Classical Film Violence - Designing and Regulating Brutality in Hollywood Cinema, 1930–1968

Classical Film Violence is the first book to examine the interplay between the aesthetics and the censorship of violence in classic Hollywood films from 1930 to 1968, the era of the Production Code Administration (PCA), when filmmakers were required to have their scripts approved before they could start production. Stephen Prince explains how Hollywood's filmmakers designed violence in response to the regulations of the PCA and regional censors. Taking this one step further, he shows (or makes the connection) that graphic violence in today's films actually has its roots in these early films made during the time period of 1930 to 1968. He explains how Hollywood's filmmakers were drawn to violent scenes and how they "pushed the envelope" of what they could depict by manipulating the Production Code Administration.