The Truth Behind Gone With the Wind’s Iconic ‘Damn’ Line

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Instead of removing the word “damn” in the climactic scene between Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler in the film “Gone With the Wind”, its producers opted to pay a fine instead.

In my ongoing exploration, I frequently encounter a recurring theme: as time advances, people tend to lose significant portions of cultural understanding, leading to a disconnect when engaging with older works such as films, novels, or plays. This can result in puzzlement over certain historical events and references, causing what was once considered ordinary or accepted to appear outdated or questionable with the benefit of hindsight.

For instance, consider the transformation of the word “damn” from its original meaning of “cursed” in the 14th century, to a more commonly used form of profanity by the 16th century. In modern American English, the most frequently utilized expressions containing this word are those that were once considered blasphemous, such as “Goddamn,” “Jesus,” and “Hell.” Over time, we’ve grown accustomed to these phrases, and their impact on us has diminished compared to earlier eras.

In the dawn of cinema, the word “damn” had lost much of its shock value and was often used casually in various films. In fact, even a stronger variant like “Goddamn” was utilized by famous actor John Gilbert in a fight scene from the 1925 film, The Big Parade. Hence, when one questions why the “Damn” in Gone With the Wind caused such controversy during the early 20th century, it’s important to understand that it was not as controversial then, particularly in the 1920s and the very early 1930s.

1930 saw the film industry adopting a self-imposed Production Code, known later as the Hays Code. Named after its initiator, Will Hays who was the president of Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), this code aimed to prevent excessive government intervention in the movie business. To achieve this, the industry decided to regulate itself quite stringently, even to an extreme level. The code didn’t explicitly ban specific words, but Hays had previously hinted at certain “Don’ts” for studios in a preliminary version of the code.

I advocate for mindful language usage, particularly when it comes to religious terms like God, Lord, Jesus, Christ, or expressions such as Hell, S.O.B., damn, Gawd, and other potentially offensive or disrespectful phrases. However, I believe these words can be used appropriately during genuine religious ceremonies or discussions.

That principle served as a compass for movie studios when they released “Gone With the Wind” in December 1939.

So, how did the film use the word “damn” so famously?

How was the word used in Gone With the Wind?

As a film enthusiast, I find myself captivated by the timeless masterpiece “Gone With the Wind,” a cinematic jewel set against the backdrop of the American Civil War and the tumultuous Reconstruction era in the South. The story revolves around Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), a spirited belle, who harbors affection for Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard). However, Ashley is a married man to the gracious Melanie Hamilton (Olivia de Havilland). A charismatic rogue named Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) enters the scene, showing interest in Scarlett, yet she consistently rejects his advances.

Over the course of the story, Scarlett ties the knot not once, but twice, each time losing her husband to sorrowful events. Eventually, she marries Rhett and they bear a child together. Yet, Scarlett’s heart remains entangled with Ashley, even going so far as to secretly pursue him (Ashley shares a mutual attraction). Melanie, however, stands by Scarlett through thick and thin.

At the movie’s conclusion, their daughter perishes, Melanie passes away in childbirth, and Rhett grows tired of Scarlett, choosing to depart from her forever (he previously suggested divorce, but she refused due to the social stigma). However, as he prepares to leave, Scarlett suddenly understands that it was Rhett whom she had always loved. In a desperate attempt to keep him, she begs him not to go. She cries out, “Where should I go? What should I do?” and he responds, “To be honest with you, my dear, I don’t care.” (In the original book, it says, “My dear, I don’t give a damn.”)

Unwavering, the movie concludes with Scarlett declaring her intent to reclaim Rhett’s affection. Indeed, this film, steeped in legend, is one of the most celebrated movies in history. Rumor has it that the filmmakers deemed the use of “damn” so emblematic of the narrative that they opted to pay a fine for its inclusion. But is that tale truly accurate?

Did the producers pay a fine for the use of “damn” in Gone With the Wind?

In all honesty, while the movie certainly portrayed it as such, I can’t help but suspect that the events unfolded differently behind the scenes. You see, the filmmakers didn’t exactly clarify that the depicted sequence was a fabrication, probably because they thrived on any publicity they could generate. The intrigue surrounding their $100,000 quest to cast Scarlett O’Hara was immense, fueling an anticipation so vast it couldn’t be ignored.

As a film enthusiast, I must clarify that, in truth, they managed to strike a deal with the Hays Office. On November 1, 1939, approximately a month before the movie’s release, an exception was introduced regarding the prohibition of words like “damn” and “hell.” The exception stated that these words could be used if they were vital for depicting historical scenes or dialogues accurately, based on factual events or folklore. However, any usage should never be inherently objectionable or offensive to good taste, as per the stipulation.

Interestingly enough, the term “damn” was actually used before by another character in the film, not Rhett. Earlier on, someone called someone else a “damn Yankee.

The legend is…

STATUS: False

Be sure to check out for more urban legends about the world of film.

Please don’t hesitate to send me your ideas for future editions! You can reach me at brian@poprefs.com.

I encourage you to share your thoughts on upcoming installments with me! My email is brian@poprefs.com.

Both versions convey the same message in a natural and easy-to-read manner.

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2025-05-13 04:37