Hollywood Production Code hidden. Help!

[Fenris]

Hoping this counts as a GQ:

In a recent discussion here, I recited a few bits of the (in)famous Hollywood production code. Somewhere in the course of the discussion I tried to look it up and couldn’t find it anywhere on-line. I’ve tried Ask Jeeves, Google, Alta-Vista, what remains of Deja (just in case on the newsgroups), and Dogpile: Nuthin’

People have web pages where it’s mentioned, but no-one reproduces the text! (I couldn’t find the Hayes Code either. There is a song from the musical “A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine” which reproduces a portion of it as a tap-number.

Is it available on line? It can’t have been copyrighted, could it???

Fenris

[BobT]

Try Hays instead of Hayes.

I don’t know how much of the actual code exists. The Margaret Herrick Library of the Motion Picture Academy would be a good place to check.

[bibliophage]

The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 (Hays Code)

[Derleth]

So, was that laughable code ever officially dropped, or has it just been forgotten over the decades? I ask because many of the shows I have watched violate the code in whole or in part (usually in whole :)).

[samclem]

I think it was dropped back in the 1960’s but I could be wrong

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Aw, this is lovely. Thank you, Bibliophage. My personal favorites: (I was going to include snappy answers, but then I realized that that would be gilding the lily).

a. The technique of murder must be presented in a way that will not inspire imitation.

c. Revenge in modern times shall not be justified.

c. The use of firearms should be restricted to the essentials.

4. The use of liquor in American life, when not required by the plot or for proper characterization, will not be shown.

5. Adultery, sometimes necessary plot material, must not be explicitly treated, or justified, or presented attractively.

6. Scenes of Passion

a. They should not be introduced when not essential to the plot.
6. Miscegenation (sex relationships between the white and black races) is forbidden.

III. Vulgarity
The treatment of low, disgusting, unpleasant, though not necessarily evil, subjects should always be subject to the dictates of good taste and a regard for the sensibilities of the audience.

2. Undressing scenes should be avoided, and never used save where essential to the plot.

The treatment of bedrooms must be governed by good taste and delicacy.

Hence the MORAL IMPORTANCE of entertainment is something which has been universally recognized. It enters intimately into the lives of men and women and affects them closely; it occupies their minds and affections during leisure hours; and ultimately touches the whole of their lives. A man may be judged by his standard of entertainment as easily as by the standard of his work.

So correct entertainment raises the whole standard of a nation.

Wrong entertainment lowers the whole living conditions and moral ideals of a race.

Note, for example, the healthy reactions to healthful sports, like baseball, golf; the unhealthy reactions to sports like cockfighting, bullfighting, bear baiting, etc.

Note, too, the effect on ancient nations of gladiatorial combats, the obscene plays of Roman times, etc.

There’s more but I think this is something folks need to go read for themselves.

P.S. The Hays Code was dropped in 1966; in 1968 the MPAA code took over.

[pldennison]

I always was surprised that, in the Hayes Code days, Mr. Potter in It’s A Wonderful Life was allowed to go unpunished despite the fact that he stole $8,000 from the Bailey Building and Loan. Capra has said that he thought any comeuppance for Potter was tangential to the story, and he took some heat for it, but I’m still surprised it was permitted at all.