Research Guides: U.S. Film and Television Censorship History: Related Viewing Media

Selected Media

Streaming
Physical Media

This selection of videos is available online from YouTube, Alexander Street, and the streaming media platform Kanopy. Off-campus access to Kanopy and Alexander Street for UCLA students, staff, and faculty is available via the UCLA VPN. Additional material comes from the Hearst Metrotone Newsreels.

Hearst Metrotone Newsreel: "Film Makers Assure Better Movies" (1934)
Joseph I. Breen head of production code board explains its aims in talk at Hollywood.
Hearst Metrotone Newsreel: "Johnston Gives Facts of Film Code" (1960)
At a House subcommittee hearing in Washington on self-policing programs of the movie industries, the Production Code is explained as adequate, and far preferable to any government censorship. Spokesman for the film industry is Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America.
Hearst Metrotone Newsreel: "Film Industry Holds Communion Breakfast" (1954)
The annual Communion Breakfast by the motion picture industry of the New York area hears Reverend James H. Griffiths praise the U. S. leaders of the industry for consistently upholding the high standards of the Film Production Code.

Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies (dir. Danny Wolf, 2018)

Sickies Making Films: A History of Censoring Film in America (dir. Joe Tropea, Robert A. Emmons Jr., 2018)

Viewing Physical Media

UCLA offers viewing appointments through services such as Instructional Media Collections and Services (IMCS) and the UCLA Film & Television Archive Research Study Center (ARSC). More information can be found on the Film and Video Collections research guide.

American Censored (dir. Andrew Solt, 1985)
Documentary tracing the history of censorship in American comedy, movies, music and television from the early 20th century, showing how what society concerns taboo has changed during the last 100 years.
Bleep! Censoring Hollywood (2005)
"The one-hour documentary will profile major players in the 'film sanitizing' business, such as CleanFlicks and ClearPlay, explore the broader debate of censorship vs. artistic freedom in the digital age as well as address the motives and passions of various political and entertainment advocates involved in this ongoing debate. Interviews in the documentary include those at the forefront of the controversy--the businesses distributing the newly sanitized versions and those creating the filtering technology, the Hollywood establishment, and average American families caught in the crossfire."
Censored! (dir. Don Fizzinoglia, 1999)
A documentary about the cultural effect of film censorship, focusing on the tumultuous times of the teens and early 1920s in America.
Censored (dir. Barry Mahon, 1965)
"Compilation film. Noted lecturer and critic Sid Berry presents a collection of film clips which have been deleted from various sex exploitation films to comply with the demands of censorship."
Censored Hollywood (1994)
A brief look at the history of censorship in American movies. Featured are comments by director Louis Malle and Frank Miller, author of the book Censored Hollywood. Broadcasted on TNT Cable Network.
Culture Shock. Hollywood Censored: Movies, Morality & The Production Code (dir. David Espar, 2000)
Hollywood Censored: Movies, Morality & the Production Code, premiered on PBS Wednesday, February 2, 2000 at 9pm, explores how the American motion picture industry practiced self-censorship as a strategy for cultural and economic survival to answer growing charges of immorality.
Sex, Censorship & the Silver Screen (dir. Frank Martin, 1995) [Part 1]
A six hour series exploring the 100 year evolution of sexuality and censorship in motion pictures. Part 2-6 are available to be requested as well.
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
A look at the censorship struggles of "The Smothers Brothers comedy hour", an American variety show originally aired on CBS from 1967-1969. The Hour's comedic treatment of issues like race relations, President Richard Nixon, and the Vietnam War brought the show both critical plaudits and controversy.
This Film Is Not Yet Rated (dir. Kirby Dick, 2006)
DVD. An expose of the inner workings of the MPAA film ratings board.