Editing Kings Row (section)

===The Hays Code===
[[File:Cummings and Field in Kings Row.jpg|thumb|250px|Parris ([[Robert Cummings]]) and Cassandra ([[Betty Field]]); their illicit romance disturbed the [[Hays Office]]]]

A film adaptation of Bellamann's controversial novel, modeled on his home town of [[Fulton, Missouri]], presented significant problems for movie industry censors who sought to bring the film into conformity with the [[Hays Code]]. Screenwriter Casey Robinson believed the project was hopeless because of the Code. Producer [[Hal B. Wallis]] said that Robinson felt "I was crazy to have bought so downbeat a property." Wallis urged him to reconsider and Robinson realized that he could turn this into the story of "an idealistic young doctor challenged by the realities of a cruel and horrifying world."<ref name='Friedrich'/>

[[Joseph Breen]], director of the Production Code Authority which administered the Hays Code wrote the producers that "To attempt to translate such a story to the screen even though it be re-written to conform to the provisions of the Production Code is, in our judgment, a very questionable undertaking from the standpoint of the good and welfare of this industry."<ref name='TCMarticle'/>

Breen objected to "illicit sexual relationships" between characters in the movie "without sufficient compensating moral values". He also objected to "the general suggestion of loose sex...which carries throughout the entire script." Breen was further concerned about the characterization of Cassandra as a victim of incest with her father, the mercy killing of the grandmother by Parris and "the sadistic characterization of Dr. Gordon."<ref name='TCMnotes'/>

[[File:Rains in Kings Row.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Dr. Tower ([[Claude Rains]]) commits [[incest]] with his daughter Cassandra in the novel. Censors forbade that in the film.]]

Breen said that any screenplay, no matter how well done, would likely bring condemnation of the film industry "from decent people everywhere" because of "the fact that it stems from so thoroughly questionable a novel. He said that the script was being referred to his superior, [[Will H. Hays|Will Hays]], "for a decision as to the acceptability of ''any'' production based upon the novel, ''Kings Row''."<ref name='Inside'>{{Cite book | last=Behlmer | first=Rudy | author-link=Rudy Behlmer | title=Inside Warner Bros. (1935–1951) | year=1985 | publisher=Viking | location=New York, NY, U.S.A.  | isbn=0-670-80478-9 | pages=135–141}}</ref>
 
Robinson, Wallis and associate producer [[David Lewis (producer)|David Lewis]]<ref name='Inside'/> met with Breen to resolve these issues with Wallis saying that the film would "illustrate how a doctor could relieve the internal destruction of a stricken community." Breen said that his office would approve the film if all references to incest, [[nymphomania]], [[euthanasia]] and [[homosexuality]] which the novel suggested, be removed. All references to nude bathing were to be eliminated and "the suggestion of a sex affair between Randy and Drake will be eliminated entirely." It was agreed that Dr. Tower would know about the affair between Cassandra and Parris and "that this had something to do with his killing of the girl."<ref name='Inside'/>

After several drafts were rejected, Robinson was able to satisfy Breen.<ref name='TCMarticle'/><ref name='Friedrich'/>