The Bureau of Motion Pictures: its influence on film content during World War II and the reasons for its failure
Myers, James M.
Myers, James M.
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1998
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Abstract
This dissertation is a study of the formation of the Bureau of Motion Pictures (BMP), the Bureau's functions within the Hollywood film community and as a national government agency, and the reasons for the Bureau's ultimate failure as the wartime liaison between Franklin D. Roosevelt's Administration and Hollywood motion picture producers. The study begins with a description of the early motion picture industry. It briefly describes early scandals in Hollywood, which eventually led to the establishment of the Will Hays Committee. The Hays Committee struggled against Hollywood intransigence and the attempts of several states to censor movie content. Hays' Committee established its own code for moviemakers to follow. It worked with organizations such as the Roman Catholic Legion of Decency to police the moral contents of motion pictures. The film industry quickly offered its assistance to the Roosevelt Administration when the United States entered World War II. Roosevelt established an agency that would help coordinate Hollywood actions and simplify motion picture production. The BMP was formed as a result. The BMP was headed by Lowell Mellett, an FDR aide. He was assisted by Nelson Poynter, who was the Bureau's Hollywood Branch Director. They were concerned not only with movie content, but film quality as well. Both men rejected outright censorship of films and preferred to suggest, plead, and at times threaten the studios into making changes in their films. Many of the Bureau's problems came from the confusion of overlapping responsibilities for film content. Producers were able to exploit the ambiguities of department duties and circumvent the BMP. Mellett's manhandling of the situation, the government rivalry within the office of War Information, and partisan politics ended the tenure of the BMP.
Contents
Subject
Subject(s)
United States. Office of War Information. Domestic Branch. Bureau of Motion Pictures
World War, 1939-1945--Motion pictures and the war
Motion pictures--Censorship--United States--History
Motion pictures--United States--History
World War, 1939-1945--Motion pictures and the war
Motion pictures--Censorship--United States--History
Motion pictures--United States--History
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Dissertation
Description
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v, 331 leaves
Department
History