The Hays Code: Censorship and Cinema’s Moral Dilemma
The Hays Code, officially named the Motion Picture Production Code, was a set of industry guidelines that dictated the content of films produced in the United States from the early 1930s to the late 1960s. Named after Will H. Hays, who was the president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), the code was established in response to growing concerns about the influence of movies on societal morals and values.
The Hays Code aimed to maintain a certain level of morality and decency in films, and it covered a wide range of subjects, including violence, sex, crime, religion, and politics. Films were required to uphold a positive image of America and avoid any content that could be seen as promoting immorality, criminal behavior, or subversive ideologies. (more&he...