"Trust me I can point to lots of movies from the 30s and 40s and 50s that are plenty morally adverse!"
Exellect point. Two films that come to mind, "Double Indemity," (1945), and "Touch Of Evil" (1958) are not exactly films I would sit down and watch with my children (if I had children, that is). There are also some of the 'Pre-Code' films (films produced before 1934, when the Hays' Office really started cracking down on indecency in films). The original talking version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1931), featured a scene of actress Miriam Hopkins doing a semi-striptease that was later cut when the film was re-issued seven years later. A rather riveting film, but definitely not one for the kiddies or even the faint of heart. Rent the DVD if you get a chance and you'll see what I mean.
But one of the things that sets those two excellent films apart from many of the productions of the 1990s and beyond is that they were films aimed at adults without resorting to the needless sex, violence, and foul language. Also, because of the strict enforcement of the old production code, the antagonists in those films got it in the end. As I mentioned on an earlier post, there are some notable exceptions out there. And you are right that everything doesn't have to be for kids, but it can be done with some taste.
Regards, T.
That Rueben Mamoulian version of 'Dr. Jekyl and Mr Hyde' with Frederic March you mentioned is fantastic. And accurate to the text. At least far more so then the insipid MGM version with Spencer Tracy ten years later (post Code).