Why is a film called a blue film?

quora.com

Jun 18, 2018 5:39 PM



Gugan Kumar

Christ University,MBA Lean Operations and Systems

22w ago

Initially in the 19th century, the reels or films which were used for normal movies were white in color and they were costly to use. B-grade or adult movies were basically taken in a low budget thereby they were not able to buy white reels or films, they bought blue reels which are cheaper. This is the reason adult movies are also known as blue films.



Henry Lions

Writer and Poet at Self-Employment (1977-present)

5w ago

In the Victorian era, pororaphy of the cheapest sort was printed on blue paper, because it was cheap. (similar to Yellow Journalism in the USA)
Therefore blue reading material was a euphemism for obscene literature.
When films began to be produced, blue movies, was a carry over of the term to signify content.



Ric Lawes

Hundreds of productions - TVC's, features, documentaries & TV Series over 30 yrs

104w ago

From my research this is what was available.  The term "blue film" or "blue movie" refers to a cinematic production that is contrary to the standard moral code. It is probably a spin-off from the "blue laws" that existed in many states until about 50 or 60 years ago.

In the late eighteenth century, Rev. Samuel Peters introduced the term as a reference to the "bluenoses" who subscribed to the Puritan standards of the seventeenth century.  Rumors claim that he wrote on blue paper or that his writings were found in books with blue covers. Neither rumor has been substantiated.

According to the "blue laws," most businesses could not operate on Sunday. "Keeping the Sabbath holy" was one of the ten commandments, the basis of most laws in Christian countries.  The blue laws particularly targeted the sale of alcohol, but they also applied to grocery stores and other commercial activities.

However, pharmacies were exempt in most cases because of the emergency need for medication. That's why, today, many items that would be sold in super markets or dry goods stores are found on the shelves of Rite-Aid, Long's, Walgreens, etc.

As times and community standards changed, so did the laws. Consequently, most people today have never heard the expression "blue laws" and would not have any idea of why XXX films would be called "blue movies."



Robert Beveridge

Recently semi-un-retired reviewer of a whole lot of movies.

8w ago

“Blue” is, when you get far enough back in the language, an equivalent for “bloody”.

Let’s not think carnage here, let’s think the British swear word.

Blue laws date to, roughly, 1781. They were first elucidated by a chap named Samuel Peters (who was, not surprisingly, a member of the clergy).

But, you see, here’s the thing. Peters was lying through his teeth. Dude was enough of an asshat to get himself evicted from the Colonies and, as asshats do, he published a book about said Colonies that included all sorts of nonsense (the 1700s equivalent of the tell-all memoir later proven to be fiction—think James Frey and Augusten Burroughs here), including so-called “blue laws” that prohibited people from doing such awful, awful things as getting one’s hair cut in any style other than the bowl.

Now, like I said, when you use the term “blue laws” there, you should be doing so in kind of a growling undertone to your self. “Bloody stupid laws…”

We see a number of other ways “blue” has come down through the ages with this meaning. A person who’s letting loose with a legendary string of profanities is said to be “cursing a blue streak”. We still have “blue laws” that are religiously-based (and looked upon with the same contempt by most people, which is why they’re called blue laws) in much of the American heartland; the most common one is the forbidding of alcohol sales on Sundays. And, of course, there’s the “blue movie”.

(Totally unrelated: remember the term “blue movie”. There’s a great regional band with that name who are going to get very, very big on their cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Two Tribes”, if there is any justice in this world. Really, really fun live act.)



Amarjit Haty

studies at Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi (2019)

163w ago

The term blue film came from Great Britain, where blue is indirectly used to refer to works targeting the prurient interest or those that are considered offensive, obscene or in bad taste.



Carrie Rickey

Film critic, The Philadelphia Inquirer since 1986. I watch 500 films annually.

8w ago

“Blue” laws were enacted to prohibit sales of liquor and other banned substances on Sunday. Presumably pornography was included.



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