regulation of film

Question 1

1915 Court Case

Answer 1

Supreme Court ruled that film is not protected by the First Amendment; not an outlet of the expression of ideas, but rather a business

• government free to regulate film content, can sensor if want to
• didn’t like Hollywood lifestyle or film cotent

Question 2

Hayes office and code

Answer 2

• response to 1915 ruling
• studios voluntarily send films to this office for seal of approval
• code was extremely restrictive (ex “my dear boy” = homosexual)
• codes lessened after WWII - people started to question restrictions
• Howard Hughes releaed movie The Outlaw: did okay without seal of approval

Question 3

Miracle Case

Answer 3

Supreme Court revisits issue, reversed earlier decision, film is expression of self, protected by the Fist Amendment
-film still self-regulates

Question 4

Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)

Answer 4

• films voluntarily submitted, some pressure, most theaters won’t show without MPAA rating
• aged and content-based rating
• panel watches movie and gives it a rating (parents on panel)
• more adult language and violence b/c can keep children out
• most R rated movies out but PG-13 do the best