The Hollywood Production Code Administration’s job was to make sure that every movie produced was appropriate for all ages and ethnic backgrounds. The PCA was harsh to many writers and producers. If they did not give a movie their seal of approval the movie would most likely not be shown in theaters; and even if it were, the movie would most likely not become very popular. The Seven Year Itch ran into trouble because the script was adapted from a play. Plays were allowed to be more risqué than movies during the time and were often not approved for movie production. The writers though, of this movie, turned the script into a screwball comedy, which was very common during the time. With the PCA seal of approval given over three years later to the script, The Seven Year Itch could be made into the iconic movie that it is today.
Unlike other movies of the 1950’s, The Seven Year Itch contained a very simple plot that did not contain many controversial topics. Sexual tension became the biggest issue addressed by the Production Code Administration of the movie. To be able to get this movie approved by the PCA it took about three years, a relatively short amount of time compared to other movies of this era. The first thing that was sent to the PCA from the studios was an overview of the script on December 18, 1952.
This script was adapted from the original play by George Axelrod in 1952. What the PCA sent back to the studios was short and not very hopeful of being able to make the screen adaptation into a play. Eugene Dougherty, from the Production Code Association, spoke on the phone with Finlay McDermid, from the studios. Dougherty did not give McDermid much hope for the play being able to become a movie from the play adaptation. One ...
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... By covering up the indications of sexual thoughts and actions with comedy, younger audiences would assume that the characters were just being silly.
In conclusion, The Seven Year Itch struggled in the beginning to become a movie because it was originally adapted from a play. After the writers made the script into a screwball comedy the PCA was able to give their seal of approval. The movie is very telling of the life during the 50s, when the movie was produced, and what Hollywood censorship was like during that time. Overall even though The Seven Year Itch struggled in its first stages of the script, it went on to become an iconic movie of the 50’s that helps to give a historical insight into the “fabulous 50s”.
Works Cited
Greene, Jane M. “A Proper Dash of Spice: Screwball Comedy and the Production
Code.” Journal of Film and Video 63.3 (2011): 45-63. Print.
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