Steel Magnolias

Plot

Annelle Dupuy, a shy beauty school graduate, moves to Chinquapin Parish in northwestern Louisiana, where Truvy Jones hires her to work in her home-based beauty salon.

Meanwhile, M'Lynn Eatenton and her daughter, Shelby, busily prepare for Shelby's wedding that is being held later that day. M'Lynn's high-spirited husband, Drum Eatenton, fires a gun loaded with blanks to drive birds out of the trees so they do not interfere with Shelby's reception. Along with Clairee Belcher, the former mayor's cheerful widow, they arrive at Truvy's to have their hair done. While there, Shelby, who has type 1 diabetes, suffers a hypoglycemic attack, but recovers quickly with the women's help. M'Lynn reveals that due to Shelby's medical condition, her doctor advises against her having children. Shelby considered ending her engagement to her fiancé, Jackson, so he would not be deprived of children.

Grouchy and sarcastic Louisa "Ouiser" Boudreaux arrives at the salon and immediately begins interrogating Annelle about her background. Annelle tearfully reveals that her husband, who is evading the police, has disappeared after stealing her money, belongings, and car. Annelle further admits she is unsure her marriage is legal. Shelby, sympathetic, invites Annelle to the wedding reception, where she meets bartender Sammy DeSoto.

At the Christmas festival later that year, Annelle, following a short-lived wild streak, has become a devout Christian, much to Sammy's annoyance, while Clairee has bought local radio station KPPD. Shelby attempts to set Ouiser up with Owen Jenkins, an old flame, then at a holiday party, announces she is pregnant. Everyone is thrilled except M'Lynn, who knows the risks. Truvy encourages M'Lynn to instead focus on the joy a new baby brings.

Shelby has a baby boy and names him Jackson Latcherie Jr. Clariee relates how her brother has become estranged from her nephew after he came out as gay and Ouiser is seeing Owen, but insists that they are only friends. Annelle has become a fundamentalist Christian, much to the consternation of her new boyfriend. Shelby and M'Lynn, to the horror of the other ladies, relate how the stress of pregnancy has caused Shelby's kidneys to shut down and she is now on dialysis. M'Lynn will be donating a kidney to her daughter the next day.

Shelby recovers from the transplant, but four months later, Jackson arrives home to find her unconscious. Shelby is comatose, having contracted an infection in her central nervous system due to the suppressive therapy that keeps her body from rejecting the kidney. After doctors determine Shelby's condition is irreversible, the family jointly decide to remove her from life support, with Jackson signing the papers to consent. Shortly after Shelby's death, M'Lynn leaves the hospital and goes to Jackson's aunt Fern's house to pick up her grandson.

After the funeral, M'Lynn breaks down in tears, and the other women comfort her and each other.

M'Lynn gradually accepts her daughter's decision to have risked her life in return for a few special years of motherhood and decides to focus her energy on helping Jackson with raising her grandson. Annelle, who married Sammy and is now pregnant, tells M'Lynn she wants to name her own baby after Shelby, even if the baby turns out to be a boy, as she was the reason Annelle and Sammy met. M'Lynn approves, stating, "Life goes on."

At the town's Easter egg hunt, Annelle goes into labor and is rushed to the hospital by Truvy and her husband Spud in their truck, followed by Sammy in an Easter Bunny costume and Truvy and Spud's son Louie on Louie's motorcycle.

Cast

Background

The original play dramatized experiences of the family and friends of the playwright following the 1985 death of his sister from diabetic complications after the birth of his namesake nephew and the failure of a family member's donated kidney. A writer friend continuously encouraged him to write it down in order to come to terms with the experience. He did but originally as a short story for his nephew then later to get an understanding of the deceased mother. It evolved in ten days into the play.

Production

Harling's first produced screenplay, he adapted the original film script which was then heavily rewritten beyond the on-stage one-set scenario (which had taken place entirely in Truvy's beauty salon) of the stage production: the scenes increased and the sequence was more tightly linked with major holidays than the play; the increased characters beyond the original, all-female play cast caused dialogue changes between on-screen characters (among them, Harling plays the preacher and Truvy has one son instead of two).

Meg Ryan was initially cast as Shelby, but dropped out to make When Harry Met Sally; she was replaced by Julia Roberts.

Filming took place from July 12, 1988, to early September 1988 in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with historian Robert DeBlieux, a former Natchitoches mayor, as the local advisor. The house where much of the film was shot became a six-suite bed and breakfast, available for rent. The church used for a wedding scene is St. Augustine Catholic Church in Natchez on the historic Isle Brevelle.

Reception

Box office

Steel Magnolias grossed $84.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $12.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $96.8 million.

In the United States and Canada, the film debuted at number four in its opening weekend, grossing $5.4 million from 480 theaters. The following weekend, it expanded to 720 theaters and grossed $7 million.

Critical response

Steel Magnolias received mixed reviews from critics upon release, although Roberts's performance was praised.

In a negative review, Hal Hinson of The Washington Post said that the film felt "more Hollywood than the South." More enthusiastic was Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, who said that the film was "willing to sacrifice its over-all impact for individual moments of humor, and while that leaves us without much to take home, you've got to hand it to them: The moments work".

Accolades

Home media

The film was released on VHS on June 19, 1990, and on DVD July 25, 2000, allowing the film to gross a further $40 million. The film's overall gross was $135,904,091. The film was released on Blu-ray through the boutique label Twilight Time, on September 11, 2012. A 30th anniversary Blu-ray was released on May 28, 2019. On April 23, 2024, the film was released on 4K Ultra-HD in honor of the 35th Anniversary.

Other versions

Lifetime remake

Main article: Steel Magnolias (2012 film)

A remake of Steel Magnolias premiered on Lifetime on October 7, 2012, directed by Kenny Leon and featuring an all-black cast that includes Queen Latifah (M'Lynn), Jill Scott (Truvy), Alfre Woodard (Ouiser), Phylicia Rashād (Clairee), Adepero Oduye (Annelle), and Condola Rashad (Shelby).

Television pilot

CBS aired a half-hour television pilot sitcom on August 17, 1990. The pilot, set after the events of the film, featured the same characters, except for Shelby. The cast included Cindy Williams as M'Lynn, Sally Kirkland as Truvy, Elaine Stritch as Ouiser, Polly Bergen as Clairee and Sheila McCarthy as Annelle. The show was not picked up to series.

Notes

References

References

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4. People Archives: Vol. 29, No. 3 (January 25, 1988), [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20098146,00.html "Robert Harling, Author of a Hit Comedy Based on a Family Tragedy]" by Kim Hubbard.
5. [http://www.broadway.com/buzz/165807/whats-up-robert-harling-reflections-on-the-25th-anniversary-of-steel-magnolias-kristin-chenoweth-in-a-soapdish-musical-more/ "What's Up, Robert Harling? Reflections on the 25th Anniversary of Steel Magnolias, Kristin Chenoweth in a Soapdish Musical & More".] Interviews by Kathy Henderson November 28, 2012
6. (December 8, 2023). "Julia Roberts Turned Down Meg Ryan's 'You've Got Mail' Role Amid Rom-Com Streak, Says 'My Best Friend's Wedding' Warrants a Sequel".
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9. "Steel Magnolias (1989) – Domestic Weekend".
10. Forsberg, Myra. (March 18, 1990). "Julia Roberts Faces a Test of Character". [[The New York Times]].
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12. Hinson, Hal. (November 17, 1989). "'Steel Magnolias' (PG)". [[The Washington Post]].
13. Ebert, Roger. (November 17, 1989). "Steel Magnolias". [[Chicago Sun-Times]].
14. "Academy Awards Database".
15. "Steele Magnolias Golden Globes".
16. "BAFTA Awards, Film, Actress in a Supporting Role in 1991".
17. Hunt, Dennis. (August 2, 1990). "VIDEO RENTALS : 'Internal Affairs' Has Appeal". [[Los Angeles Times]].
18. "Steel Magnolias (1989) - Financial Information".
19. Strecker, Erin. (July 3, 2012). "Lifetime's 'Steel Magnolias' remake: Watch trailer here".
20. Obenson, Tambay A.. (August 22, 2012). "Lifetime Sets World Premiere Date For All-Black 'Steel Magnolias' Remake".