Joseph I. Breen, 1931 - 1932

File — Box: 4, Folder: 9

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Scope and Contents

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Correspondence with Joseph Breen of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA). In one letter, Breen writes that nobody in Hollywood "cares a dam [sic] for the Code or any of its provisions. It is, in truth, a document honored more in the breach than in the observance. Censorship? Yes. Censorship and censorship eliminations cost money and tend to destroy the even tenor of the 'filmic flow' and all hands are against any such atrocity. But the Code means absolutely nothing. I give it to you as my honest observation that not once since I came here last January have I heard the Code mentioned by anybody here outside our office in a respectful way ... The sole standard of ethics out here is the box-office ... Every phase of production is built upon the principle: Will it Pay?" (October 10, 1932).

He continues, "I came into this m. p. business inbued [sic] with the thought that I was headed towards the doing of a great and fine and noble thing. I had visions that, under Martin's leadership, we could and would clean up these lousy films and, this done, begin possibly to lean the other way--to preach, possibly, fine and noble things. I felt that we were engaged in a great Crusade."

Elsewhere in the same letter Breen expresses antisemitic views, repeating stereotypes about people of Jewish heritage being motivated primarily by financial gain and claiming that "ninety-five per cent" of those in the motion picture industry are Jewish.

Dates

Creation: 1931 - 1932

Creator

From the Collection: Parsons, Wilfrid, 1887-1958 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

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The Wilfrid Parsons, SJ Papers are on deposit at Georgetown University and are the property of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus. As stewards of the Archives, the Georgetown University Library’s Booth Family Center for Special Collections is responsible for managing access to the material based on policies set forth by the USA East Province. Researchers may view these materials in the Reading Room of the Booth Family Center for Special Collections. General policies for using Special Collections can be found here.

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