Flashgear
Senior HTF Member
Good observation, Alan! I believe you are correct, as in my own perception of things, the toning down of violence and gunplay seems to have been (mostly) short-lived by the networks, as the phoney-baloneys of Hollywood expressed their usual herd-instinct PC response to the "assassination year" of 1968. And then compounding the offense by bringing along the (to me) excruciating "Relevance TV" interlude of about 1970-71, maybe 1972 at the latest. By which time I think the anti-violence edict on television had pretty much run it's course too. I think that the shows that took the deepest "relevance" dive were also the ones that cut back on onscreen violence the most.
Of course, and nonsensingly, theatrical films of that era were ramping up ever-more graphic violence onscreen! So, none of it made any sense at all, much like the same phony push given today's PC motivated sensibilities found in our current so-called entertainment.
As far as QM shows are concerned, there is a very noticeable decrease in onscreen violence and gunplay in The F.B.I.'s seasons' five (1969-70) and season six (1970-71). Of course, with that show they also had Hoover's heavy hand to deal with, and the ridiculous bugaboo with the 'Italian Anti-Defamation League' (hilariously run by the real Mafia) over Italian surnames for Mafia/La Cosa Nostra characters! As to violence, other production companies followed suit, as with Gunsmoke season 14 and 15, although it's definitely not followed to the letter, as episodes in all of the action oriented series of the day would irregularly feature some onscreen violence and gunplay. It ended because it hindered the action oriented shows too much. I think some shows like Mannix, Ironside, Hawaii 5-0 and Adam-12 hardly give any evidence as to a change in style to address the anti-violence edict. Some others may differ with my assessment.
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