugler and has earned the nickname “thirty-year man” due to his unwavering dedication to his craft. However, his transfer from the Bugle Corps came with a bitter pill – a reduction in rank – after he dared challenge the promotion of a less skilled bugler who had gained favor with the Chief Bugler through their extracurricular activities.

As Prew settles into his new unit, he finds himself under the watchful eye of Captain Dana “Dynamite” Holmes (character), G Company’s commanding officer and passionate boxing coach. Holmes sees potential in Prew’s pugilistic past as a talented welterweight boxer and believes that a championship title would not only boost team morale but also further his own career prospects. In a bid to whip his troops into shape, Holmes offers incentives such as promotions to those who excel on the ring, much to the chagrin of Prew, who had previously vowed to hang up his gloves after accidentally blinding his sparring partner in a fateful bout.

Refusing to budge from his stance, Prew becomes an unlikely target for “The Treatment” – a relentless regimen of hazing rituals designed to break him down through exhaustion and humiliation. Led by platoon guide Sergeant Galovitch, the unit’s roughnecks subject Prew to daily drudgery, meting out unwarranted punishments and undesirable tasks in an attempt to crack his resolve. Yet, despite the merciless barrage, Prew’s determination remains unshaken, steadfastly refusing to yield to the pressures of boxing or the whims of his commanding officer.

As the stalwart First Sergeant Milt Warden (played by a no-nonsense yet empathetic individual), takes the reins of responsibility within Captain Holmes’ company, it becomes evident that Warden’s dedication to his duties goes beyond mere protocol. While Holmes is preoccupied with advancing his own career or indulging in extramarital affairs, Warden proves himself an exemplary leader, not only efficient but also compassionate towards the men under his command. His rapport with Prew is particularly noteworthy, as he takes a genuine interest in the young soldier’s well-being and even extends an olive branch by sharing a night of revelry with him, ensuring that Prew returns home safely without incident.

Behind closed doors, Warden’s personal life becomes increasingly complicated. He learns that Captain Holmes’ wife, Karen, has been embroiled in a web of infidelity, which ultimately led to her hysterectomy. Warden, now privy to the truth, finds himself entwined with Karen, and their illicit affair deepens as they navigate the perils of secrecy, risking not only Warden’s career but also potential imprisonment at Leavenworth.

Meanwhile, Prew forges an unlikely bond with Private Angelo Maggio, a fiery young soldier prone to reckless behavior. When Maggio lands himself in hot water after a confrontation with military police, Prew vouches for his friend and offers words of wisdom during the turbulent times that follow.

As Prew’s nights out become more frequent, he stumbles upon Lorene (a.k.a. Alma Schmidt), a captivating prostitute with aspirations to transcend her current circumstances. Her plan is to accumulate wealth through her line of work and eventually establish herself in respectable society back home, securing a marriage to a man so upright that her past would remain inconceivable. Despite the allure of their romance, Lorene is resolute in her decision not to marry Prew, deeming him unsuitable for her desired social standing.

As the highly anticipated boxing match approaches, Prew’s tumultuous temperament gets the better of him, resulting in a brutal brawl with Private First Class Isaac Bloom (character not specified). The ferocity of the altercation leaves many wondering if Bloom will be able to step into the ring, but he defies expectations by delivering a swift knockout blow to his opponent. However, this feat of strength is overshadowed by a sinister encounter between Prew and Sergeant Galovitch, who attacks him with a knife when Prew is defenseless. Prew’s valor in the face of danger leads to the defeat of his assailant, but his refusal to testify about the presence of a weapon earns him a three-month stint in the stockade.

Meanwhile, tragedy strikes when Bloom takes his own life, leaving those who knew him reeling from the sudden loss. Within the confines of the stockade, Prew bears witness to the wanton brutality inflicted upon prisoners by Staff Sergeant “Fatso” Judson, the prison’s second-in-command. As he navigates this treacherous environment, Prew reconnects with Maggio, who has become a hardened shell of his former self due to repeated beatings and solitary confinement.

Prew concocts a plan to be transferred to the notorious “Number Two” barracks by deliberately committing an infraction and then enduring the physical punishment that follows. After emerging from this ordeal, he is relocated to Number Two, where he forms a bond with the other prisoners who inhabit this forsaken place. Maggio, determined to escape the prison’s clutches, feigns madness in an attempt to secure his release. Despite being subjected to days of merciless beating at the hands of Judson, who suspects that Maggio is faking his affliction, Maggio remains resolute and eventually manages to send a message to his friends assuring them of his well-being.

As the days turn into weeks, Maggio’s ploy pays off when he is granted a Section 8 dishonorable discharge. Though Prew never sees him again, he is left to ponder the indelible mark that their time together has left on his own existence.

As Judson’s brutal interrogation of Blues Berry reaches its tragic conclusion, Prew is forced to bear witness to the senseless violence in the Number Two barracks. The ensuing vendetta is all too predictable: Prew vows to exact revenge on Judson when he finally gains his own release. However, upon returning to Company G, Prew finds that the dynamics have shifted dramatically. Holmes has received a promotion and departed, while Galovitch’s reduced rank serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of their earlier altercation. Days later, Prew seeks out Judson in town, engaging him in a fierce knife fight that ultimately claims Judson’s life at great personal cost to himself.

In the aftermath, Prew finds solace in Alma’s home, where he recuperates from his injuries and grapples with the existential crisis brought on by his growing disillusionment with the Army. As his relationship with Alma begins to fray, Prew struggles to envision a future beyond the military, while Alma’s plans to return to Oregon without him only exacerbate his sense of desperation.

Meanwhile, Warden becomes an unlikely confidant for Prew, providing crucial information that allays his fears of imprisonment for Judson’s killing. However, this temporary reprieve is soon eclipsed by the threat of a month-long stint in the Stockade for Prew’s AWOL status, forcing him to go back into hiding at Alma’s.

Just as it seems that Prew has reached rock bottom, the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces serves as a jarring reminder of the chaos and destruction that surrounds him. With his unit preparing to deploy for combat in World War II, Prew knows he must return to Company G and bid farewell to Alma forever.

In the midst of this chaos, Prew’s journey comes full circle when he is stopped by guards and arrested for lack of identification, ultimately leading to a tragic confrontation that ends in his death. Warden, tasked with identifying Prew’s remains and collecting his personal effects, must also bid farewell to Karen as she departs Hawaii for the mainland United States.

As Karen boards the ship bound for home, she encounters a mysterious woman who reveals herself to be Lorene, a former prostitute whose fiancé, Robert E. Lee Prewitt, was a bomber pilot killed in action at Hickam Field. The coincidence is too great: Warden had previously informed Karen about Prew’s fate, and the realization that Lorene is her namesake serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of war on those left behind.