How did Otto Preminger release The Moon Is Blue without changing its controversial dialogue?

Otto Preminger released The Moon Is Blue (1953) without altering its controversial dialogue by choosing to distribute the film without the approval of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).1

The film’s script included words such as "virgin" and "mistress," which ran afoul of the industry's Production Code at the time. When the MPAA refused to approve the film due to this content, Preminger stood by his creative vision and refused to make any changes. By releasing the movie despite the lack of official approval, Preminger successfully challenged the prevailing censorship regulations of the era. The resulting controversy surrounding the film’s release actually helped it become a box-office success and drew significant public attention to the limitations of the Production Code, eventually contributing to the relaxation of those guidelines in later years.12