Jean Harlow and Robert Williams share a pre-code kiss (it’s on a *gasp* bed!) - Platinum Blonde(1931)
This is sort of a big deal, because when the Hays Code passed in 1934, couples could no longer be shown as sharing a single bed (double beds became the rule), let alone kissing on one.
Contrary to popular belief there was no rule within the motion picture production code of America, (commonly referred to as the Hays Code) that prohibited this act per se.
Actually there was - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_Picture_Production_Code item # 19. After the Hays Code passed in mid 1934, all married couples were shown in twin beds, including the wonderful Thin Man series - kissing on a double bed like this, that they obviously shared, would no longer be seen. I dont base my posts on “popular belief”, I actually have been studying pre code films for years and have many books on the subject which I refer to frequently - it’s one of my favorite eras in cinema of all time, and I try to share what I’ve learned with my followers, because hopefully, it makes this blog more interesting and fun.