In the beginning of the motion picture industry, it was pretty much the wild west in terms of what was filmed. Not just subject matter, but also past boundaries of prudence. This was especially true in the roaring twenties and there was a big movement (similar to the temperance movement going on at the same time) to rein in some of the more risque content. Thus, the Motion Picture Content Code was born in 1930, and began to be enforced in 1933. This was more commonly known as the Hays code, which I had written about before. It wasn’t until the late 1950s and early 1960s that film makers started to push back against the censorship, and instead they instituted the MPAA Ratings System we know today.
It was also influencing television shows. Barbara Eden, in “I Dream of Jeannie” wasn’t allowed to show her belly button. Married couples, when shown in the bedroom, slept in separate beds. Toilets were never shown, the closest they got was hearing the toilet flush in “All In The Family”. Of course, all of that changed once Cable Television and content providers such as HBO weren’t under the same restrictions.
Why do I bring this up? Well, this new age of censorship is rearing it’s ugly head, by the same types of busybodies that seem to think they have the right to shut down free speech they deem offensive.
In social media, I keep seeing posts about how movies in the 80s and 90s can’t be made today. Supposedly those movies didn’t age well, that what was considered funny then is some how not funny today.
Bull.
The same is said about stand up comedians.
The humor and stories are still funny, it’s society that has lost it’s ability to poke fun at itself.
The most common example is Mel Brooks film “Blazing Saddles”. For some reason, people seem to think that this movie just wouldn’t be acceptable today. A film deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress is now being called out as offensive by some folks that just can’t seem to take a joke.
Speaking of Blazing Saddles, one of the writers was Richard Pryor. Richard was considered to play the role of Bart that eventually went to Cleavon Little, but instead was part of the writing team. Richard also hosted Saturday Night Live, and one of the most famous skits was this little gem:
Richard Pryor Chevy Chase - Word Association
Hilarious, and showcases the boundaries the early seasons of SNL pushed. Yet I am sure this wouldn’t be acceptable today for the weak minded.
You simply can’t have a society that is offended by everything. You also can’t go off the deep end the other way to compensate for past transgressions either. There has to be a common ground we can agree to, like yes, Mickey Rooney’s terrible casting as Mr Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s should not happen again.
But on the other hand, casting Rachel Zegler as Snow White is just as stupid.