Joseph Breen facts for kids

Joseph Ignatius Breen (October 14, 1888 – December 5, 1965) was an American film censor. He worked for the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA). His main job was to make sure movies followed a set of rules called the Hays Code. This code guided what could and could not be shown in films.

Early Life and First Jobs

Joseph Breen was the youngest of three sons. He was born in Philadelphia to Mary and Hugh A. Breen. His father came from Ireland. Joseph grew up in a strict Roman Catholic home.

He went to Gesu Parish School until the eighth grade. After that, he attended Boys Catholic High School. He then studied at Saint Joseph's College for two years.

After college, Breen worked as a newspaper reporter. He spent 14 years reporting in cities like Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Later, he worked for the United States Foreign Service for four years. He served in Kingston, Jamaica, and Toronto, Canada. In 1926, he was the publicity director for a big religious event in Chicago.

Joseph Breen: The Film Censor

Joseph Breen was known as a journalist. He was also an important person in the Catholic community. He started working for Will H. Hays in 1931. Hays was in charge of the MPPDA.

Why Film Rules Were Needed

In 1933, a group called the National Legion of Decency was formed. This group, along with others, started rating films. They wanted to encourage movies that were considered morally good. They even planned to boycott films they thought were inappropriate.

Before this, the MPPDA had its own rules for movies. But these rules were not always followed strictly. Will Hays was worried that the boycotts would hurt the movie industry. He also feared it would lessen his power.

Leading the Production Code Administration

To solve this, Hays chose Joseph Breen to lead a new department. This department was called the Production Code Administration (PCA). The PCA's job was to make sure all movies followed the Motion Picture Production Code, also known as the Hays Code.

Unlike before, the PCA's decisions were final. No movie could be shown in American theaters without the PCA's approval stamp. If a producer tried to show a film without approval, they could be fined $25,000.

The new rules started on July 1, 1934. This was after many years of less successful voluntary codes. Liberty Magazine wrote in 1936 that Breen had a lot of influence. They said he had "more influence in standardizing world thinking than Mussolini, Hitler, or Stalin."

Dealing with Difficult Topics

Breen faced challenges in his role. He sometimes expressed strong personal opinions in letters. These opinions were often about the morality of filmmakers. Some historians believe this was due to his shock at Hollywood culture. After 1934, he became more publicly against prejudice.

During the 1930s, some groups believed Jewish people controlled the movie industry. They thought movies were a powerful way to spread ideas. Breen was concerned that filmmakers might use movies to show the mistreatment of Jewish people by Nazis. He worried this could offend some viewers. He advised Hollywood producers to avoid this topic. He said there was "a strong pro-German and anti-Semitic feeling in this country."

In 1938, Pope Pius XI spoke out against prejudice. He said Christians should not take part in it. In response, American Catholics formed a group to fight prejudice. Breen supported this effort. He said, "there is nothing more important for us Catholics to do... than to use our energies in stemming the tide of racial bigotry and hostility."

Later Years and Retirement

Breen left the PCA briefly in April 1941. He said he needed a rest. He worked for a short time at RKO Pictures. But he returned to the PCA in 1942.

By the mid-1950s, Breen's power over Hollywood began to lessen. Some filmmakers started to challenge the code. For example, Samuel Goldwyn publicly asked for the code to be changed. Howard Hughes, who owned RKO, released a movie called The French Line. This film showed actress Jane Russell in a revealing bathing suit. Breen had refused to approve the movie.

In 1951, Breen's office did not approve Otto Preminger's film The Moon Is Blue. They objected to some of the dialogue. United Artists decided to release the movie anyway, without Breen's approval.

Breen retired from the PCA in 1954. He was replaced by Geoffrey Shurlock. When he retired, he received an honorary Academy Award. This award was for his "conscientious, open-minded and dignified management of the Motion Picture Production Code."

Personal Life

Joseph Breen married Mary Dervin in February 1914. They had six children together: three boys and three girls. Their son, Joseph Breen, Jr., became a writer and director. Another son, Thomas, was injured during World War II. He lost his right leg. Thomas later acted in a movie called The River in 1950.

After retiring, Breen and his wife Mary moved to Phoenix, Arizona. He had poor health in his later years. He eventually lost the use of his legs. Joseph Breen passed away at age 77 on December 5, 1965. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City in Los Angeles.

Legacy and Impact

After Breen's death, Variety magazine wrote about his importance. They said he was "one of the most influential figures in American culture." They also stated that he "shaped the moral stature of the American motion picture." The magazine noted that Breen enforced the PCA code with great dedication.

In the 2004 movie The Aviator, Joseph Breen was played by actor Edward Herrmann.