Sickies Making Films

Filmmaker Joe Tropea’s documentary focuses on the highly subjective work of motion picture censors, who flourished in the silent movie era and throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood. While the film industry had its own self-censorship apparatus—most notably the 1934 Production Code—many states and cities set up their own censorship offices, which reviewed films and demanded cuts before a movie could be screened locally. Incredibly, Maryland had its own censors operating as late as 1981; not surprisingly, Baltimore favorite son John Waters here offers his typically pithy commentary on that operation. Tropea provides a solid overview of the history of U.S. film censorship, touching on major milestones such as the risqué films of the Pre-Code era (especially Mae West’s bawdy comedies), as well as imported works that sparked legal challenges, most notably the 1933 Czechoslovakian art film Ecstasy, which featured a young Hedy Lamarr in a nude swimming scene. Along the way, Sickies Making Films raises questions about who should be making censorship decisions and under what criteria. For those unaware of the history of U.S. cinema censorship, this well-crafted documentary delivers a solid introduction to the subject. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)