Pre-Code Hollywood

[B-Independent.com]

An era of classic cinema that features ribald (for the time) material.

I started a list about 6 or 7 weeks ago, but haven't had a chance to finish it. Like a few of my lists, getting back to them is sometimes harder than compiling them in the first place. Usually, I wouldn't share until it was completed, or at least as complete as I can make it, but I just wanted to get it out there.

Pre-Code Hollywood

Just wondering how familiar you guys are with this area of filmmaking? I'm a bit of a novice and was using the list idea as a chance to explore a new aspect of cinema.

[LIZK]

I also have a pre-code list on Netflix. There are more out there than I thought. I just 'got into' it myself, seen about 10 or so of these movies, so I'm still learning.

[B-Independent.com]

Welcome to the group, Liz!

[Devans00]

Every now and then TCM plays more pre-code movies. It's amazing how socially conscious the pre-code movies were. Before they started getting more attention, you'd think most movies were fluff until after WW II or something.

I think the concept that every movie has to be suitable for every member of the family is partially what hurt some of the Pre-code movies. If they were marketed for adults only, maybe they wouldn't have caused such a fuss? Think how dull the world would be if every movie had to be suitable for a 7 year old but still appeal to adults.

[B-Independent.com]

The whole pre-code concept is new to me. While we glossed over the era in film history courses, I never really knew about this era's movement of socially relavent movies until just a few months ago. Considering the times, or at least how prudish they've been described by history, I'm amazed at some fo the topics. It's not that I thought the era was filled with fluff, it's just that I'm used to directors subverting social taboos through inuendo.

[pterosaur]

Nice work, B-Independent! I'm fairly familiar with that period. I've seen a lot of the movies on your list. When was the production code enacted? 1936?

[B-Independent.com]

I plan to get back to work on that list sometime tomorrow. Before I start any more, I want to finish up all the dangling lists cluttering my profile (like that EBERT SAID YOUR MOVIE SUCKED, SUCKED, SUCKED list).

As for the Hays' Code, it took effect in July of '34.

While compiling research, I was a bit surprised to see that KING KONG fell under the pre-code lable.

[B-Independent.com]

Brief TCM article on pre-code

[pterosaur]

Cool thanks. My problem is that I don't always pay attention to what was pre-code and what wasn't. I couldn't even remember what year it was enacted.

[B-Independent.com]

From what I can tell, it's content and production dates that qualify for pre-code grouping.

I'll probably hunt for a text somewhere that discusses the films more in depthly.

[LIZK]

Wikepedia has some good info on the pre-code films. If you type in pre-code you will get info and a list (not complete). And if you click on the movies, some of them give you a little more info.

[B-Independent.com]

that article is actually my primary source of research. I've been using it to track movies both on here and IMDb to check overall availability. The has been my hardest list to construct. On saturday night alone, I spent nearly 2 hours researching and was only able to add about 10 titles.

I'm amazed at thenumber of movies that are now considered lost due to the implimentation of the Hays Code that made exhibition illegal.

[king2clio]

The Scarlett Empress, which is a pretty jaw-dropping film, now seems to be available from Netflix. I know it wasn't available there for a while, because I had to order it from Greencine when Netflix didn't stock it.