This is an advanced senior seminar designed for students interested in an indepth exploration of the Production Code, the Hollywood's industry's main instrument of self-censorship during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. We will consider how and why the Code regulated depictions of sexuality, violence and race relations, comparing Pre-Code films from the early 30s with those made during the era of the Production Code Administration and those made after the Code became unenforceable. Finally, we will consider what changed, if anything, when the current ratings system replaced the Code. Throughout the seminar we will consider how extra-textual discussions surrounding the films helped audiences "read" suppressed content.