When James Jones’ “From Here to Eternity” was published in 1951, it was considered a “dirty book.”

The novel was a depiction of military life, which includes lots of profanity, prostitution, a corrupt and inept officer that earns a promotion and torture.

The move to the big screen involved a lot of cutting.

Jones was originally supposed to write the screenplay to the film, but Daniel Taradash eventually wrote the screenplay that won an Academy Award.

The film version cut all profanity, turned the prostitutes to hostesses, punished the officer and removed the torture seen.

When Jones saw the film, he said it was “not a really great motion picture, but a fine one nonetheless.”

“From Here to Eternity” was shown Saturday night at the Will Rogers Theatre in Charleston as part of the Embarras Valley Film Festival.

Dann Gire, Eastern alumnus and film critic for Chicago’s Daily Herald, introduced and led a post-film discussion.

Gire described how the beach scene with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr is better known than the movie itself.

“Even if (people) haven’t seen the movie, read the book or know the name, they know ‘the scene,'” he said.

While the film would not be considered an adult movie by today’s standards, in 1953 youths were not allowed to see the movie.

In 1953, Charleston resident Dave Miller saw the film when he was a 17-year-old in boot camp.

“I think everyone’s response would have been more shocking seeing it in 1953,” Miller said. “It was the first adult military movie I have ever seen.”

Charleston resident Harry Read found barracks life and company punishments observed in the film as accurate.

Read was stationed at Camp Sibert in Gadsden, Ala., during World War II.

In “From Here to Eternity,” Montgomery Clift’s character is ordered to dig a deep trench and when he is done, his sergeant throws a newspaper in the trench and tells him to “bury it.”

Read said he seen that happen except it was a cigarette butt.

In another scene, Frank Sinatra’s character is the last man in the barracks about to go on leave when he is informed he will be going on guard duty despite his pass.

Read was the last man in the barracks about to go on leave to the town of Gadsden when he was told he had PX duty, a duty forcing him to stay on base.

“I never made that mistake again,” he said.

While considered a classic, Gire said he would like the film remade, but doesn’t see it in the near future.

The bulk of the movie theater audience is 14 to 24 years old and the audience is what films are catered to, Gire said.

“Once in a while you get a smart, intelligent film that’s not geared towards audiences,” he said.

This is the third year that Gire introduced the Saturday night film and would come back if asked.

“I’m putty in Joy Pratte’s (project director for the EVFF Planning Committee) fingers,” Gire said.

The yearly film festival honors a person or theme from the Embarras Valley, which covers much of east-central Illinois.

“The community should really appreciate it,” Gire said. “It offers indigenous talent from people who lived with us and went on to do great things.”