Every now and then I try to imagine where films would have been by 1940 had there never been censorship codes, and no Hays office. I think 1969 (Midnight Cowboy, The Wild Bunch) was the first year when nudity, profanity, and sex were really explicit in American flicks. My guess is in the absence of codes they'd have hit that mark by the late 1930s.
Interesting thoughts. I think about ‘what if no Code’ all the time. We have to remember that Hays, Breen, et al, worked for the studios. While several states had censor boards, the studios were most afraid that the Federal Government would step in with a Federal Censor Board, which they could have done because the Supreme Court had said, in 1915, that films didn’t have 1st Amendment protection. I think the studios jumped the gun by allowing strict Code enforcement in July, ’34. I think they could have survived the Legion of Decency’s attempts to ban certain films from their congregations. (After all, then, as now, when something is banned, people really, really want to see it.) But, until the Supreme Court reversed their 1915 decision, I don’t think there would have been a lot of nudity. It would have crept in, sure. (It already had, most notably-I think-in Search For Beauty (1934)). As they eventually did in the 50s, foreign films may have broken the nudity taboo a bit earlier. Without Breen and the Code, however, women’s roles would have just gotten better and better. That’s one of the main reasons I love pre-Code films, the women actually have real characters to play. After the Code enforcement, they were, more-or-less, relegated to sisters and mothers. As demonstrated in several pre-Codes, sex before marriage wouldn’t be taboo. Goofy things like ’twin beds’ would only be for a small niche market. The U.S. has always been hypocritically prudish about all things ‘sex’, but, maybe, without Code enforcement, the progress made in the flapper 20s and pre-Code 30s would have continued to move our attitudes to where we’d think of nudity and sex as just a part of life, and not something to be afraid of and/or repelled by.
I appreciate your taking the time to leave a comment. These are very fun to put together, but are also time consuming, and it’s nice to know that some folks have watched a few and liked them. Thanks again. Cheers. Kevin.
@@michiganjfrog Just a side note, I saw a Laurel & Hardy short from that era - A Perfect Day - with a scene in which you hear Edgar Kennedy yell, "oh, shit!" as he's jumping out of a car wearing a leg cast. Nothing like that after 1935!
@@michiganjfrog Just so you'll know the cue, it's during a joke when a minister is walking by and everyone in the car yells "the Sabbath!", and they leap out to run back into the house. That's where you hear Kennedy yell, "ohhhh, shit!" The running gag is Stan & Ollie are trying to take the wives and Uncle Kennedy out for a nice Sunday drive, but one mishap after another keeps them from ever getting underway. This film was 1929, btw. Very early talkie.
1:31 So 1904 then? As someone born in the late 70s, I am fortunate to have known a few people from my childhood that were born around that time. My Great Aunt and Uncle were born in 1903 and 1905, and a great grandma was born in 1906. My grandfather's mom who I still remember scarcely from my early childhood was born in 1898. 4:53 Still cracks me up. I'm guessing he's asking about some guy named Dick, but it comes across as a great double entendre.
"Hey! The water"! There's a drought in California ladies. Deal with it and give us a great big smile. ( cameraman start pulling back before they notice).
Gee weeds these goils were SOO bee-you-tee-full... When a honey like that walked in...(?) why that's when the party began (!) Yeah them gals had some real class. So thanx Tink and cheers
It's so funny to me how, let's say, "demure" 40's films were, meanwhile, pre-code films had the most fun, carefree girls, funny and daring dialogues all over. It's my favorite period, hands down. 40's films are very dramatic and sappy for the most part, it's always some girl playing cat and mouse with a guy, something about "I can't hold his hand untill we're to marry", while 30's films showed a girl saying goodbye to a guy at her door after a fun night, then her walking around her kitchen, happily fixing herself some breakfast lmao I know there are bunch of cultural aspects and post-war influences that heavily affected the way movies were made, but it's still very funny and ironic.
"pre-code films had the most fun, carefree girls, funny and daring dialogues all over" As if the girls in these films were really like this at all. There was a Depression going on and they were paid by the film producers to fulfill male fantasies about libertine women. For the them, it was either take your clothes off or starve to death. Read about the stars of the era like Barbara Stanwyck or Joan Crawford who were, in reality, pretty straight-laced or, those who had less successful careers. It was all about filling the movie houses.
Yeah, that casting for live-action 1930s Super Mario and Princess Toadstool at 4:49 didn't go so smoothly. He'll definitely need a power-up after that slap.
Dietrich does appear in a few of my Classic Clip videos and a tribute video may happen some day. They take a lot of time, and the last few I’ve done have not gotten much interest.
VERY sexy, those scenes of the beautiful dames bathing. What is the name of the song they sing ""Clean as a whistle, fresh as a daisy, just wearing a great big smile/ just wearing that smile of mine"? Shazam can't identify it, nor can Google Search, nor every lyric-to-song application I tried. And what is the name of the film it is used in?" Many thanks!
The film is “Meet the Baron” (1933) and the song is called “Clean as a Whistle” by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. My most recent video revisits the song and pre-Code bathing, if interested: ua-cam.com/video/RZ8Ti-W-ZS4/v-deo.html
@@michiganjfrog You are a gentleman and a scholar, to take the time to answer my question! And thanks to you, the mystery i of several years trying is not only solved, but the film itself is on its way to add to my collection! I appreciate also your passion for a subject that I have shared ever since watching "The Little Rascals" as a child. Keep up the great work.
Glad I could help. If you are a fan of “The Little Rascals” you may like this video I put together on “Miss Crabtree”: June Marlow. ua-cam.com/video/xUtAD3BLg6o/v-deo.html
@@michiganjfrog You must have read my mind. Miss Crabtree was my very first crush as a young boy, establishing my fondness for the 20's/30's ideal look for women. I have never changed. If only I could have been Jackie Cooper the day "Teacher's Pet" was filmed!
I love this "pre-code" (Hays code) stuff. I remember learning about it in film class. I'm really glad you're able to dig it up and present it to us.
Every now and then I try to imagine where films would have been by 1940 had there never been censorship codes, and no Hays office. I think 1969 (Midnight Cowboy, The Wild Bunch) was the first year when nudity, profanity, and sex were really explicit in American flicks. My guess is in the absence of codes they'd have hit that mark by the late 1930s.
Interesting thoughts. I think about ‘what if no Code’ all the time. We have to remember that Hays, Breen, et al, worked for the studios. While several states had censor boards, the studios were most afraid that the Federal Government would step in with a Federal Censor Board, which they could have done because the Supreme Court had said, in 1915, that films didn’t have 1st Amendment protection.
I think the studios jumped the gun by allowing strict Code enforcement in July, ’34. I think they could have survived the Legion of Decency’s attempts to ban certain films from their congregations. (After all, then, as now, when something is banned, people really, really want to see it.) But, until the Supreme Court reversed their 1915 decision, I don’t think there would have been a lot of nudity. It would have crept in, sure. (It already had, most notably-I think-in Search For Beauty (1934)). As they eventually did in the 50s, foreign films may have broken the nudity taboo a bit earlier.
Without Breen and the Code, however, women’s roles would have just gotten better and better. That’s one of the main reasons I love pre-Code films, the women actually have real characters to play. After the Code enforcement, they were, more-or-less, relegated to sisters and mothers. As demonstrated in several pre-Codes, sex before marriage wouldn’t be taboo. Goofy things like ’twin beds’ would only be for a small niche market. The U.S. has always been hypocritically prudish about all things ‘sex’, but, maybe, without Code enforcement, the progress made in the flapper 20s and pre-Code 30s would have continued to move our attitudes to where we’d think of nudity and sex as just a part of life, and not something to be afraid of and/or repelled by.
Well said.
Thank you for your remarkable pre-Code series.
Each one is extremely interesting.
I only wish that I had thanked you long before this.
Great job.
I appreciate your taking the time to leave a comment. These are very fun to put together, but are also time consuming, and it’s nice to know that some folks have watched a few and liked them. Thanks again. Cheers. Kevin.
@@michiganjfrog Oh I love them!
@@michiganjfrog Just a side note, I saw a Laurel & Hardy short from that era - A Perfect Day - with a scene in which you hear Edgar Kennedy yell, "oh, shit!" as he's jumping out of a car wearing a leg cast. Nothing like that after 1935!
@@robvangessel3766 I have the short but haven't seen it yet. You bet I'll will soon and that clip will show up in a future video. Thanks for the tip!
@@michiganjfrog Just so you'll know the cue, it's during a joke when a minister is walking by and everyone in the car yells "the Sabbath!", and they leap out to run back into the house. That's where you hear Kennedy yell, "ohhhh, shit!" The running gag is Stan & Ollie are trying to take the wives and Uncle Kennedy out for a nice Sunday drive, but one mishap after another keeps them from ever getting underway. This film was 1929, btw. Very early talkie.
"Someday, you'll find out you've been missing something."
"Gonorrhea and Syphilis."
I would take a chance.
If the scene is Chicago in the 1930s, then I think the guy made the right decision.
I love the fashion and that beautiful sheer house coat.
1:31 So 1904 then? As someone born in the late 70s, I am fortunate to have known a few people from my childhood that were born around that time. My Great Aunt and Uncle were born in 1903 and 1905, and a great grandma was born in 1906. My grandfather's mom who I still remember scarcely from my early childhood was born in 1898.
4:53 Still cracks me up. I'm guessing he's asking about some guy named Dick, but it comes across as a great double entendre.
Thanks Mr K. Please keep up the great work.
Thanks. Got a few more ready to go. Keep watching. Cheers! Kevin.
A pity that the prudes ruined such wonderful fun.
IK, R?
I used to enjoy the original Scarface more than Al Pacino's Scarface, the actress playing Tony's sisterin the 30's version was so so beautiful!
That's Ann Dvorak playing Tony's sister.
"Hey! The water"! There's a drought in California ladies. Deal with it and give us a great big smile. ( cameraman start pulling back before they notice).
Gee weeds these goils were SOO bee-you-tee-full...
When a honey like that walked in...(?) why that's when the party began (!)
Yeah them gals had some real class.
So thanx Tink and cheers
Omg that’s where Batman and Robin got Poison Ivy’s entrance.
It's so funny to me how, let's say, "demure" 40's films were, meanwhile, pre-code films had the most fun, carefree girls, funny and daring dialogues all over. It's my favorite period, hands down. 40's films are very dramatic and sappy for the most part, it's always some girl playing cat and mouse with a guy, something about "I can't hold his hand untill we're to marry", while 30's films showed a girl saying goodbye to a guy at her door after a fun night, then her walking around her kitchen, happily fixing herself some breakfast lmao
I know there are bunch of cultural aspects and post-war influences that heavily affected the way movies were made, but it's still very funny and ironic.
"pre-code films had the most fun, carefree girls, funny and daring dialogues all over"
As if the girls in these films were really like this at all. There was a Depression going on and they were paid by the film producers to fulfill male fantasies about libertine women. For the them, it was either take your clothes off or starve to death. Read about the stars of the era like Barbara Stanwyck or Joan Crawford who were, in reality, pretty straight-laced or, those who had less successful careers. It was all about filling the movie houses.
Have you seen The Tenderfoot, with Joe E. Brown? There's a funny scene where he meets some of his fellow "cowboys" in New York.
Great !! Thank you !!
Glad you liked the video.
That was some risqué stuff for its day.
Yes, but sometimes a little, is more.
If you see what I mean. 😊
Yeah, that casting for live-action 1930s Super Mario and Princess Toadstool at 4:49 didn't go so smoothly. He'll definitely need a power-up after that slap.
If I had been a teenager when “Scarface” (1932) came out, I would have had a crush on Ann Dvorak!
1:34
When ur caught dancing awkwardly in front of ur crush
i wish the movies that these clips come from were listed!
They are listed above under "show more".
1:03 = Turns out Joel Schumacher stole things whole sale & put in into Batman & Robin lol
I wonder does Marlene dietrich have scenes of these of her own. I seen a few here and there but do you think you could do a tribute?
Dietrich does appear in a few of my Classic Clip videos and a tribute video may happen some day. They take a lot of time, and the last few I’ve done have not gotten much interest.
@@michiganjfrog ohh ok
1:33 Scarface (1932), you’re welcome.
Too bad'we don't have films like this now during the bug.They are very happy.
There are some pre-Codes on UA-cam and other streaming sites. TCM also airs them, although not as often as I’d like.
How did all those women sing with that Minnie Mouse voice?
seems the microphone had trouble with female voice recording
Thanks again! What are the films used at .06, 1.28, 2.15, 3.10?
3:10 is from "50 Million Frenchmen" (1931) and the other three are from "Meet the Baron" (1933)
Thanks!
Is the film at 1:00 Bolero, Rumba or something else?
That's George Raft and Carole Lombard in "Bolero" (1934).
@@michiganjfrog Thank you!
VERY sexy, those scenes of the beautiful dames bathing. What is the name of the song they sing ""Clean as a whistle, fresh as a daisy, just wearing a great big smile/ just wearing that smile of mine"? Shazam can't identify it, nor can Google Search, nor every lyric-to-song application I tried. And what is the name of the film it is used in?" Many thanks!
The film is “Meet the Baron” (1933) and the song is called “Clean as a Whistle” by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. My most recent video revisits the song and pre-Code bathing, if interested: ua-cam.com/video/RZ8Ti-W-ZS4/v-deo.html
@@michiganjfrog You are a gentleman and a scholar, to take the time to answer my question! And thanks to you, the mystery i
of several years trying is not only solved, but the film itself is on its way to add to my collection! I appreciate also your passion for a subject that I have shared ever since watching "The Little Rascals" as a child. Keep up the great work.
Glad I could help. If you are a fan of “The Little Rascals” you may like this video I put together on “Miss Crabtree”: June Marlow. ua-cam.com/video/xUtAD3BLg6o/v-deo.html
@@michiganjfrog You must have read my mind. Miss Crabtree was my very first crush as a young boy, establishing my fondness for the 20's/30's ideal look for women. I have never changed. If only I could have been Jackie Cooper the day "Teacher's Pet" was filmed!
What song is she singing in the very beginning and throughout?
The song is "Clean as a Whistle" from the film "Meet the Baron" ( 1933).
I like the fuck off wave at 1:59.
Who is the gal at 1:40?
Ann Dvorak from "Scarface" (1932)
Yeah, she's something!
She's so cool!
The funny thing is the pre-code stuff is the way they REALLY were offscreen. The censored stuff was fake and sugar coated.
I agree, I think the the films released before strict Code enforcement were more honest.
Joan Crawford!!!!!
add 45 lb. average weight gain since theses days to women now and presto, big booty stuff( cute name for fat). men are heavier also but no one cares.