The 1945 Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures (1945)

7. Sex hygiene and venereal diseases are not subjects for motion pictures. 8. Scenes of actual child birth, in fact or in silhouette, are never to be presented. 9. Children's sex organs are never to be exposed. ///. Vulgarity The treatment of low, disgusting, unpleasant, though not necessarily evil, subjects should be subject always to the dictate of good taste and a regard for the sensibilities of the audience. IV. Obscenity Obscenity in word, gesture, reference, song, joke, or by suggestion (even when likely to be understood only by part of the audience) is forbidden. V. Profanity Pointed profanity (this includes the words, God, Lord, Jesus, Christ— unless used leverently— Hell, S.O.B., damn, Gawd), or every other profane or vulgar expression however used, is forbidden. VI. Costume 1. Complete nudity is never permitted. This includes nudity in fact or in silhouette, or any lecherous or licentious notice thereof by other characters in the picture. 2. Undressing scenes should be avoided and never used save where essential to the plot. 3. Indecent or undue exposure is forbidden. 4. Dancing costumes intended to permit undue exposure or indecent movements in the dance are forbidden. VII. Dances 1. Dances suggesting or representing sexual actions or indecent passion are forbidden. 2. Dances which emphasize indecent movements are to be regarded as obscene. VIII. Religion 1. No film or episode may throw ridicule on any religious faith. 2. Ministers of Religion in their character as ministers of religion should not be used as comic characters or as villains. 3. Ceremonies of any definite religion should be carefully and respectfully handled. IX. Locations The treatment of bedrooms must be governed by good taste and delicacy. X. National Feelings 1. The use of the flag shall be consistently respectful. 2. The history, institutions, prominent people and citizenry of other nations shall be represented fairly. XI. Titles Salacious, indecent, or obscene titles shall not be used. XII. Repellent Subjects The following subjects must be Mealed within the careful limits of good taste: 1. Actual hangings or electrocutions as legal punishments for crime. 2. Third degree methods. 3. Brutality and possible gruesomeness. 4. Branding of people or animals. 5. Apparent cruelty to children or animals. 6. The sale of women, or a woman selling her virtue. 7. Surgical operations. Resolution for Uniform Interpretation 1. When requested by production managers, the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, Incorporated, shall secure any facts, information or suggestions concerning the probable reception of stories or the manner in which in its opinion they may best be treated. 2. That each production manager shall submit in confidence a copy of each or any script to the Production Code Administration of the Motion Picture Producers & Distribu tors of America, Incorporated (and of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, Inc., California). Such Production Code Admin istration will give the production managei for his guidance such confidential advice and suggestions as experience, research, and information indicate, designating wherein in its judgement the script departs from the provisions of the Code, or wherein from experience or knowledge it is believed that exception will be taken to the story or treatment. 3. Each production manager of a company belonging to the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, Incorporated, and any producer proposing to distribute and/ or distributing his picture through the facilities of any member of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, Incorporated, shall submit to such Production Code Administration every picture he produces before the negative goes to the laboratory for printing. Said Production Code Administration, having seen the picture, shall inform the production manager in writing whether in its opinion the picture conforms or does not conform to the Code, stating specifically wherein either by theme, treatment or incident, the picture violates the provisions of the Code. In such latter event, the picture shall not be released until the changes indicated by the Production Code Administration have been made; provided, however, that the production manager may appeal from such opinion of said Production Code Administration, so indicated in writing, to the Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Producers fc Distributors of America. Incorporated, whose findings shall be final, and such production manager and company shall be governed accordingly.