The “Damn” Resolution

Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America and the enforcer of the Motion Picture Production Code, issued a stern warning to his board of directors at its meeting in late October 1939. Waiving the profanity rule and...

Difficult “Damn” Negotiations

When David O. Selznick received the letter from the Hays office, outlining the strongest reasons for its refusal to permit the use of “damn” in Rhett’s exit line, the producer decided to appeal the decision to the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association...

That Damn Word “Damn”

On October 20, 1939, producer David O. Selznick penned a letter to Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America, and the enforcer of the Motion Picture Production Code. The Code barred from the screen, among other...