[ebook] The History of Sex in American Film

The history of sex in American film underwent significant changes beginning in March 1965, when the Supreme Court initiated legal reforms that ended local film censorship that had been in place since the early 1900s. That same year, the film The Pawnbroker was released, obtaining a Production Code Seal of Approval despite including nudity that contravened the Code.

As sexual liberation was increasingly depicted on screen, societal changes mirrored these developments, leading to more frequent sexual encounters and a greater number of partners for Americans by the end of the 1960s. This era also sparked public discussions about sexuality, with American film emerging as a prominent voice in this ongoing debate. The analysis continues by exploring early conflicts that contributed to what later became known as "the culture wars," highlighting how American film often provoked these disputes up to the present day.