11 Best Pre-Code Movies You Can Still Watch Today (Movieweb) [View all]

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These pre-Code era films show us how far films have evolved in confronting social taboos and representation.

BY ODYSSEY GOHAIN
PUBLISHED MAY 23, 2023

Pre-Code Hollywood was the era between 1927 and 1934 when the Hays Code was enforced in the American film industry. It was a campaign by American Roman Catholics who found American cinema promoting immoral values which were considered to create a negative impact in the society.

As a result, several films were subjected to censorship for including the themes of implied sexual innuendo, romantic and sexual relationships between white and black people, mild profanity, illegal drug use, promiscuity, prostitution, infidelity, abortion, intense violence, and homosexuality.

Several of these films also involved the themes of women engaging in taboo relationships and deviant behaviors, the portrayal of which was considered inappropriate in the 1930s. These 11 pre-Code era films show us how far films have evolved in confronting social taboos and representation.

(Link: https://movieweb.com/best-pre-code-movies-you-can-still-watch-today/)

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Comment: I love Pre-code movies. I admit some of those listed here were new to me. But they left off "Baby Face," which is one of my favorites. That should be on everyone's list. At least "Red-Headed Woman" is there. Jean Harlow is fantastic in that one.)