What is the Hays Code?

The Hays Code, or officially known as The Motion Picture Production Code was a code of internal censorship created in the 1920s by Will H. Hays. The code was created to avoid a code of external censorship being imposed on movie production given the contemporary social climate.  The Hays Code sought to ensure that films would not scandalize, corrupt the public, or act as a template to demonstrate how to successfully carry out criminal activity. While some of the code is reasonable, such as not presenting scenes of sexual assault as funny, some of the code required broad interpretation. It is also worth noting that the department that Hays worked for did not have any enforcement mechanisms. Its implementation, however, was considered crucial to avoid outside agencies creating censorship rules. This need to display a moral righteousness while still allowing for creative expression led to the code being referred to as a list of “Don’ts and Be Carefuls.” The more open-ended portions of the code allowed for the erasure and removal of explicitly LGBTQ+ identities and representation. This contributed to how society viewed diversity (there were explicit rules about not representing inter-racial couples on screen) led to the famous "Bury Your Gays" concept that still pervade our present media and culture.

The first film that we will be showing, The Old Dark House, directed by James Whale, is a pre-Hays Code, or "Pre-Code" film.

Who is James Whale?

James Whale is a British cinematographer that changed the way that Hollywood made and produced film. Specifically, he came to fame for his contributions to horror and psychological filmmaking. His credits include Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and The Bride of Frankenstein. He also directed The Old Dark House, which we will be showing on October 24th. James Whale was an openly queer man in Hollywood, working first in a pre-code and then Hays Code world. Lindsay Lee Wallace of Time summarizes a scene from the Whale's the Bride of Frankenstein that encapsulates the challenges, balance, and ways in which Whale stretched his interpretation and adherence to the "Don'ts and be Carefuls" mentioned above. Wallace imagines the experience of a audience member watching the Bride at the time of its release, "the Hays Code banning motion picture portrayals of 'sexual persuasion and immorality' is newly in effect, and you’re watching the Bride of Frankenstein spurn the man she was literally made for on the silver screen. Maybe the scene—or the entire subtext-rich story—comes across like a wink from director James Whale, himself openly gay..."

Where can I find pre-code films?

Here is a list of pre-code movies.

Where can I watch Whale's Frankenstein?

Whale's Frankenstein is available to stream from Swank.