Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema (2007)

Before the G, PG and R ratings system there was the Production Code, and before that there was, well, nothing. This eye-opening documentary examines the rampant sexuality of early Hollywood through movie clips and reminiscences by stars of the era. Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford, Marlene Dietrich and others relate tales of the artistic freedom that led to the draconian Production Code, which governed content from 1934 to 1968. Diane Lane narrates.

Directing:
  • Elaina Archer

Writing:
  • Elaina Archer
  • Scott Eyman

Stars:
Release Date: 2007-05-23
themoviedb icon 4.9/10
  • Country: US
  • Language: English
  • Runtime: 70

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Diane Lane
Diane Lane
Narrator (voice)
Maria Riva
Maria Riva
Self
Theda Bara
Theda Bara
Self (archive footage)
Clara Bow
Clara Bow
Self (archive footage)
Louise Brooks
Louise Brooks
Self (archive footage)
Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chapl...
Self (archive footage)
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Self (archive footage)
Bebe Daniels
Bebe Daniels
Self (archive footage)
Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Self (archive footage)
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMi...
Self (archive footage)
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietr...
Self (archive footage)
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairb...
Self (archive footage)
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
Self (archive footage)
John Gilbert
John Gilbert
Self (archive footage)
Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Self (archive footage)
D.W. Griffith
D.W. Griffith
Self (archive footage)
Texas Guinan
Texas Guinan
Self (archive footage)
Ann Harding
Ann Harding
Self (archive footage)
Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow
Self (archive footage)
Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard
Self (archive footage)
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy
Self (archive footage)
Colleen Moore
Colleen Moore
Self (archive footage)
Pola Negri
Pola Negri
Self (archive footage)
Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand
Self (archive footage)
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Self (voice) (archive footage)
Edna Purviance
Edna Purvianc...
Self (archive footage)
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanw...
Self (archive footage)
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanso...
Self (voice) (archive footage)
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valen...
Self (archive footage)
Fannie Ward
Fannie Ward
Self (archive footage)
Mae West
Mae West
Self (archive footage)
Leatrice Joy Gilbert
Leatrice Joy...
Self
A.C. Lyles
A.C. Lyles
Self
Budd Schulberg
Budd Schulber...
Self
Mark Viera
Mark Viera
Self
Marc Wanamaker
Marc Wanamake...
Self
William Wellman Jr.
William Wellm...
Self
Michael Westmore
Michael Westm...
Self
Sessue Hayakawa
Sessue Hayaka...
Self (archive footage)
Mary Miles Minter
Mary Miles Mi...
Self (archive footage)
Owen Moore
Owen Moore
Self (archive footage)
Virginia Rappe
Virginia Rapp...
Self (archive footage)
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roos...
Self (archive footage)
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilso...
Self (archive footage)
D. W. Griffith
D. W. Griffit...
William H. Hays
William H. Ha...
Self (archive footage)
Holly Madison
Holly Madison
Model: Special Shoot
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle
Roscoe 'Fatty...
Self (archive footage)
Roscoe Arbuckle
Roscoe Arbuck...
Self (archive footage)
Charles Chaplin
Charles Chapl...
Self (archive footage)
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