Databases

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Production Code Administration Files collection documents 40 years of self-regulation and censorship in the motion picture industry. The Production Code was written in 1929 by Martin J. Quigley, an influential editor and publisher, and Rev. Daniel A. Lord, a Jesuit advisor to Hollywood filmmakers. Officially accepted in 1930, the Production Code presented guidelines governing American movie production. In essence, however, the Code was the template for a theological takeover of American cinema. The 500 titles selected were chosen by the staff of the library’s Special Collections Department, with advice from film historian Leonard J. Leff.