July 15: The Climax of #CleanMovieMonth

Today is July 15, the climax of #CleanMovieMonth. We at the Pure Entertainment Preservation Society have dedicated the month of July to celebrating clean movies and the pure entertainment of the Breen era. July 15, 1934, was the beginning of the Breen era, since it was on that day, exactly 84 years ago today, the Production Code went into effect. That was the day when the Production Code Administration was formed with Joseph I. Breen as its leaders and seven other members. As in this year, it was a Sunday. Every film released after that day, which, like today, was a Sunday, had to have a PCA Seal of Approval. Thus, the Code was born.

This day is not so much the Code’s birthday as the anniversary of its coming of age. It was really “born” on March 31, 1930, when it was officially adopted by the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America. However, it wasn’t enforced until the PCA was formed in 1934. July 15 was when it really started to live.

Today, in honor of this great occasion, Rebekah and I are giving our debut performance as the L. A. Soprani Sisters, The Story of the Code Through Classical Song at Hollywood and Western. Through twenty-one classical songs, we are going to tell the story of the Code in its diverse history that spans over ninety years. The lyrics and music of our songs will propel the story forward, with slides to accompany each song; my narratives between songs will create the thread which connects every chapter of the story. It will be a musical journey to discover the great secret force behind the Golden Era of Hollywood! The event is taking place in Joseph Breen’s fourth floor office of the Hollywood and Western Building, a beautiful Art Deco building built by Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg in 1928. We are recording the concert. Not long after the concert, we will begin selling DVDs of it. I will announce it here when they are available.

Because of the concert, I am not going to review a film today. However, you can find the list of my fourteen reviews so far in #CleanMovieMonth if you scroll down. There are enough opinions and compensating moral values to satisfy you all until tomorrow’s review!

Day #1: Three Smart Girls from 1936

Day #2: The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex from 1939

Day #3: The Cowboy and the Lady from 1938

Day #4: Let Freedom Ring from 1939

Day #5: The Chocolate Soldier from 1941

Day #6: Rebecca from 1940

Day #7: New Moon from 1940

Day #8: Adam Had Four Sons from 1941

Day #9: Rhythm on the River from 1940

Day #10: Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever from 1939

Day #11: Seven Sweethearts from 1942

Day #12: East Side of Heaven from 1939

Day #13: The Shop Around the Corner from 1940

Day #14: Broadway Serenade from 1939

Watch a Breen era (1934-1954) film today. No matter what it is, notice the Code when you watch it. Ask yourself, “How did the Code probably effect this movie? How would it have been different without the Code? Would it have been better or worse?” Answering these questions would make a good #CleanMovieMonth article. You can post your discoveries on social media using this month’s hashtag, #CleanMovieMonth. Please leave a comment and tell me what movies you watched to celebrate this special day!

Follow us to bring back the Code and save the arts in America!

We are lifting our voices in classical song to help the sun rise on a new day of pure entertainment!

Buy tickets to our upcoming event, The Story of the Code Through Classical Song at Hollywood and Western!