MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION CODE #) ‘Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. December, 1956FOREWORD Motion picture producers recognize the high trust and confidence which have been placed in them by the people of the world and which have made motion pictures a universal form of entertainment, ‘They recognize their responsibility to the public because of this trust and because entertainment and art are important influences in the life of a nation. Hence, though regarding motion pictures primarily as entertain- ‘ment without any explicit purpose of teaching or propaganda, they know that the motion picture within its own ficld of entertainment ‘may be directly responsible for spiritual or moral progress, for higher types of social life, and for much correct thinking On their part, they ask from the public and from public leaders 4 sympathetic understanding of the problems inherent in motion Picture production and a spirit of cooperationsthat will allow the ‘opportunity necessary to bring the motion picture to a still higher level of wholesome entertainment for all concerned.The Production Code GENERAL PRINCIPLES: 1. No picture shall be produced which will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience shall never be thrown to the side of crime, wrong-doing, evil or sin. 2, Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented. 3, Law—divine, natural or human—shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation, PARTICULAR APPLICATIONS: 1. CRIME: 1. Crime shall never be presented in such a way as to throw sympathy with the crime as against law and justice, or to inspire others with a desire for imitation, 2 Methods of crime shall not be explicitly presented or detailed in a manner calculated to glamorize erime or inspire imitation. 8. Action showing the taking of human life is to be held to the minimum. Its frequent presentation tends to lessen regard for the sacredness of life. 4, Suicide, as a solution of problems occurring in the devel- ment of screen drama, is to be discouraged unless absolutely necessary for the development of the plot, and shall never be justified, or glorified, or used specifically to defeat the ends of justice. 5, Excessive flaunting of weapons by criminals shall not be permitted. 6. There shall be no scenes of law-enforcing officers dying at the hands of criminals, unless such scenes are abso- Tutely necessary to the plot. 7. Pictures dealing with criminal activities in which minors participate, or to which minors are related, shall not be approved if they tend to incite demoralizing imitation ‘on the part of youth. 8. Murder: (a) The technique of murder must not be presented in a way that will inspire imitation, (2) eeEeEeEeEeeeEeGu0qQe—__e_ee_eee (b) Brutal kilings are not to be presented in detail (€) Revenge in modern times shall not be justifed (4) Merey killing shall never be made to seem right or permissible 8. Drug addiction or theillict trafic in addiction producing drugs shall not be shown ifthe portrayal: (a) ‘Tends in any manner to encourage, stimulte or justify the use of such drugg:ee (b) Stresses, visually or by dialogve their temporarily attractive effector (c) Suggests that the Gag habit may be quickly or easily broken; of = oe (2) Shows details of drug procurement or of the taking of drugs in any manner, oF (e) Emphasizes the profits of the drug tafe; oF () Involves children who are shown knowingly to use or trallic in drugs val 10. Stories on the kidnapping or illegal abduction of children are acceptable under the Code only (1) when the sue ject is handled with restraint and discretion and avoids details, gruesomeness and undue horror, and (2) the child is returned unharmed. 1. BRUTALITY: Excessive ad inhumane acts of cruelty and brutality shall not be presented. This includes all detailed and protracted presentation of Physical violence, torture and abuse. IM, SEX: ‘The sanctity of the institution of marriage and thie home shall be upheld. No film shall infer that casual or promiscuous sex relation. ships are the accepted or common thing, 1, Adultery and illicit sex, sometimes necessary plot ma- terial, shall not be explicitly treated, nor shall they be justified or made to seem right and permissible, 2. Scenes of passion: (a) These should not be introduced except where they are definitely essential to the plot. [3]