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How do you go from censoring a kiss longer than three seconds to a woman giving birth to the Devil’s baby in under two decades?

In the epic conclusion to our three-part series on movie censorship, we’re tracing the final, messy downfall of the Hays Code. Armed with Catholic boycotts, $25,000 fines, and the iron fist of Joseph Breen, the Production Code Administration thought they had Hollywood on a leash. What they didn't count on was the sheer spite, loop-holing genius, and legal maneuvering of iconic directors determined to push the envelope.

From Howard Hughes suing censors over Jane Russell’s cleavage to Alfred Hitchcock orchestrating a flush heard 'round the world in Psycho, discover how code-breaking filmmakers, Supreme Court battles, and a rapidly changing 1960s culture finally burned the Hays Code to the ground—paving the way for the MPAA ratings system we know today.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Gatekeeper Era: Joseph Breen, the Catholic Legion of Decency, and the strict rules of 1930s Hollywood.
• Bending the Code: How The Maltese Falcon, Gone With the Wind, and Notorious used loopholes, fast talking, and subtext to dodge censors.
• The Legal Turning Point: The landmark Supreme Court ruling that gave movies First Amendment protection.
• The Final Nail in the Coffin: How 1960s masterpieces like Some Like It Hot, Bonnie and Clyde, and Rosemary’s Baby proved the Code was dead in the water.
• The Birth of Modern Ratings: The transition from rigid censorship to G, PG, R, and X.

If you want more instances of humanity messing things up, check out the The Day's Dumpster with some suggested episodes below!

The Prequels: If you missed how Tinseltown first lost its innocence, stream Movie Ratings (Pt. 1): Early Hollywood Scandals and the Silent Era - Episode 78 and Movie Ratings (Pt. 2): Rise of Popular Movie Genres and Their Codes

Throwing Money Into the Ocean: Movie Busts: How Waterworld Became the Most Expensive Disaster in Hollywood History - Episode 55

Adam Savage Talks About Dodos, Maltese Falcons and the Art of Obsession

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