Movies and Movies and SocietySociety

Society was local and Society was local and parochialparochial

Society became more Society became more homogenoushomogenous

Movies reflect the Movies reflect the makers’ societymakers’ society

Early DaysEarly Days

Birth of a Nation - 1915Birth of a Nation - 1915

KKK in Wash., DC – 1925KKK in Wash., DC – 1925

Mutual Film Corporation v. Mutual Film Corporation v. Industrial Commission of Industrial Commission of

OhioOhio236 U.S. 230 (1915) (1915)

State of Ohio passed a law forming a State of Ohio passed a law forming a censorship board to review and censorship board to review and approve all filmsapprove all films

Supreme Court declared that movies Supreme Court declared that movies were a business, not an art, and thus were a business, not an art, and thus not protected by the First Amendmentnot protected by the First Amendment

Wrote “They may be used for evil”Wrote “They may be used for evil”

Intolerance - 1916Intolerance - 1916

Ben Hur

1920s1920s

Post-World War IPost-World War I

A period of cynicism and A period of cynicism and breaking with traditions breaking with traditions

following the great following the great upheavals in society upheavals in society

caused by World War I.caused by World War I.

Movies used more and Movies used more and more of what put butts in more of what put butts in

the seats –the seats –sex and violencesex and violence

Manslaughter – 1922Manslaughter – 1922orgy sceneorgy scene

Battleship Potemkin – Battleship Potemkin – 19251925

Metropolis – 1927 Metropolis – 1927

1930s1930s

The Great The Great DepressionDepression

Movies created a sense of Movies created a sense of communitycommunity

People would go to the movies on a People would go to the movies on a regular basis, usually once a weekregular basis, usually once a week

Movies catered to their regularsMovies catered to their regulars Door prizes like a set of dishesDoor prizes like a set of dishes Sing-alongsSing-alongs Community announcementsCommunity announcements

A full evening of A full evening of entertainmententertainment

A cartoonA cartoon A newsreelA newsreel A short subject, like a travelogue or A short subject, like a travelogue or

a comedy shorta comedy short A movie, sometimes twoA movie, sometimes two

Palaces of EntertainmentPalaces of Entertainment

Movies as morale Movies as morale buildersbuilders

Upbeat and Upbeat and optimisticoptimistic

musicalsmusicals

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Mr. Deeds Goes to Town – 1936 – 1936

Wizard of Oz – 1939 Wizard of Oz – 1939

Frankenstein – 1931 Frankenstein – 1931

King Kong – 1933 King Kong – 1933

Gone with the Wind – Gone with the Wind – 19391939

As a backlash against the As a backlash against the openness of the Roaring openness of the Roaring Twenties, many people in Twenties, many people in

society insisted on society insisted on censorshipcensorship

Look at these Look at these costumescostumes

Tarzan and His Mate - Tarzan and His Mate - 19321932

Look at Look at thesethese costumescostumes

Or lack thereofOr lack thereof

The Hays OfficeThe Hays Office

Started in 1930Started in 1930 Run by Will H. HaysRun by Will H. Hays Set standards for moviesSet standards for movies

Adopted from a list devised by Father Adopted from a list devised by Father Daniel Lord, a Jesuit priestDaniel Lord, a Jesuit priest

Had no effective enforcementHad no effective enforcement

Hays’ 3 PrinciplesHays’ 3 Principles

1.1. No picture shall be produced that No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin wrongdoing, evil or sin

2.2. Correct standards of life, subject only Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented. entertainment, shall be presented.

3. Law, natural or human, shall not be 3. Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation.created for its violation.

This was followed with specific This was followed with specific restrictions restrictions

RestrictionsRestrictions

Nakedness and suggestive dances were Nakedness and suggestive dances were prohibited. prohibited.

The ridicule of religion was forbidden, The ridicule of religion was forbidden, and ministers of religion were not to be and ministers of religion were not to be represented as comic characters or represented as comic characters or villains. villains.

The depiction of illegal drug use was The depiction of illegal drug use was forbidden, as well as the use of liquor, forbidden, as well as the use of liquor, "when not required by the plot or for "when not required by the plot or for proper characterization." proper characterization."

Methods of crime (e.g. safe-cracking, Methods of crime (e.g. safe-cracking, arson, smuggling) were not to be arson, smuggling) were not to be explicitly presented. explicitly presented.

References to alleged sex perversion References to alleged sex perversion (such as homosexuality) and (such as homosexuality) and venereal disease were forbidden, as were were forbidden, as were depictions of childbirth. depictions of childbirth.

The language section banned various The language section banned various words and phrases that were considered words and phrases that were considered to be offensive. to be offensive.

Murder scenes had to be filmed in a way Murder scenes had to be filmed in a way that would discourage imitations in real that would discourage imitations in real life, and brutal killings could not be shown life, and brutal killings could not be shown in detail. "Revenge in modern times" was in detail. "Revenge in modern times" was not to be justified. not to be justified.

The sanctity of marriage and the home The sanctity of marriage and the home had to be upheld. "Pictures shall not imply had to be upheld. "Pictures shall not imply that low forms of sex relationship are the that low forms of sex relationship are the accepted or common thing." Adultery and accepted or common thing." Adultery and illicit sex, although recognized as illicit sex, although recognized as sometimes necessary to the plot, could not sometimes necessary to the plot, could not be explicit or justified and were not be explicit or justified and were not supposed to be presented as an attractive supposed to be presented as an attractive option. option.

Portrayals of miscegenation were forbidden. Portrayals of miscegenation were forbidden. "Scenes of Passion" were not to be "Scenes of Passion" were not to be

introduced when not essential to the plot. introduced when not essential to the plot. "Excessive and lustful kissing" was to be "Excessive and lustful kissing" was to be avoided, along with any other treatment avoided, along with any other treatment that might "stimulate the lower and baser that might "stimulate the lower and baser element." element."

The flag of the United States was to be The flag of the United States was to be treated respectfully, and the people and treated respectfully, and the people and history of other nations were to be history of other nations were to be presented "fairly." presented "fairly."

The treatment of "Vulgarity," defined The treatment of "Vulgarity," defined as "low, disgusting, unpleasant, as "low, disgusting, unpleasant, though not necessarily evil, subjects" though not necessarily evil, subjects" must be "subject to the dictates of must be "subject to the dictates of good taste." Capital punishment, good taste." Capital punishment, “third degree methods”, cruelty to “third degree methods”, cruelty to children and animals, prostitution children and animals, prostitution and surgical operations were to be and surgical operations were to be handled with similar sensitivity. handled with similar sensitivity.

Destry Rides AgainDestry Rides Again

Look at the Tarzan Look at the Tarzan costumes now after the costumes now after the Hays Office got involvedHays Office got involved

Harold and KumarHarold and Kumar

1940s1940s

War PropagandaWar Propaganda

Joseph GoebbelsJoseph Goebbels

Leni Riefenstahl with Leni Riefenstahl with HitlerHitler

Triumph of the WillTriumph of the Will

Der Ewvige JudeDer Ewvige Jude

Der Ewige JudeDer Ewige Jude

Wherever rats Wherever rats appear they appear they bring ruin, by bring ruin, by destroying destroying mankind's mankind's goods and goods and foodstuffs. foodstuffs.

They are cunning, They are cunning, cowardly, and cruel, cowardly, and cruel, and are found and are found mostly in large mostly in large packs. Among the packs. Among the animals, they animals, they represent the represent the rudiment of an rudiment of an insidious and insidious and underground underground destruction - destruction -

- just like the - just like the Jews among Jews among human human beings.beings.

War CartoonWar Cartoon

Wake Island – 1942Wake Island – 1942

Destination: Tokyo – Destination: Tokyo – 19431943

Wake Island final sceneWake Island final scene

Gung Ho – 1943Gung Ho – 1943

Casablanca – 1942Casablanca – 1942

Mrs. Miniver – 1942Mrs. Miniver – 1942

Since You Went Away – Since You Went Away – 19431943

It’s A Wonderful Life – It’s A Wonderful Life – 19461946

Best Years of Our Lives – Best Years of Our Lives – 19461946

1950s1950s

The Wild One – 1953The Wild One – 1953

Rebel Without a Cause – Rebel Without a Cause – 19551955

The Blackboard Jungle – The Blackboard Jungle – 1955 1955

12 Angry Men12 Angry Men

Giant – 1955Giant – 1955

Day the Earth Stood Still Day the Earth Stood Still – 1951– 1951

Them - 1954Them - 1954

Joseph Burstyn, Inc. vs. Joseph Burstyn, Inc. vs. Wilson, 1952Wilson, 1952

Supreme Court decision overturning Supreme Court decision overturning Mutual v. Ohio that allowed the Mutual v. Ohio that allowed the censorship of movies because they censorship of movies because they were a business, not an art form, were a business, not an art form, and “they could be used for evil.”and “they could be used for evil.”

This case determined that movies, This case determined that movies, even if a business, are a form of even if a business, are a form of artistic expression and thus entitled artistic expression and thus entitled to First Amendment protection.to First Amendment protection.

Jacobellis v. Ohio, 1964Jacobellis v. Ohio, 1964

Ohio tried to ban the film “The Ohio tried to ban the film “The Lovers” for obscenityLovers” for obscenity

Supreme Court ruled it wasn’t Supreme Court ruled it wasn’t obsceneobscene Only hard-core pornography was Only hard-core pornography was

obsceneobscene Court couldn’t define obscenityCourt couldn’t define obscenity

Tarzan the Ape ManTarzan the Ape Man

1960s1960s

To Kill a Mockingbird - To Kill a Mockingbird - 19621962

In the Heat of the Night - In the Heat of the Night - 19671967

Dr. Strangelove: or, How I Dr. Strangelove: or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying Learned to Stop Worrying

and Love the Bomband Love the Bomb

The Graduate - 1967The Graduate - 1967

Bob and Carol and Ted Bob and Carol and Ted and Aliceand Alice

Easy Rider - 1969Easy Rider - 1969

1970s1970s

All the President’s Men – All the President’s Men – 19761976

The Godfather – 1972The Godfather – 1972

American Graffiti - 1973American Graffiti - 1973

Jaws – 1975Jaws – 1975

Star Wars - 1977Star Wars - 1977

1980s1980s

16 Candles16 Candles

A Nightmare on Elm A Nightmare on Elm StreetStreet

Die Hard / Die Hard / Raiders of the Lost ArkRaiders of the Lost Ark

The Green Berets – 1968The Green Berets – 1968

Platoon Full Platoon Full Metal JacketMetal Jacket

Young Sherlock Holmes – Young Sherlock Holmes – 19851985

1990s1990s

Schindler’s List / Schindler’s List / Saving Private RyanSaving Private Ryan

Apollo 13Apollo 13

Dances with WolvesDances with Wolves

JFKJFK

Braveheart / Armageddon /Braveheart / Armageddon / Jurassic Park Jurassic Park

TitanicTitanic

Snow White and the Seven Snow White and the Seven DwarfsDwarfs

Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast

2000s2000s

Lord of the RingsLord of the Rings

Harry PotterHarry Potter

The Dark Knight / The Dark Knight / SpidermanSpiderman

TransformersTransformers

Pirates of the CaribbeanPirates of the Caribbean

The MatrixThe Matrix