Forbidden Hollywood: The Pre-Code Era (1930-1934): When Sin Ruled the Movies

having discovered, as it were, what were named 'pre-Hayes Code' films a while back now, a friend saw this book on Amazon and thought it would be of interest to me - and indeed it is. I confess to having not read it all as yet, but what I have, is informative, well written and enjoyable. chock full of stills and scenes from those (for the time0 risque movies from the very late 20s to 1934. What really irks me, yet again, is the church, catholic this time (and with intentional lower case c) poking its nose in and deciding what is good for us all while being total hypocrites themselves. and again, all the do-gooders who haven't necessarily seen the films in question, but then go onto moralising. Anyway, enough of that, but it does play a major part in getting the major studios of the time to 'toeing the line'.Well put together and each chapter deals with specific films and studios and arguments for and against - seemingly, some states were more lenient than others, letting audiences make their minds up instead of churchmen, mayors etc.The book itself is sturdy and the printing is excellent, with sharp images and full-page portraits of some of the stars. (Made me rewatch She Done Him Wrong last night, with Mae West, who doesn't so much walk, as sashay? & a very young Cary Grant And at 62 mins long, hardly a taxing watch, unlike a lot of the 3 hour plus 'epics' put out nowadays. Which, I have to say, I do enjoy, but a relief at times to watch a simple, funny and teasing film from this era from time to time?) I did think that the dust jacket images were different to the cover of the book itself, which is always indicative of a quality tome?Overall, a fine, informative, sumptuously illustrated book on a bygone era; short- lived but with a prolific output.

This 250-page book (a hardback from Running Press, first published in 2019) provides an informative look at those Hollywood films of the early 1930s that pushed at (or plain disregarded) the rules set out by the industry’s self-regulatory body - thus causing a stricter form of censorship to prevail (right through to the 1960s) with the introduction of the 1934 Production Code.After a useful overview of the 1920s, author Mark Vieira focusses on specific controversies caused by a succession of major studio talkies - from horror films such as ‘Frankenstein’, ‘Freaks’, ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ and ‘Island of Lost Souls’ - via gangster movies like ‘The Public Enemy’, ‘Little Caesar’ and ‘Scarface’ - through to risque moments in ‘The Sign of the Cross’, ‘She Done Him Wrong’ and ‘Tarzan and his Mate’. Even the seemingly-harmless ‘Queen Christina’ gets a mention; apparently, the implication that Garbo’s character spent the night with a man proved too licentious for American Catholics (!)‘Forbidden Hollywood’ is very nicely presented too, with stylish photos on every other page, often beautifully-lit stills or full-page glamour portraits of (among others) Marlene Dietrich, Clara Bow, Norma Shearer, Jean Harlow, Ginger Rogers, Myrna Loy, Kay Francis, Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford, and, of course, Greta Garbo.

Forbidden Hollywood is an extremely well-produced book with clever, witty and informative text and sumptuous photos. Would recommend to anyone with an interest in early 1930s movies.

Ordered this book delivery great but on opening the the package the back jacket is torn on one corner.Extremely disappointing as I have no time to return the book as it is a present

Great book and arrived on time would recommend