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From Here To Eternity: Superbit
Studio: Columbia
Year: 1953
Rated: NR
Film Length: 118 minutes
Aspect Ratio: Full Frame (1.33:1)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portugese,
Chinese, Korean, Thai
The boldest book of our time... Honestly,
fearlessly on the screen!
For quite some time, I had ceased doing reviews for
Columbia's Superbit line, mainly for the fact
that I was having a difficult time determining if
the DVDs really offered superior image quality over
their original counterparts. For every Superbits
title I reviewed, arguments sparked over my unfavorable
opinions. I finally decided it best to stop reviewing
these titles.
So what am I doing here reviewing a Superbit
title? I chose to review From Here To Eternity
for the mere fact that it was a film I have never
seen, and thus, don't already own it on DVD. For that
reason, I am finally enjoying a Superbit title
without any predetermined notion. I can sit back,
enjoy a DVD for what it offers, without having to
compare it to an original release.
Throughout my life I had only seen the one clip --
perhaps the greatest romantic moment ever to take
place on screen where Burt Lancaster and Deborah
Kerr are tightly locked and intertwined in an embrace
as they kiss each other and the white foaming waves
pour over them. The scene is such a staple in
American cinema that it has been spoofed over and
over again. Yet, up until now, I never saw the
entire film.
The film starts off in 1941 Hawaii where Robert E.
Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift), a former bugler and
ex-boxer, joins the army after having lost his spot
as first bugle for the army band. Prewitt, who is
renowned for being a champion boxer, is asked to join
the army's boxing team by his army captain, Captain
Dana Holmes (Philip Ober). However, Prewitt has quit
boxing and refuses to join. This results in Prewitt
being harassed by various sergeants who try to break
him into agreeing to return to the ring.
Meanwhile, Sergeant Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster)
has his eye on Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr), the
wife of Sergeant Warden's company commander, Captain
Holmes. Captain Holmes has been cheating on his wife
since almost the beginning of their marriage. Karen
falls for Warden and the two begin a relationship
that could potentially ruin their lives.
Then there's Pvt. Angelo Maggio (Frank Sinatra), a
"hot-head" that ends up in the Stockade only to spit
in the face of “Fatso” (Ernest Borgnine) and suffer
the consequences. It was the role that revitalized
Sinatra's career!
I really enjoyed From Here To Eternity, though
I felt it to be a little melodramatic at times. For
its time, the attack on Pearl Harbor was done quite
well as I found the film's editing and cinematography
really pulled me into these scenes. It's quite an
accomplishment when you consider that this film holds
up today simply because of its story rather than its
special effects.
From Here to Eternity racked up 12 Academy
Award nominations, and won eight Oscars, including
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and
Best B/W Cinematography. Winning the only Oscars
of their careers were Best Supporting Actor Frank
Sinatra, and Best Supporting Actress Donna Reed.
How is the transfer?
The main question that bothered me throughout the
viewing of this film: Was it necessary to make
this a Superbit title? First of all, most very
well done B&W transfers look incredible on DVD at
standard bit rates. The problem here is, the source
material used for this transfer of From Here To
Eternity is nothing to rave about. You can
increase the bit rate all you want, but if the
original print is not in immaculate condition you
aren't doing anyone a favor here.
Don't get me wrong -- the film doesn't look bad.
The problem is, the film is littered with an awful
amount of speckle and dirt that resided within the
existing elements that Columbia used. There also
seem to be a varying degree of image sharpness
depending on which scene you are watching. In some
scenes images look slightly washed out while in
others, you can see a nice amount of detail along
with nice deep black levels. You'll also find quite
a bit of noise introduced to the outdoor scenes.
As far as video goes -- and I say this without
having seen the original standard DVD release --
the Superbit doesn't make this film look
nearly as good as some of the best B&W transfers
I have seen on the format.
The audio, on the other hand, is a totally different
ball of wax....
I did an interview a few weeks ago with a magazine
concerning studios taking original classic mono
audio tracks and revamping them for 5.1 presentation.
My opinion was that as long as the studio includes
the original mono soundtrack in addition to the new
mix, I had absolutely no problem.
The worth of this entire Superbit title may lie
in this brand-new remixed 5.1 DTS track. Maybe I
am missing something, but I never thought a studio
could take a mono track and make it sound this close
to a 5.1 surround presentation. It's not a perfect
5.1 mix, mind you -- the dialogue does not rest
firmly in the center channel -- but man oh man, I
was just blown away by the amount of surround
activity present here. First, there's actually
distinct stereo separation across the front channels.
Sound also comes across with a good amount of
dynamics -- much better fidelity than I hear in
most films from this period. The real treat is
the amount of effect noise that is added to the
rears. You'll find yourself surrounded by the
sounds of ocean waves, the bustling crowds of
River street, dialogue echo inside a gymnasium,
a marching platoon and even rain showers. When
Japanese planes attack the island, they fly across
the entire soundstage rear to front. I even sensed
a small level of LFE activity that supports Composer
George Duning's orchestration. While some of the
surround activity sounds like simple reverb, I was
impressed that much more of it sounded pretty darn
realistic, definitely enhancing the viewing experience.
Final Thoughts
I am not certain I can fully recommend From Here
To Eternity as a Superbit purchase. I was
not overly impressed with the quality of the print,
and I am surprised the studio tried to hawk this
film as a Superbit title in the condition
that it is in. I have just seen so many better B&W
transfers on standard DVD editions that boast a
slightly lower bit rate and contain a wealth of
supplements to boot.
On the other hand, this new 5.1 DTS mix certainly
is an added bonus, particularly for the fact that
although not perfect, is well designed.
In any case, this is an American classic that should
be owned by any enthusiast of film.
Release Date: March 4, 2003
All screen captures have been further compressed.
They are for illustrative purposes only and do not
represent actual picture quality
