The Hays Code (also known as the Motion Picture Production Code) was a set of moral guidelines for the film industry, enacted in 1930 and enforced from 1934 to 1966. Its impact on Hollywood was profound, shaping the content and tone of films for over three decades. Here's how the Hays Code changed Hollywood:
1. Censorship of Content
The Hays Code was designed to impose strict moral standards on the content of films, significantly limiting what filmmakers could depict on-screen. It censored topics deemed inappropriate or morally questionable, such as:
Sexual Content: Explicit sexual behavior, suggestive language, and even kissing scenes were limited. The Code prohibited portrayals of adultery, extramarital affairs, and sexual relationships outside of marriage. Even gestures or expressions of sexuality were scrutinized.
Drug Use and Alcohol: The portrayal of drug use and excessive alcohol consumption was banned. Characters could not be shown using illegal substances, and excessive drinking was discouraged unless the character was portrayed as a villain.
Violence: Violence had to be "justified" and depicted in a morally acceptable way. It was forbidden to show graphic violence, blood, or cruelty that might be too shocking or immoral. Crimes such as murder or assault were only acceptable if they were punished in a clear moral context.
Language: Offensive language and profanity were prohibited. This extended to slang, innuendo, and anything that could be considered vulgar or obscene.
This censorship fundamentally changed the way filmmakers approached storytelling, forcing them to find more creative ways to convey themes of romance, conflict, or societal issues without violating the Code.
2. Impact on Storytelling and Creativity
The Hays Code had a significant influence on the types of stories that could be told. Filmmakers had to navigate around restrictions, leading to:
Subtext and Implied Content: Directors and writers found ways to work within the constraints of the Code, often using subtlety, innuendo, and suggestion to address themes like sexuality or crime. For example, directors could not show a married couple sleeping in the same bed, but they could suggest intimacy through romantic dialogue and gestures. The famous example of this is the 1939 film The Hound of the Baskervilles, where actors were instructed to avoid even the suggestion of physical intimacy.
Clever Workarounds: Filmmakers used clever techniques to imply more mature themes without directly violating the Code. For instance, "The Production Code" didn't forbid showing a character drinking, but it could not glamorize the act or make it seem attractive. Directors would sometimes use visual cues or plot structure to imply certain themes, such as showing a couple married at the end of a movie to suggest that their pre-marital relationship was acceptable within the moral guidelines.
Shift Toward "Wholesome" Stories: The need to adhere to the Hays Code led to a rise in "wholesome" family-friendly films. Many films focused on traditional values, such as those revolving around morality, love, family, and virtue, and these films dominated Hollywood for much of the period the Hays Code was in effect.