QandAs: Buzz

What is a Pre-Code movie?

Answer:
Pre-Code refers to Hollywood movies made between the years 1929 and 1934, before the enforcement of the Hays Code, also known as the Production Code.

With the increasing popularity of the talkies, audiences yearned for more movies and the movies that played in theatres depicted life as it was, and not a romanticized version of it. Some people thought the films were too racy

and sought a way to put a stop to the current trend. In 1930, these folks put together a production code looking to change the way Hollywood made movies. Their aim was to replace the liberal-minded ideas portrayed on the screen with a more conservative and wholesome point of view. Although the Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 (more popularly known as the Hays Code named after the creator, Will Hays) was put into place, Hollywood producers chose to ignore it and continued to make films as they had already been doing so.

Religious leaders continued to grow affronted by what they considered a blatant portrayal of immorality on the silver screen and formed another group to enforce the points laid-out in the Production Code. The sole purpose of this group was to promote decency and morality in the movies and to ban the films they found offensive. In June of 1934 the existing Production Code was amended to include that after July 1, 1934, all movies had to be approved of by the board before being released to the public.

The "General Principles" guiding the Code are stated as such:
1. No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin.
2. Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented.
3. Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation.

Although the standards had relaxed a bit through the years, this form of censorship carried on in Hollywood until 1968 when the ratings system took effect.

The films made between the late 20's until the enforcement of the Code are considered tame by today's standards but they're still entertaining to watch and are considered an important part of film history. Some that come highly recommended: Baby Face (Barbara Stanwyck), Public Enemy (James Cagney), Three on a Match (Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak, Bette Davis), The Divorcee (Norma Shearer) and Waterloo Bridge (Mae Clark) and many more. For a further look into the Code that changed the face of movie making in Hollywood visit: Motion Picture Production Code


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