In his letter to the editor in the inaugural issue of The Paris Review, Bill Styron held up James Jones’ characters (Pvt. Prewitt, Sgt. Crofts) as the kinds of vital, full-blooded creations all writers should strive to bring to life. “Otherwise he’d better pawn his Underwood, or become a critic.”

Some Came Running, Vincent Minnelli’s excellent adaptation of James Jones’ massive follow-up to From Here to Eternity, throbs with life. We care about the characters – even love them.

Frank Sinatra gives a performance that rates only just below The Manchurian Candidate, Dean Martin gives a performance easily on par with Rio Bravo and Shirley MacLaine steals the show as a soft, loving, almost angelic floozy.

Grade: A

Some Came Running is currently available.