"Hollywood is a wholesome influence." Many people might look at this statement and immediately disagree. Even an avid film fan such as myself has to admit that while there are still movies and movie stars that present a positive and wholesome image to the American film-going population, most Hollywood produced vehicles cannot be considered particularly wholesome.

In the early days of the Hollywood Babylon, pre-code films featured various acts of unwholesome immorality, glorifying wild promiscuous sex, binge drinking, and drug use. Then, in 1934, a production code was put into effect, limiting what could be shown on screen. "No picture shall be produced which will lower the moral standards of those who see it," it declared, a rather tall order. From 1934 until 1967, crime could be portrayed on screen, but not in such a way as to create sympathy for the criminal. Nudity, profanity, obscenity, and vulgarity were, of course...