The Motion Picture Production Code: A Brief History and Impact on American Cinema

The Establishment and Influence of the Motion Picture Production Code

The Motion Picture Production Code, often referred to as the Hays Code after its chief proponent, Will H. Hays, was a set of industry moral guidelines that governed the production of the majority of United States motion pictures released by major studios from 1930 to 1968. Developed in response to public outcry over perceived indecencies in films and a series of Hollywood scandals, the code sought to maintain social and moral standards in cinema and avoid the imposition of government censorship. It was also seen as a means to ensure the financial viability of the film industry by producing content that was acceptable to the general public, which held more conservative views during that era.

The Infamous Scandal and the Advent of the Hays Code

The catalyst for the adoption of the Hays Code was the public scandal involving the death of actress Virginia Rappe and the subsequent manslaughter trials of comedian Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. The highly publicized events of 1921, which included accusations of sexual assault and manslaughter, led to a national scandal and the eventual acquittal of Arbuckle. However, the damage to his career and the broader negative perception of Hollywood's morality hastened the film industry's decision to implement self-regulation to preempt government censorship and restore its tarnished image.

The Code's Enforcement and Provisions

The Motion Picture Production Code was formally introduced in 1930 but lacked effective enforcement until 1934, when Joseph Breen was appointed as the head of the newly established Production Code Administration. The code outlined specific prohibitions, such as the ban on explicit sexuality, profanity, and the depiction of crime in a sympathetic light. It required that films portray the triumph of good over evil and that the law be respected and upheld. Additionally, the code set standards for modesty, stating that men and women, for example, could not be shown in bed together, and it placed limitations on the display of violence and the use of drugs.

The Code's Impact on Representation in Film

The Hays Code significantly influenced the portrayal of gender roles, race, and sexuality in American cinema. It reinforced traditional gender norms and often penalized characters who defied them. Racially, the code prohibited the depiction of miscegenation and often perpetuated racial stereotypes. It also censored the representation of homosexuality, labeling it as a "sexual perversion." While overt depictions of queer characters were forbidden, filmmakers sometimes employed subtext and innuendo to suggest such themes, a technique known as "queer coding."

Pushback Against the Motion Picture Production Code

Although the Hays Code was intended to be a voluntary guide, it became de facto mandatory for films that wanted distribution and exhibition support from the MPPDA. Filmmakers often found the code restrictive and creatively limiting, leading to tension and resistance within the industry. The code's influence was challenged by the import of foreign films not subject to the same restrictions and by directors like Billy Wilder, whose film "Some Like It Hot" (1959) flouted the code's rules but was commercially successful, signaling a shift in public attitudes and the beginning of the code's erosion.

The Demise of the Hays Code and the Emergence of the MPAA Rating System

By the late 1960s, the Motion Picture Production Code had become increasingly disconnected from the progressive social changes and the more permissive culture of the era. The advent of television, the popularity of foreign cinema, and the public's growing opposition to moral censorship by the MPPDA led to the code's decline. In 1968, the Hays Code was replaced by the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) film rating system, which aimed to categorize films based on their suitability for various audiences rather than censor the content of the films themselves. This change marked a significant transformation in the film industry, allowing for a broader range of artistic expression and mirroring the societal trend towards liberalization.