Unit 1: WWII in the Pacific

Movie Settings:


The Movie I watched for this unit was "From Here to Eternity". From Here to Eternity was directed by Fred Zinnemann and was released to theaters worldwide in August 5, 1953. This movie stars Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra and Ernest Borgnine. "Eternity" became an instant classic among movie goers and was nominated for Thirteen Academy Awards. Among the winners were best supporting actor Frank Sinatra.



Plot:


When Private Robert E. Lee "Prewitt" is transferred to Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu, he is pressured to start boxing again. Prewitt gave up on boxing years ago and has no plans on returning into the ring. When Karen Holmes finds out her husband is having an affair, she begins to have romantic interests with Sergeant Warden. Many interesting stories in this film while Japan is about to bomb the island. And who will survive the bombing ? And what will they think of there dead loved ones ?





Actors :





Frank Sinatra gives a very good performance in "Eternity" and a key scene is when he is about to die. When is he is laying down in the road, he tells the guys what "Fatso" did to him. Another good scene was when "Fatso" made a wise crack at a picture of Sinatra's sister, and then Sinatra threw a chair at Fatso. It showed his anger and how real and intense his mad he was. Another Good actor was Donna Reed. When she found out that her love interest "Prewitt" was going to go out back to the base, she cried and begged for him not go back out during the havoc and bombing that the Japanese were doing. She even changed her mind to marry him, in the past she refused to marry him, and it showed how deep love she had for him.





Presentation :





The best special effects in the movie was when they showed the bombing of the city. It showed the Military Ships being taken down and missiles destroying the ships. Lots of mushroom clouds and lots of planes shooting down people. I actually think that some of the effects might had been old footage from the actual attack of Pearl Harbor.





What Happened during this time era ?





During this era, The whole world was at war with each other. Millions of people were killed during World War II and Pearl Harbor was a sad event. Pearl Harbor was when The Japanese bombed that area and killed many solders and citizens. This event lead to America to join the war and to win the war with Japan. After the killings that took place in Pearl Harbor, the Americans' dropped the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombs killed over 200,000 people in Japan, and with that Japan surrendered in the War.





Comparison :





"From Here to Eternity" seems to be accurate with the time era. For one thing, the bombs and the killings were correct and accurate. One thing that seem was not true were the characters in the movie. Those stories were not true.





What Have I learned ?





I learned that the Pearl Harbor attack was really apart of American History and that started the War for America. At that time, the country really came together to help out, Men were serving in the army and Women were becoming nurses and were doing all kinds of other jobs to help out the soldiers during the war.