Final answer:
Before 1934, movements for film censorship in the U.S. faced challenges due to the film industry's desire to entertain and attract widespread audiences, the focus on patriotism and national unity during wartimes that justified selective censorship, and the emerging mass culture resistant to regulation. Resistance was also fueled by the difficulties in enforcing censorship and the preference for self-regulation within the industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The various movements for film censorship and community control in the U.S. before 1934 were mostly unsuccessful for several reasons. Firstly, the film industry, particularly in Hollywood, was focused on making films that were popular and cost-effective, often resisting attempts at censorship that might limit their audience appeal. Films experimented with new techniques and storytelling methods that sometimes included controversial subjects or political critiques, drawing varied audience interests. Moreover, during World War I, the U.S. government engaged in censorship mainly for the sake of unity during wartime, presenting a specific pro-war narrative. Government censorship was often accepted when it was linked to patriotism or in response to fears, like anti-German sentiment and fear of communism.
However, outside of these times of extreme national concern, attempts at imposing censorship on the burgeoning mass culture — across films, books, and magazines — were met with resistance. This resistance was influenced by the cultural shifts in society, the rise of new forms of media, and the challenges of enforcing censorship across state lines. The Hays Code was one example of an attempt at enforcement, which set guidelines to American filmmaking but was only established after this period, in 1934. Additionally, the increasing portrayal of explicit subject matter by writers and in films, as well as the industry's drive to self-regulate to avoid external censorship and protect their productions, played a role in the lack of success of earlier movements for censorship.