 In 1939, the Hollywood Production Code dictated what could and could  not be shown or said on screen, and Rhett Butlers memorable last  line raised red flags. A few of the suggested alternatives were  "Frankly my dear... I just dont care," "... it makes my gorge  rise," "... my indifference is boundless," "... I dont give a  hoot," and "... nothing could interest me less." Although legend  persists that the Hays Office fined Selznick $5,000 for using the  word "damn", in fact the Motion Picture Association board passed an  amendment to the Production Code on November 1, 1939, to insure that  Selznick would be in compliance with the code. Henceforth, the words  "hell" and "damn" would be banned except when their use "shall be  essential and required for portrayal, in proper historical context,  of any scene or dialogue based upon historical fact or folklore...  or a quotation from a literary work, provided that no such use shall  be permitted which is intrinsically objectionable or offends good  taste." With that amendment, the Production Code Administration had  no further objection to Rhetts closing line, "Frankly, my dear, I  dont give a damn."