Was the "Hays Code" in Hollywood during the "Golden Years" a good or bad thing? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Crusinforabrusin · 01-20-2019, 08:30 PM

The "Hays Code" limited what could be put on film. Sex was not allowed. Violent scenes were few and far between. Cursing was forbidden back then as well.

Looking back on that era , do you find the "Hays Code" a good or bad thing? Did it affect Hollywood in a negative or a positive way?

I believe it affected Hollywood both ways. Negatively because it limited what was allowed to be shown in films. Everything had to be "clean" and censored back then with few exceptions , which drew the ire of actors/actresses' and Writers alike.

The "Hays Code" made a positive impact as well. Just think for a moment. If the "Hays Code" didn't exist , we might not have had films such as "Casablanca" or "Double Indemnity". So in a sense , the "Hays Code" DID have a positive impact on Hollywood.

PhoenixAcres · 01-20-2019, 10:03 PM

If I had to choose, I'd say it was a bad thing. I'm not a fan of censorship or having unions and associations dictate what can and cannot go into films. Films are artistic expressive statements and as such should not be regulated so severely.

It really should be up to the viewer to decide what is and isn't worth watching.

However, I don't think films in that period (1930-early '60s) were inferior in terms of quality. Despite the restrictions, there were extremely talented writers and performers that were able to put together some of the greatest films in history. They showed that you don't need cheap sex jokes and unnecessary violence to make good movies.

visaman666 · 01-21-2019, 02:54 AM

Before the Hays Code and the Breen Office, women were portrayed as being leaders in the community, professionals, such as doctors, and in control of their sexuality, such as Mae West. After the code, women wete protrayed as weak, and subservient to me, up to World War 2, during the War, women on sxreen, were once again seen as strong, but when Johnnie Came Marching back again, women went back into the kitchen, up to around 1954, when filmakers, started making " art films", such as, On The Waterfront, which, slowly dismantled the Code.

01-20-2019, 08:30 PM	#1
Crusinforabrusin It's time to move on, Goodbye Senior Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2015 Posts: 2,056	Was the "Hays Code" in Hollywood during the "Golden Years" a good or bad thing? The "Hays Code" limited what could be put on film. Sex was not allowed. Violent scenes were few and far between. Cursing was forbidden back then as well. Looking back on that era , do you find the "Hays Code" a good or bad thing? Did it affect Hollywood in a negative or a positive way? I believe it affected Hollywood both ways. Negatively because it limited what was allowed to be shown in films. Everything had to be "clean" and censored back then with few exceptions , which drew the ire of actors/actresses' and Writers alike. The "Hays Code" made a positive impact as well. Just think for a moment. If the "Hays Code" didn't exist , we might not have had films such as "Casablanca" or "Double Indemnity". So in a sense , the "Hays Code" DID have a positive impact on Hollywood.

01-20-2019, 10:03 PM	#2
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	If I had to choose, I'd say it was a bad thing. I'm not a fan of censorship or having unions and associations dictate what can and cannot go into films. Films are artistic expressive statements and as such should not be regulated so severely. It really should be up to the viewer to decide what is and isn't worth watching. However, I don't think films in that period (1930-early '60s) were inferior in terms of quality. Despite the restrictions, there were extremely talented writers and performers that were able to put together some of the greatest films in history. They showed that you don't need cheap sex jokes and unnecessary violence to make good movies.

01-21-2019, 02:54 AM	#3
visaman666 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 818	Before the Hays Code and the Breen Office, women were portrayed as being leaders in the community, professionals, such as doctors, and in control of their sexuality, such as Mae West. After the code, women wete protrayed as weak, and subservient to me, up to World War 2, during the War, women on sxreen, were once again seen as strong, but when Johnnie Came Marching back again, women went back into the kitchen, up to around 1954, when filmakers, started making " art films", such as, On The Waterfront, which, slowly dismantled the Code.