The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

From Here to Eternity

From Here to Eternity | Review
4 June 2014
Piri Eddy
Avatar
Piri Eddy
4 June 2014

As producer Tim Rice said in his introduction to this preview screening of From Here to Eternity, the night was about showcasing a musical that had enjoyed a six-month run on the West End and was now being immortalised in film for everyone’s continued enjoyment. Fair enough, because it’s a pretty good show. From Here to Eternity is big, melodramatic, and at times a true spectacle. The set pieces are fantastic, the musical numbers complemented by kinetic choreography, and the talented cast give an excellent performance overall.

Robert Lonsdale as the damaged but ultimately heroic Private Prewitt was captivating to watch, and Darius Campbell had a compelling richness to his baritone. Leading ladies Siubhan Harrison and Rebecca Thornhill did well to be more than the romantic interests in a heavily male-centric script.

And although From Here to Eternity sometimes suffers when the drama gets laden on a little too thick and syrupy, you can’t help but be moved when all the bombs go off and the hero sits clutching his chest, trying to stopper the trail of blood. It’s just that kind of show.

So how, then, does From Here to Eternity work as a film? The cinematography is dynamic and utilises the available space effectively. The stage is opened up to audiences in ways not possible from the stalls: we get sweeping pans, dramatic close-ups and top-down shots. From Here to Eternity seems tailor-made for a cinematic experience: there are explosions, multiple set changes, and even some terrific slow motion scenes. The tightness and forced attention that cinema affords means these thing don’t get missed by the audience. Yet other things do get lost. The choreography by Javier De Frutos is so snappy and precise that you want to be able to see every bit of it, but you won’t. Perhaps more importantly, you’ll lose the atmosphere of actually being there; the buzz of the audience, or the hum of the orchestra before the show. It’s this and a few glaring cuts in the editing that make you wonder whether you shouldn’t just be seeing this show live.

Due to a technical glitch during the final moments of the screening we were unable to see the closing number of From Here to Eternity, which was a real shame: without the usual send-off of a musical theatre show there wasn’t the cathartic release it had been building too. Presumably this sort of thing won’t happen during the film’s run, so it’s not something an average audience should have to worry about. Instead, they should come away having seen a dynamic and pacey show that loses a little, but gains a lot from its cinematic showing.

★★★★★

Piri Eddy

From Here to Eternity is released nationwide on 3rd July 2014.

Related Itemslivemusicalorchestraperformancereviewscreeningtim rice

More in Theatre

Camden Fringe 2022: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be Murdered at Lion & Unicorn Theatre

★★★★★
Francis Nash
Read More

Edinburgh Fringe 2022: In PurSUEt at Underbelly, Cowgate

★★★★★
Madison Sotos
Read More

Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Mr Moon at C Aquila

★★★★★
Ella Satin
Read More

Camden Fringe 2022: Keep It Down at Hope Theatre

★★★★★
Mae Trumata
Read More

Camden Fringe 2022: Dreamworld at Camden People’s Theatre

★★★★★
Natallia Pearmain
Read More

“It’s such an iconic show and I’m so thankful to be a part of it”: Matt Blaker on The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre

Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

Two Ukrainian Plays at Finborough Theatre

★★★★★
Sophia Moss
Read More

Rita at Charing Cross Theatre

★★★★★
Mae Trumata
Read More

Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Hungry

★★★★★
Ella Satin
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Coldplay at Wembley Stadium: “A night that will be remembered by 80,000 people for years to come”
    Live music
  • My Old School
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Sprung
    ★★★★★
    other
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Mr Moon at C Aquila
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Two Ukrainian Plays at Finborough Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Camden Fringe 2022: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be Murdered at Lion & Unicorn Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “It’s by going to the intimacy of our own perspective that we can hope to then speak to a more general audience”: Charline Bourgeouis-Tacquet on Anaïs in Love
    Cinema & Tv
  • Trending summer dresses everyone wants to own in a heatwave
    Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2022: In PurSUEt at Underbelly, Cowgate
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Mr Moon at C Aquila
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “It’s by going to the intimacy of our own perspective that we can hope to then speak to a more general audience”: Charline Bourgeouis-Tacquet on Anaïs in Love
    Cinema & Tv
  • Coldplay at Wembley Stadium: “A night that will be remembered by 80,000 people for years to come”
    Live music
  • Where is Anne Frank?
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Anaïs in Love
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • My Old School
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Beaty Heart at Rough Trade East | Live review
David LaChapelle: Land Scape at the Robilant + Voena Gallery | Exhibition review