The Dame in the Kimono: Hollywood, Censorship, and the Production Code Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy The Dame in the Kimono: Hollywood, Censorship, and the Production Code? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Dame in the Kimono: Hollywood, Censorship, and the Production Code. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Dame in the Kimono: Hollywood, Censorship, and the Production Code ReviewThe Dame in the Kimono, Leff & Simmons
The two authors are university professors in English at Oklahoma State University, and constitutional history at the University of Nebraska. The book is dedicated to their wives. The threats of federal and state censorship forced the movie industry to create a Production Code to protect the morals of America. [People may say they want squeaky-clean pictures, but they also watch sensational movies like "Blow Up".] Show Business is inherently dirty or sexy because it presents the novel and unusual that people want to see. Think of those politicians whose private lives were exposed. Aristotle wrote of the cleansing effects of seeing crimes on stage. Did morality plays in the past centuries provide this like many films in the past decades? The `Acknowledgments' lists the very many who helped the authors.
The `Preface' tells about the long-suppressed 1931 "Maltese Falcon" movie. The major companies featured sex, wise-cracks, and double entendre to attract paying customers (p.xii). The threat of a nationwide Catholic boycott led to the PCA in 1934 (p.xiii). Some pre-1934 movies are available today. Censorship forced writers to be cleaner and cleverer. Did such classic restraint result in better movies? The authors chose eleven movies to use as examples. This book tells how the Production Code was created, worked, and finally ended. [Around the time when movie theaters went out of business.]
Part I (Chapters 1 to 3) starts with the fantasy "America lost her innocence" (p.3). That depends on how far back you go. It could go back to the 1830s when the factory system came to New England to end small owner-operated businesses. When was there ever a lack of scandal among actors and actresses? The censorship bills in 1921 coincided with the economic depression. [The earlier silent films also covered controversial topics, like "The Jungle"] Performers had to sign a "morals clause"; producers and directors did not. Some films are described (p.6). Note how the economic bad times resulted in more calls for censorship (p.8). The Production Code was wanted by Investment Bankers for their growing business (p.11). Sensational movies with sex and violence were profitable (p.14). Violence had a "moral value" (p.15). Falling profits eroded the Code (p.26). Hollywood's business followed the balance sheet (p.35). A new Production Code would prevent state censors (p.37). Investment Bankers were an ally (p.47). The real threat that credible was by the Catholic Church; a boycott would cripple Hollywood (p.52).
Part II (Chapter 4 to 11) discusses eleven movies and the censorship conflicts behind their scripts. It seems any story that is dramatic would have censorship problems. A sign of the cross would be objectionable to British censors (like `Dracula'). A bland movie might not do well at the box office. You will be able to decode scenes from old movies. A saloon with dancing girls represented a brothel. These chapters show a lot of research went into this book. These films are seldom available today on TV (like many other B&W movies). [While I've seen a few of these movies on TV, I don't remember much.] You may find some of these details interesting, but it is the finished product that is important, not details of the production.
Many know that the book is usually better than the movie; this book explains why. There are a lot more people involved in creating a movie than for most books. Modifying the story could attract those who read the book. This book also explains how movies are made. Money is raised from `Wall Street' investors, given to Hollywood studios to produce a movie (story, actors, directors, etc.), which is then advertised to generate paying customers. Usually this works well. Sometimes there are clunkers, other times big hits. Many people go to the movies every week so there is an audience for these products.
The Dame in the Kimono: Hollywood, Censorship, and the Production Code Overview

Want to learn more information about The Dame in the Kimono: Hollywood, Censorship, and the Production Code?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now