Prior to "THE CODE", some movies dealt with all kinds of social "problems" and everyday life in a rather open ( considering the time ) way. These were movies made for ADULTS.
Psst, those filmmakers knew that they could show an hour of sin as long as the sinners got theirs by the last reel.
Same game at play in Reefer Madness, Cocaine Fiends, et al. Skinny dipping, white slavery, VD, on and on. But it’s a “cautionary tale” (wink wink).
Some films (by the “other” Hollywood) even had two versions of scenes (one tame and one “hot”, like women in lingerie reading the same lines). Cities and states had their own local censors you had to get to pass your film (Baltimore had one into the 80s or 90s, John Waters had to deal with her numerous times). Sometimes the promoter would screen one print for the city fathers and then screen another at night (or even change up reels after the “heat” left the theater).
Urging morality WAS NOT THEIR GOAL.
It’s melodrama.
There are numerous early films on YouTube by searching for Pre-Code. Interesting. One film showed a younger Joel McCrea — and his looks, acting and voice were so “modern” when compared to the early 1930’s actors around him. He’d be a star even today.
Trailer for a documentary about roadshow films titled Sex & Buttered Popcorn (hosted by Ned Beatty)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ3eNqY3fnc
Some student’s video about Pre-code Hollywood (major studios)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAWouAAEMGA