Hollywood's Censor : Joseph I. Breen and the Production Code Administration

Cultural historian Thomas Doherty recounts the untold tale of the man who dictated "final cut" over more movies than anyone in the history of American cinema. Empowered by industry insiders and millions of like-minded Catholics, Joseph I. Breen oversaw the editing of A-list feature films, low-budget B movies, short subjects, previews of coming attractions, and even cartoons. Populated by a colorful cast of characters, including Catholic priests, Jewish moguls, visionary auteurs, hardnosed journalists, and bluenose agitators, Doherty's insightful, behind-the-scenes portrait brings a tumultuous era—and an individual both feared and admired-to vivid life. From 1934 to 1954 Joseph I. Breen, a media-savvy Victorian Irishman, reigned over the Production Code Administration, the Hollywood office tasked with censoring the American screen. Though little known outside the ranks of the studio system, this former journalist and public relations agent was one of the most powerful men in the motion picture industry. As enforcer of the puritanical Production Code, Breen dictated "final cut" over more movies than anyone in the history of American cinema. His editorial decisions profoundly influenced the images and values projected by Hollywood during the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War. Cultural historian Thomas Doherty tells the absorbing story of Breen's ascent to power and the widespread effects of his reign. Breen vetted story lines, blue-penciled dialogue, and excised footage (a process that came to be known as "Breening") to fit the demands of his strict moral framework. Empowered by industry insiders and millions of like-minded Catholics who supported his missionary zeal, Breen strove to protect innocent souls from the temptations beckoning from the motion picture screen. There were few elements of cinematic production beyond Breen's reach—he oversaw the editing of A-list feature films, low-budget B movies, short subjects, previews of coming attractions, and even cartoons. Populated by a colorful cast of characters, including Catholic priests, Jewish moguls, visionary auteurs, hardnosed journalists, and bluenose agitators, Doherty's insightful, behind-the-scenes portrait brings a tumultuous era—and an individual both feared and admired—to vivid life.

From 1934 to 1954 Joseph I. Breen, a media-savvy Victorian Irishman, reigned over the Production Code Administration, the Hollywood office tasked with censoring the American screen. Though little known outside the ranks of the studio system, this former journalist and public relations agent was one of the most powerful men in the motion picture industry. As enforcer of the puritanical Production Code, Breen dictated "final cut" over more movies than anyone in the history of American cinema. His editorial decisions profoundly influenced the images and values projected by Hollywood during the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War.

Cultural historian Thomas Doherty tells the absorbing story of Breen's ascent to power and the widespread effects of his reign. Breen vetted story lines, blue-penciled dialogue, and excised footage (a process that came to be known as "Breening") to fit the demands of his strict moral framework. Empowered by industry insiders and millions of like-minded Catholics who supported his missionary zeal, Breen strove to protect innocent souls from the temptations beckoning from the motion picture screen.

There were few elements of cinematic production beyond Breen's reach—he oversaw the editing of A-list feature films, low-budget B movies, short subjects, previews of coming attractions, and even cartoons. Populated by a colorful cast of characters, including Catholic priests, Jewish moguls, visionary auteurs, hardnosed journalists, and bluenose agitators, Doherty's insightful, behind-the-scenes portrait brings a tumultuous era—and an individual both feared and admired—to vivid life.

Columbia University Press

Cultural Historian Thomas Doherty Tells The Story Of Joseph I. Breen, A Media-savvy Victorian Irishman, Who Controlled Hollywood's Production Code Administration From 1934 To 1954. Breen's Role In This Hollywood Office Was To Censor American Motion Pictures. Prologue: Hollywood, 1954 -- The Victorian Irishman -- Bluenoses Against The Screen -- Hollywood Shot To Pieces -- The Breen Office -- Decoding Classical Hollywood Cinema -- Confessional -- Intermission At Rko -- At War With The Breen Office -- In His Sacerdotalism -- Our Semitic Brethren -- Social Problems, Existential Dilemmas, And Outsized Anatomies -- Invasion Of The Art Films -- Amending The Ten Commandments -- Not The Breen Office -- Final Cut: Joseph I. Breen And The Auteur Theory. Thomas Doherty. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [365]-407) And Indexes. CONTENTS 8 OPENING CREDITS 10 PROLOGUE: Hollywood, 1954 14 1. THE VICTORIAN IRISHMAN 20 2. BLUENOSES AGAINST THE SCREEN 44 3. HOLLYWOOD SHOT TO PIECES 62 4. THE BREEN OFFICE 90 5. DECODING CLASSICAL HOLLYWOOD CINEMA 110 6. CONFESSIONAL 134 7. INTERMISSION AT RKO 145 8. AT WAR WITH THE BREEN OFFICE 165 9. IN HIS SACERDOTALISM 185 10. “OUR SEMITIC BRETHREN” 212 11. SOCIAL PROBLEMS, EXISTENTIAL DILEMMAS,AND OUTSIZE ANATOMIES 238 12. INVASION OF THE ART FILMS 277 13. AMENDING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 305 15. FINAL CUT: Joseph I. Breen and the Auteur Theory 350 APPENDIX: THE PRODUCTION CODE 364 NOTES 378 FILM INDEX 422 INDEX 428