Pre-Code Hollywood refers to the brief era in the
American film industry between the introduction of sound pictures in 1929 and the enforcement of the
Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines in 1934, usually labeled, albeit inaccurately, as the "Hays Code". Although the Code was adopted in 1930, oversight was poor and it did not become rigorously enforced until July 1, 1934, with the establishment of the
PCA. Before that date, movie content was restricted more by local laws, negotiations between the Studio Relations Committee (SRC) and the major studios, and popular opinion, than strict adherence to the Hays Code, which was often ignored by Hollywood filmmakers.