The Story of Film: An Odyssey Part 2

As we continued watching the odyssey of film, we learn of the new innovations by filmmakers and the birth of a new glamorized idea called Hollywood. I was very interested in the discussion of censorship in Hollywood and did some research on the subject.

From March 31, 1930 to July 2, 1934 was a four-year interval marked as the pre-Code era, a time before American motion pictures were censored. Before July 2, 1934, Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America only pledged to abide by the Production code but never adhered to it. It wasn't until July 2, 1934 when the Production Code Administration enforced the code to be abode. The pre-Code era lays bare what Hollywood under the Code did its best to cover up and push off screen. It portrayed the raw stuff of American culture, unvarnished and unveiled.

Now that Hollywood was fenced in by censorship, it found another way to capture the audiences attention through use of glamour and appearance. Stars were adorned in beautiful and extravagant costumes. Hair and makeup done to make an actress' face look flawless. This would become the look and feel of Hollywood, a glamorized world and lifestyle only few can obtain. And even though most Americans did not look like Greta Garbo in Anna Karenina, they took hold of this idea fast and represented it as Hollywood.