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Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

4.3

2007•1h 10m

Before the G, PG and R ratings system there was the Production Code, and before that there was, well, nothing. This eye-opening documentary examines the rampant sexuality of early Hollywood through movie clips and reminiscences by stars of the era. Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford, Marlene Dietrich and others relate tales of the artistic freedom that led to the draconian Production Code, which governed content from 1934 to 1968. Diane Lane narrates.

Production

Production

Cast

Photo of Diane Lane

Diane Lane

Narrator (voice)

Photo of Jeanine Basinger

Jeanine Basinger

Self

Photo of Leatrice Joy Gilbert

Leatrice Joy Gilbert

Self

Photo of A.C. Lyles

A.C. Lyles

Self

Photo of Maria Riva

Maria Riva

Self

Photo of Budd Schulberg

Budd Schulberg

Self

Photo of Mark Viera

Mark Viera

Self

Photo of Marc Wanamaker

Marc Wanamaker

Self

Photo of William Wellman Jr.

William Wellman Jr.

Self

Photo of Michael Westmore

Michael Westmore

Self

Photo of Holly Madison

Holly Madison

Model: Special Shoot

Photo of Roscoe Arbuckle

Roscoe Arbuckle

Self (archive footage)

Photo of Theda Bara

Theda Bara

Self (archive footage)

Photo of Clara Bow

Clara Bow

Self (archive footage)

Photo of Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks

Self (archive footage)

Photo of Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin

Self (archive footage)

Photo of Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford

Self (archive footage)

Photo of Bebe Daniels

Bebe Daniels

Self (archive footage)

Photo of Bette Davis

Bette Davis

Self (archive footage)

Photo of Cecil B. DeMille

Cecil B. DeMille

Self (archive footage)

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