Steel Magnolias (1989)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writers (WGA):

Robert Harling (play)
Robert Harling (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 November 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The funniest movie ever to make you cry.

Plot:

Revolving around Truvy's Beauty Parlor in a small parish in modern-day Louisiana, STEEL MAGNOLIAS is...

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Bird | Beauty Parlor | Louisiana | Locker Room

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Sally Field	...	M'Lynn Eatenton
Dolly Parton	...	Truvy Jones
Shirley MacLaine	...	Ouiser Boudreaux
Daryl Hannah	...	Annelle Dupuy Desoto
Olympia Dukakis	...	Clairee Belcher
Julia Roberts	...	Shelby Eatenton Latcherie
Tom Skerritt	...	Drum Eatenton
Sam Shepard	...	Spud Jones
Dylan McDermott	...	Jackson Latcherie
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Sammy Desoto
Bill McCutcheon	...	Owen Jenkins
Ann Wedgeworth	...	Aunt Fern
Knowl Johnson	...	Tommy Eatenton
Jonathan Ward	...	Jonathan Eatenton
Bibi Besch	...	Belle Marmillion

Runtime:

117 min | Spain:119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Ireland:PG | Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #29428) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Rastar Films

Trivia:

Winona Ryder was originally offered the role of Shelby.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Ouiser is approaching Truvy's salon before the wedding, the women are loading colored eggs into the trunk of Truvy's car. The amount of eggs in the trunk changes between shots.

Quotes:

Clairee Belcher: [quoting her gay nephew] All gay men have track lightin'. And all gay men are named Mark, Rick, or Steve.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Greek: The Day After (#3.1)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

WINTER WONDERLAND

Laugh Till you Cry...

Another movie that is part of my permanent video collection and never get tired of watching, STEEL MAGNOLIAS is the beautifully expanded version of Robert Harling's play about the relationship between six women who frequent the same beauty parlor. I am pretty sure the first phrase that comes to mind for most people when this film is mentioned is "Chick Flick", but, as a male, I happily admit to loving to watch this movie over and over again, not just because of the six charismatic performances by the actresses, but because this film also has one of the funniest screenplays ever written. Claree: "The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize." Truvy: "Ruth Robeline...now there's a story...her whole life has been an experiment in terror...first her husband was killed in WWII and then her son was killed in Vietnam... I tell you, when it comes to suffering, she's right up there with Elizbeth Taylor." Claree: "well, you always know what I say...if you can't think anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me." Ouiser: "I'm not crazy...I've just been in a bad mood for the last thirty years." And just when you think your sides about to split open from laughing so hard, the film takes a tragic turn and you're reaching for the Kleenex. The scene in the cemetery is riveting, thanks primarily to a flawless and raw performance by Sally Field, who climaxes what is already a beautiful and commanding performance in the film, with her rage against God as her only outlet of grief at the moment. This scene makes me cry every time I watch the movie. An appeal to the gentlemen out there who have never seen this movie: Give it a chance. I did and I have never regretted it.