Production Code (Hays Code) enforcement era (1934–1968)

1. Catholic Legion of Decency boosts pressure on studios

   Jan 1, 1934Labels: Catholic Legion

   • Britannica
   • TIME 1934

2. First film receives an MPPDA Seal of Approval

   Jan 1, 1934Labels: MPPDA Seal

   • Hays Code

3. PCA Seal requirement begins formal enforcement

   Jul 1, 1934Labels: Production Code

   • Britannica
   • Hays Code

4. Joseph Breen takes charge of the PCA

   Jul 1, 1934Labels: Joseph Breen

   • Britannica
   • Breen bio

5. Supreme Court upholds major antitrust limits on studios

   May 4, 1948Labels: United States

   • Justia
   • Paramount case

6. Supreme Court grants First Amendment protection to film

   May 26, 1952Labels: Joseph Burstyn

   • Justia
   • Burstyn case

7. Preminger releases The Moon Is Blue without Seal

   Jan 1, 1953Labels: Otto Preminger

   • TCM
   • Moon Blue

8. Breen retires; Geoffrey Shurlock becomes PCA director

   Oct 14, 1954Labels: Geoffrey Shurlock

   • Shurlock
   • Breen bio

9. The Man with the Golden Arm sparks Code controversy

   Dec 1, 1955Labels: The Man

   • Golden Arm
   • Film Found

10. Code revised as enforcement becomes harder

    Dec 1, 1956Labels: Production Code

    • Code text
    • Pre Code

11. Virginia Woolf approval signals negotiated endgame

    Jan 1, 1966Labels: Who s

    • Film censor
    • VirginiaW

12. MGM releases Blow-Up widely without a Code Seal

    Dec 1, 1966Labels: Blow-Up 1966

    • TCM
    • Blowup

13. MPAA ratings system takes effect, replacing the Code

    Nov 1, 1968Labels: MPAA ratings

    • MPA ratings
    • Hays Code