CENSORED ’50s GAY SEX SCENES REVEALED

The Daily Beast has featured an article from Kaylie Jones, daughter of James Jones – author of 50’s novel From Here To Eternity – in which she reveals that a major gay sex storyline was cut from her fathers work.

The novel, was based on James Jones’ experiences of when he was stationed in Hawaii on the eve of the Pearl Harbour bombing, and was made into a film in 1953 featuring Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr.

According to Jones, the novel discussed the sexual favours soldiers would provide to rich gay men in return for money. One section cut from the novel includes the following quote from one of the main characters: “I don’t like to be blowed [by a man]. Oh, all right. I admit it’s nothing like a woman. But it’s something. Besides, old Hal treats me swell. He’s always good for a touch when I’m broke. Five bucks. Ten bucks. Comes in handy the middle of the month … Only reason I let Hal blow me is because I got a good thing there. If I turned him down I’d blow it sky high. And I want to hang onto that income, buddy.”

Jones originally refused to cut the scenes, stating to his publisher: “Writing has to keep evolving into deeper honesty, like everything else, and you cannot stand on past precedent or theory, and still evolve … You know there is nothing salacious in this book as well as I do.” Despite this, the scenes were cut.

Kaylie Jones adds that her father thought that sexuality “was as old as mankind”, adding: “Achilles, the bravest and most venerated fighter ever described, was gay, and to take a younger lover under your wing was a common practice among the soldiers of the time.”

You can read the full article here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-10/was-a-wwii-classic-too-gay/full/