Hollywood Censored: Morality Codes, Catholics, and the Movies

by Gregory D. Black

In response to a series of sex scandals that rocked the movie industry in the early 1920s, the Production Code Administration and the Catholic Legion of Decency implemented a code stipulating that movies stress proper behavior, respect for government, and "Christian values." Based on an extensive survey of original studio records, censorship files, and the Catholic Legion of Decency archives (whose contents are published here for the first time), Hollywood Censored examines how hundreds of films were expurgated to promote a conservative political agenda during the 1930s. By taking an innovative view of how movies were made, and the conditions that made them, Hollywood Censored brings together such chapters as "Movies and Modern Literature," "Beer, Blood and Politics," and "Film Politics and Industry Policy" to form a rare look at America's most famous industry.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Film

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Gregory D. Black is Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Muy expositivo y poco analítico.-

Género. Ensayo.

Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Hollywood censurado (publicación original: Hollywood Censored. Morality Codes, Catholics and the Movies, 1994) nos acerca a las circunstancias, grupos, actitudes y mecanismos que llevaron a la creación de la Production Code Administration (PCA), junto a otras organizaciones previas, y de cómo impuso su criterio regulador durante toda la época dorada de Hollywood.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good study of how a vocal minority can impose its narrow vision of how the world should be on everyone else. Self-appointed moral guardians may begin by protecting children and improving morality (or so they say), but they always end by censoring ideas and limiting the expression of difference, even trying to erase the very existence of difference, whether it's the Catholic Legion of Decency in the 1930s or various right-wing organisations or demagogues now. The parallels between the climate of the 1930s and now are frightening. Fascinating history here; too bad Black isn't a more polished writer (he's serviceable but not fabulous), and really too bad Cambridge University Press decided to do without the services of a good copyeditor. These flaws keep my rating from the four stars the subject matter and intelligent argument deserve.

[Andrew Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a class on Censorship. A very interesting take on censorship in the public space, and the collusion between the government Hollywood. It was a very interesting look into how what we consider to be part of our culture, natural and grass roots, is really calculated and controlled.