Question

Hollywood's response to the movie scandals of the 1920s was self-regulation. Which events affected the evolution of self-regulation from 1922 to 1956?

Answer 1

Answer: -

In Hollywood or American Cinema, production code was an attempt made by religious group for censoring the images shown by Hollywood cinema's. It was being labelled as 'self-regulation' which was utilised very much from 1934 till end of 1960s but it has finger nails in today’s rating system too. This was due to the changes happening in American Society between 1920s and 1960s - changes brought in by events such as World War-I, Great Depression and World War-II. In start of the 20th century, cinema was getting integrated to society and was changing the method of communication and entertainment in very unimageable drastic form. This brought in views of control to content shown to general public and may religious group wished to protect the general public from indecent images or text. Hollywood faced series of unpleasant events such actors accused of rapes, murder charges or actors being murdered. This series of event create a strong perception of inappropriate behaviour which cannot be control but the content shown on the cinema must be controlled. In 1921, nearly 100 bills to censor films was being legislated by 37 states but later to have more effect national government should regulate these films became need of the time. This all lead to enactment of Production Code.

From 1930 to 1960, Production code was remarkably effective in regulating cinema and had influenced the cinema. The self-regulation already had challenges from start but it continued. The nation when became economically healthy post World War-II, theatre chain or cartel was getting broken down, Americans became more sceptical regarding religious faith giving ways to fall of Production Code.