What did movie censors make horror films change from the 1930s to 1950s?
Research question: What did the Production Code and its censors require horror films to change during the 1930s to 1950s?
The records show that early horror films such as Frankenstein and Freaks were re-cut by their makers to comply with censors before release 1. The 1956 revision of the Production Code outlawed depicting blasphemy and mercy killings, which affected how violent or macabre content could be shown 2. The Hays Code more broadly required entertainment to show physical modesty and respect for traditional values such as marriage, family, the military and the church, though the document does not mention horror films specifically 3. The Hays Code also strictly limited homosexual themes, so films such as The Bride of Frankenstein and Dracula's Daughter presented such behaviour only metaphorically 4.
Sources
"Although films such as Frankenstein and Freaks caused controversy when they were released, they had already been re-cut to comply with censors."Pre-Code Hollywood
"At the same time, the revisions added a number of new restrictions to the code, including outlawing the depiction of blasphemy and mercy killings in films."Pre-Code Hollywood
"cuya reglamentación de los espectáculos exigía, de manera inapelable, el pudor físico y el respeto a los valores tradicionales como el matrimonio y la familia, así como a las instituciones militares y eclesiásticas."Cine trash
"mostrando comportamientos y problemáticas homosexuales de forma metafórica , evitando así el estricto Código Hays que limitaba la aparición de temáticas homosexuales en la gran pantalla."Queer horror