The Production Code: Hollywood Censorship Of Hollywood

Movies today show a large variety of ideas and images, but there was a time in Hollywood history when there were very specific rules on what you could and could not show in movies. The Production Code of 1930, nicknamed the Hays Code after its creator William H. Hays, prohibited the showing of any films that went against its three main standards; the audience should never have the sympathy of criminals, evil, or sin; only correct standards of life should be shown; and laws should not be broken (Brooke). Censorship is when somebody's ability to say something or see something is taken away. Movie censorship was brought to a national level through the Production Code that was instituted to protect Hollywood. The Production Code changed the way

In the 1915 court case of Mutual Film Corporation v. Ohio Industrial Commission the Supreme Court ruled that, “…the exhibition of moving pictures is a business, pure and simple, originated and conducted for profit … not to be regarded… as part of the press of the country, or as organs of public opinion” (Hollywood Censorship). This means that movies are no longer considered free speech and are not protected under the First Amendment. Since movie are no longer protected under the First Amendment the U.S. government now has the power to pass laws censoring movies. Hollywood does not want this to happen, so in 1922 Hollywood creates the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA). They hire William H. Hays to keep the government from doing anything drastic dealing with Hollywood. In 1930 the MPPDA passes the Motion Picture Production Code. The Motion Picture Production Code was a small jury that reviewed films for their content, however the Production Code is not taken seriously. This all changes in 1934 when American Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church start the Legion of Decency that boycotts films that are unacceptable. The MPPDA starts The Production Code Administration (PCA) with Joseph I. Breen as head. The PCA starts enforcing the Production code. The MPPDA only shows films with the PCA stamp of approval on them. Now that the production code is really being enforced movies

In the 1950’s the supreme court ruled that movie theaters could show anything they wanted, this means that movies can be shown that do not have the PCA stamp of approval. In 1952, the case of Joseph Burstyn v. Wilson led to the supreme court ruling of, “expression by means of motion pictures is included within the free speech and free press guaranty of the first and Fourteenth Amendments” (Hollywood Censorship). This means that movies are considered free speech and the government cannot pass any laws censoring them. This eliminates the threat of the government interfering with movies, so the production code is no longer needed. The production code eventually dies off after movies such as The Moon is Blue, Man with a Golden Arm, Baby Doll, and Blow Up are released without the PCA stamp of approval and become big hits. In 1968 the movie rating system is introduced, this consisted of; G, general audiences; M, mature audiences; R, restricted-nobody under 16(later changed to 17) unless they have an accompanying adult; and X, adults only. Later on M was changed to GP,general audiences with parental guidance, then to PG After that PG-13 was added for a midpoint between PG and R (Hollywood Censorship). The production code has ended and we are left with the movie rating system we have