This story takes place just before the attack by the Japanese in Pearl Harbor, in 1941 on Schofield Army Base in Hawaii. One storyline follows the sufferings and travails of new transfer, Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift). Despite the wishes of his new Captain, Captain Dana Holmes (Philip Ober), Prewitt adamantly won't represent the company by boxing. The unpleasant consequences of his refusal make his life "a living hell." Subplots revolve around an adulterous affair between the unhappily married Sargeant Warden (Burt Lancaster) and the Captain's wife, Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr). Prewitt manages to find love with a social club employee Alma Burk, or "Lorene," Donna Reed), despite his other troubles.

When the attack finally comes, one can see them follow through beautifully as soldiers, a direct contrast to how they handled "real life situations and matters of the heart." While they could be trained to be soldiers, the non-regimented life proved to be more emotionally hard to handle.

The film is a classic because of the involving story and excellent performances, particularly by Lancaster, Kerr, Sinatra, and Clift. It won Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, (Daniel Taradash adapting James Jones' novel), Cinematography and supporting actors, Reed and Sinatra.

My favorite scene is a brawl between Staff Sergeant "Fatso" Judson (Borgnine) and Pvt. Angelo Maggio (Sinatra). The scene is tough, intense, and realistic.

The film is said to have revived Sinatra's career. After appearing in this film, and winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, Sinatra's music and film career, both of which were in decline, took off. Sinatra's music career has stayed solid, although acting jobs have been scarce in the last few decades.