Pre-Code Movies and Prohibition, Part 3: Party Girls and Playboys

In this course, we look at relationships between women and men in films made during the pre-code era—1930-1934—when adultery, prostitution, sex, living in sin, and other behaviors were depicted in film, often with few consequences. In 1934, enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 (Hays Code) dramatically altered the content of U.S. motion pictures by putting an end to the depiction of behavior considered unethical and immoral. That year also saw the end of Prohibition. Movies include Dancing Lady (1933), Ex-Lady (1933), Grand Hotel (1932), Man Wanted (1932), and Dinner at Eight (1933). See Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Kay Francis, John and Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery, Marie Dressler, Jean Harlow, and Greta Garbo sparkle and sizzle!