Doherty: Chapter 1

Question 1

In what year did the code come crumbling down?

Answer 1

In 1968. Although cracks in the system began to appear mid-1950s.

Question 2

What did the motion picture industry look like in the 20s?

Answer 2

Vertical integration of motion picture production, distribution, and exhibition – a single corporate entity produced, sent out, and screen the film product

Question 3

When was William Hayes recruited into the MPPDA?

Answer 3

1922

Question 4

What led to the hiring of William Hayes as a part of the MPPDA?

Answer 4

A series of sordid scandals… The ecstasy and highs of the 20s.

Question 5

The code was divided into two parts, what were these parts?

Answer 5

General principles - moral vision

Particular applications – precise listing

Question 6

Why did producers feel urged to adopt the Prod. code?

Answer 6

For fear of government regulation, protests of religious and social groups.

Question 7

What, during 1930 to 1934, made the production code a rigged game?

Answer 7

The regularaty oversight of the studio relations committee… Headed by the studio moguls themselves.

Question 8

What was the free front war that the studios faced during precode?

Answer 8

The church

The state

Social science

Question 9

When was the production code administration established?

Answer 9

In 1934

Question 10

Who was the head of the production code administration?

Answer 10

Joseph Breen (held all the power. Hays was the head.)

Question 11

What were the two media revolutions and sound technology at this time?

Answer 11

Radio broadcasting

Synchronized sound cinema

Question 12

What was the Central American trauma of the 20th century, according to Doherty?

Answer 12

The economic catastrophe of the 30s – the Great Depression.

Question 13

What American ideals were denied throughout the great depression? 5

Answer 13

Rugged individualism, 
upward mobility, 
material progress, 
frontier opportunities, and 
American exceptionalism.

Question 14

What film truly signals the emergence of sound?

Answer 14

The Jazz Singer 1927

Question 15

What up surd phenomena, both on the radio and in cinema, did the emergence of sound create?: Relating to performers

Answer 15

Wise-cracking!

Question 16

When was the stock market crash – exact date?

Answer 16

October 29, 1929

Question 17

What was the “age” of the 20s and then the 30s?

Answer 17

The Jazz age

The Great Depression

Question 18

Who was the US president during the depression (29-33)?

Answer 18

Herbert Hoover

Question 19

Which president helped America out of the depression? What year was he elected?

Answer 19

1933 – Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Question 20

There was a disparity between the public and private perceptions of what effect the depression was having in Hollywood. Describe this scenario

Answer 20

Public – appeared as though Hollywood was in Munich to economic downturn in. The one thriving industry.

Private - job slashing, closure of many theaters, lowered budgets,

Sense that Hollywood was simply off it’s game – business was bad but so are the movies.

Nevertheless, big hits: Little Cesar, Frankenstein, King Kong.

Question 21

When did theatres announce the total cessation of silent film?

Answer 21

1930

Question 22

The addition of sound lead to revolutions in filmmaking. What were some of these?

Answer 22

Production equipment
The talkie – emphasis on talking
Genres: the gangster film
Greater preproduction/planning: storyboards
Standardized real sizes and running times (24 frames per second)
Helped define American cinema!
New kinds of performers!

Question 23

In what year and month did the production code administration, the Hays office, begin to regulate content of Hollywood motion pictures?

Answer 23

On or about July 1934