A Straightforward Style

From Here to Eternity sticks to a pretty conventional form of narrative structure—there are no flashbacks or dream sequences. This is straightforward storytelling, from beginning to end.

The story follows Robert E. Lee Prewitt and Sgt. Warden: the things that happen to them are generally highlighted as central, and they both appear in the most scenes. However, there are a couple scenes that actually feature other characters, like Maggio and Lorene/Alma and Karen Holmes.

Prewitt and Warden's story arcs give structure to the whole film, while only sort of intertwining. Warden unwillingly helps give Prewitt "The Treatment," Prewitt and Warden drink together at one point, and Warden speaks words of tribute over Prewitt's dead body. But for the most part, they have their own problems. Prewitt isn't involved in the storyline about Warden's affair with Karen Holmes to any extent. Of course, at the end of the movie, the ex-girlfriends of both characters chat with each other and share a moment of recognition, when Alma tells Karen Holmes that her dead boyfriend was named Robert E. Lee Prewitt. It brings the two big story arcs together in a final poignant moment… complete with leis.