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Films Condemned by the Legion of Decency
 9  6.5  7.2 Melodrama about a crooked bail bondsman (George Bancroft), and the unstable, thrill-seeking socialite who loves him (Frances Dee).
  
65 7.3 7.6 Racy comedy about a menage-a-trois (Gary Cooper, Miriam Hopkins, and Fredric March), based on a play by Noel Coward.
  
86 6.8 6.8 Hedy Lamarr as a runaway child bride. Graphic for the time, including nudity and depictions of underage sex and orgasm.
 
130 7.7 7.8 Pre-Code classic in which Queen Christina of Sweden (Greta Garbo) gives up the throne to be with her lover.
 
6 5 6.3 Melodrama highlighting corruption in the American school system, starring Frances Dee, Ginger Rogers, and Billie Burke.
 
6 6 6.3 Pre-Code drama starring Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery, and Herbert Marshall.
 
116 7.8 7.7 Torture, insanity, and Catherine the Great (Marlene Dietrich) having one adulterous affair after another while waiting to take over Russia.
 
2 8 6.8 Condemned because of its sympathetic depiction of an adulterous wife.
 
59 6.8 5.6 Western film showcasing Jane Russell, hugely controversial for its prominent, salacious display of her body and breasts.
 Howard Hughes production was filmed in 1940, released in 1943, then withdrawn and tried for indecency by Judge Twain Michelsen. Not widely released until 1946, with a statement from Michelsen saying: "We have seen Jane Russell. She is an attractive specimen of American womanhood. God made her what she is." 
8 0 4.8 Kroger Babb's infamous sexploitation film highlighting teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Very graphic for the time, including nudity and real-life footage of childbirth and delivery.
 
254 7.8 7.9 British nuns start a school in the Himalayas, but the wild, sensual atmosphere gradually drives them to insanity, nymphomania, and murder.
 Classic melodrama from the Powell/Pressburger team was both condemned and edited on its initial American release, removing the flashback scenes where Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr) remembers her life prior to joining the convent. 
316 7.6 7.8 Condemned because of its sympathetic depiction of a divorced mother (Maureen O'Hara).
 
11 5.2 5 Musical comedy starring Jane Russell. Originally in 3-D, it was sold with provocative taglines such as "J.R. in 3-D - and What Dimensions!" and "It'll knock BOTH your eyes out!"
  
40 6.8 6.7 Groundbreaking comedy by Otto Preminger, not approved by the Production Code. Story focuses on a love triangle; words like "virgin", "seduce", "pregnancy", and "mistress" were prominently featured in the script and dialogue.
 
103 7.9 7.3 Controversial black comedy/melodrama by Elia Kazan, about a voluptuous child bride (Carroll Baker) caught between her frustrated husband (Karl Malden) and his devious rival (Eli Wallach).
 Time Magazine called it "just about the dirtiest American-made motion picture that has ever been legally exhibited." After the Legion of Decency began boycotting the film - Cardinal Spellman declaring it "evil in concept" and "certain to exert an immoral and corrupting influence on those who see it" - the producers released posters with "Condemned by Cardinal Spellman" as a tagline. 
1472 8.2 8.4 Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis witness a gang murder, and go on the lam disguised as women. Provocative black comedy/sex comedy loaded with sexual innuendo and satire.
  
1022 7.3 8 Violence and homosexuality, including a notorious bathing scene between Tony Curtis and Laurence Olivier.
  
822 8.1 7.9 Condemned for its (deliberately) romanticized view of criminals, including depictions of robbery, murder, and premarital sex between the protagonists (Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo).
 
304 8.3 8.1 Irreverent satire by Luis Bunuel (an outspoken critic of the Catholic Church and of religion in general). Depictions of blasphemy (including a parody of the Last Supper), suicide, incest (including an attempted rape), and other sins horrified the American and Spanish censors.
  
630 8 7.8 Classic tragicomedy about a menage-a-trios, starring Oskar Werner, Jeanne Moreau, and Henri Serre.
 
845 7.1 7.5 Condemned for violent and sexual content, especially regarding the sadistic, lesbian spy character played by Lotte Lenya.
  
226 6.4 6.7 Condemned for violence and a scene showing the heros (Paul Newman and Julie Andrews) in bed together.
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Comments
Rath
Posted: 10 months, 4 weeks ago at Jun 24 7:21
Very interesting list :)
JayTrotter
Posted: 10 months, 3 weeks ago at Jun 25 0:08
Cool list but would be MUCH MORE COOLER if you added the reason for being condemned on every single movie
milica
Posted: 7 months, 1 week ago at Oct 10 17:59
Super list! :)
Victorian Fantasy
Posted: 6 months, 3 weeks ago at Oct 23 1:21
Great list! I've seen just about all of these too :)
The O.P.
Posted: 6 months, 1 week ago at Nov 6 7:31
I can't believe they condemned Santa Claus too! (Miracle on 34th Street). :D
DebbieDPhilly
Posted: 6 months, 1 week ago at Nov 6 7:45
Really amazing! Makes me want to see the ones I haven't!
Fnord Prefect
Posted: 6 months, 1 week ago at Nov 6 8:41
Thanks! I've learned something today! :)
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