Before the Motion Picture Code was adopted in 1934, many Hollywood films brazenly tackled an array of risque subjects, from sexual freedom to lawlessness to racial taboos. Made during the depths of the Great Depression—when Hollywood studio profits were plummeting—pre-Code movies pushed the bounds of societal and cultural norms to lure audiences into theaters any way possible.
In this riveting lecture, author Kim Luperi explores the pre-Code period, from the earliest calls for industry censorship to the summer 1934 enforcement of the Production Code — with a special look at the various ways women were represented in movies during this time.
Bio
Kim Luperi wrote her undergraduate thesis on the censorship battle of Baby Face (1933) and never looked back. Currently, she curates the @precodedotcom Instagram account, and is a freelance writer for TCM. Her first book, Pre-Code Essentials: Must-See Cinema from Hollywood’s Untamed Era, 1930-1934, co-written with Danny Reid, was published in October 2025 from Running Press and TCM.
If you have questions about this event, please email: tickets@ebellofla.org or call 323-931-1277 x 125.
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The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers and artists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of The Ebell of Los Angeles.
If you have questions about this event, please email: tickets@ebellofla.org or call 323-931-1277 x 125.
The views and opinions expressed by guest speakers and artists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of The Ebell of Los Angeles.
