"From Here to Eternity", directed by Fred Zinnemann (1953)

Definitely one of the all-time great films ! It is set in Hawaii just before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and is a story of life in the US Army. It is beautifully acted by everyone including Frank Sinatra in his now famous role as the ill-fated soldier Maggio, Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift (a great actor who died at the early age of 46), Deborah Kerr and Ernest Borgnine. The scene on the beach with Lancaster and Kerr kissing was considered pretty near the mark when the film was made. Compare the treatment of the Pearl attack with the 1990s version of "Pearl Harbour" !