Hays CodeHays Code (1930-1968) (1930-1968)

and the and the

Crime MovieCrime Movie

The The start…start…

Hollywood’s scandals:Hollywood’s scandals: Early 20’s: a murder, a drug Early 20’s: a murder, a drug

overdose, and a manslaughter trial.overdose, and a manslaughter trial. Hollywood as “Sin City”Hollywood as “Sin City”

1922—Motion Picture Producers 1922—Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Associationand Distributors Association Slaps on the wrists and a lot of “tsk, tsk, Slaps on the wrists and a lot of “tsk, tsk,

tsk”tsk”

Formal Enforcement : 1930-Formal Enforcement : 1930-19341934

Great Depression comes Great Depression comes along, film makers want to along, film makers want to make $$make $$

Sex sells. Violence sells.Sex sells. Violence sells. 1934: Production Code 1934: Production Code

AdministrationAdministration Films required a certificate of Films required a certificate of

approval for showings and approval for showings and distribution distribution

What’s in the code…What’s in the code… specific restrictions on language and specific restrictions on language and

behavior:behavior:sex, violence, and crime = bad.sex, violence, and crime = bad.

None of the following:None of the following:

Illegal drug Illegal drug useuse

Suggestive Suggestive dancingdancing

Religious Religious ridiculeridicule

nuditynudity Venereal Venereal diseasesdiseases

childbirthchildbirth ProfanityProfanity

Other IssuesOther Issues

No films that make audiences No films that make audiences sympathize with criminalssympathize with criminals

Crime never pays (bad guys get bad Crime never pays (bad guys get bad ends)ends)

Murder and violent scenes must not be Murder and violent scenes must not be shown to make it want to be imitatedshown to make it want to be imitated

Murder and violent scenes cannot be Murder and violent scenes cannot be graphic, detail, or, in some cases, graphic, detail, or, in some cases, visible.visible.

What? More issues?What? More issues?

Sanctity of marriage and the home will Sanctity of marriage and the home will be upheld (Huh?)be upheld (Huh?)

Adultery and sex cannot be shownAdultery and sex cannot be shown

Granted, these may be necessary to Granted, these may be necessary to plotplotIf so, they are to be off camera and not If so, they are to be off camera and not

discussed.discussed.Directors did find ways around them.Directors did find ways around them.

Production Codes Production Codes Tumble!Tumble!Golden Age of Hollywood goes Golden Age of Hollywood goes

Ah-buh-bye!Ah-buh-bye!What happened to Hollywood?What happened to Hollywood?

TV!TV! Fie and a pox on that squawk box! Fie and a pox on that squawk box!Hollywood needed sex and Hollywood needed sex and

violence to sell ticketsviolence to sell ticketsThere was none of that on TV! There was none of that on TV!

Hays Code and the administrators needed to Hays Code and the administrators needed to changechangeFilms were changing, becoming racier despite Films were changing, becoming racier despite

tougher regulations in 1951tougher regulations in 1951Ticket sales were plummetingTicket sales were plummetingMGM released MGM released Blow UpBlow Up even though it was rejected. even though it was rejected.

(Oh well. So much for the fun!)(Oh well. So much for the fun!)

1968, Rating system was then formed by the 1968, Rating system was then formed by the Motion Picture Association of America.Motion Picture Association of America.No restrictions on what was filmedNo restrictions on what was filmedNo crazy stuff quite yet—slow to change.No crazy stuff quite yet—slow to change.

I don’t like these here new dang-

fidnagled movies

The Crime Film.The Crime Film.The original GangstazThe original Gangstaz

1920’s—a wild time with lots of colorful 1920’s—a wild time with lots of colorful figuresfigures Many came straight out of history: Capone, Many came straight out of history: Capone,

Bonnie and Clyde, Dillinger. Bonnie and Clyde, Dillinger.

1930’s—Great Depression.1930’s—Great Depression. A time of unrest and turmoilA time of unrest and turmoil Allowed viewers to do what Allowed viewers to do what

they could never dothey could never do

Early gangster films helped Early gangster films helped give birth to Hays Codegive birth to Hays Code

Violent! Violent! They were Violent! Violent! They were violent! And un-American!violent! And un-American!

Once production codes came Once production codes came along, gangester films need along, gangester films need to become more Americanto become more American

Crime film is American: hard Crime film is American: hard work brings power, wealth work brings power, wealth and fame.and fame.

Bad guys die Bad guys die dishonorably:dishonorably: Gunned down in streetsGunned down in streets Die in the gutterDie in the gutter Lovers die together but Lovers die together but

cannot touch each othercannot touch each other Falling from a height Falling from a height

(literal and figurative (literal and figurative fall)fall)

Die a coward, begging Die a coward, begging and pleadingand pleading

James Cagney in Angels with Dirty

Faces (Curtiz, 1938)

Some symbols to watch for:Some symbols to watch for:

Guns: used as a sense of power and Guns: used as a sense of power and prestige, also a charm to remain prestige, also a charm to remain invinsibleinvinsible

Clothing: shows growth, from floppy Clothing: shows growth, from floppy hats and rags, to pin stripe suits and hats and rags, to pin stripe suits and fedoras. fedoras.

Images from Public Enemy

(Wellman, 1931)