Fred Zinnemann’s classic drama about Pearl Harbor on the eve of the fateful Japanese attack. Private Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) is newly arrived at the military base, and has already fallen foul of his superiors due to his refusal to box on the company team. Given the worst duties as a result, Prewitt is befriended by Angelo Maggio (Frank Sinatra), a young soldier who is himself persecuted by the Italian-hating Sergeant Fatso (Ernest Borgnine).

Meanwhile, Sergeant Warden (Burt Lancaster), Prewitt’s superior, treads on dangerous ground when he allows himself to get caught up in an affair with an officer’s wife (Deborah Kerr). The film won eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Zinnemann), Best Supporting Actor (Sinatra) and Best Supporting Actress (Donna Reed).