“I was never used to being happy, so that wasn’t something I ever took for granted. You see, I was brought up differently from the average American child because the average child is brought up expecting to be happy. I was a mistake. My mother didn’t want to have me.”

Pre-code Hollywood;
Created before the censorship Production Code (Hays Code) that was instituted in 1934 and was in effect for about 30 years (abolished in 1968). Technically, ‘Pre-Code’ describes films between March 1930, when the Production Code was adopted, and July 1934, when it was amended and enforced. The Code disallowed profanity, excessive violence, illegal drugs, risqué sexual elements. Between 1929 and 1934, Hollywood was governed by a voluntary code of decency. During this period, women characters were often tough-talking, sexually aggressive, and independent. Under pressure from church and state decency groups, a code with enforcement powers was implemented in 1934.