From Here to Eternity, Take 20

The From Here to Eternity Kissing Contest is a much-loved tradition at the annual Baja Ha-Ha beach party in Cabo San Lucas. The idea is to imitate the passionate embrace between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr that helped to make the film From Here to Eternity an enduring favorite.

Unfortunately that famous black and white flick was made in 1953, so most contest participants have never actually seen it. But as you’ll see here, they use their imaginations.

In the film, Lancaster and Kerr embrace and lock lips on a Hawaiian beach just above the shore break, where foamy wavelets barely spash across them. The classic mistake that uninitiated smoochers make is this: The guy will lift his lover in his arms, stroll out into chest deep water and plop her into the surf where she’s lucky if she doesn’t swallow a gallon of sea water. Needless to say, the whole exercise can be pretty hilarious.

Those who get it right, though, draw huge applause from the fleet, and might even get their photo published in the December 1 edition of Latitude 38. That’s where you’ll find a complete recap of the 20th edition of the San Diego-to-Cabo cruisers’ rally. Look for it at your favorite marine outlet or on the website, where you can download it for free.