released in San Francisco on 23 April 1946, the theater  owner was arrested for showing a film "offensive to decency." The  MPAA maintained that Howard Hughes (I) (qv) switched prints and  did not show the version that was approved. Hughes resigned from the  MPAA and filed a $1,000,000 lawsuit demanding triple damages. He  lost the suit and all the appeals. Despite the legal battles and  many bans, United Artists continued to roadshow the film in 1946 and  1947 and it set records almost everywhere it was shown. Originally  banned in New York, it was finally shown on 11 September 1947 when  the ban was lifted.