Steel Magnolias (1989)
- Starring:
- Sally Field, Dolly Parton, (more)
- Director(s):
- Herbert Ross
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Category:
- Drama
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The title refers to those seemingly frail Southern belles who survive any and all deprivations through whims of iron. Robert Harling's original stage play was set exclusively in a Louisiana beauty parlor where an all-female cast of characters laughed, cried and compared menfolk. The film expands the playing field by including scenes at picnics, hospitals and the like, and by visually depicting the males who never appeared in the stage version. Dolly Parton plays the goodnatured beauty-shop owner, while Shirley MacLaine is the cantankerous town eccentric, decked out in grungy overalls and speaking fluent Trash. Well-to-do Sally Field bravely endures several assaults to her sensibilities, not the least of which is the illness (and subsequent death) of daughter Julia Roberts. The performances are first-rate, with the possible exception of Daryl Hannah's overemphatic portrayal of a gawky hairdresser. The film stumbles a bit in its depiction of the male characters as fools and deadheads, and in the final overlong hospital scenes involving the comatose Roberts, which play like a road company version of Terms of Endearment. Otherwise, Steel Magnolias is a prime example of ensemble filmmaking, lovingly coordinated by director Herbert Ross. (Sidebar: Herbert Ross was reportedly rather rough on Julia Roberts, deriding her lack of experience. The rest of the female cast rallied around Roberts and told the director to lay off or pay the price). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 119 mins
Complete Cast:
- Sally Field - M'Lynn Eatenton
- Shirley MacLaine - Ouiser Boudreaux
- Olympia Dukakis - Clairee Belcher
- Tom Skerritt - Drum Eatenton
- Dylan McDermott - Jackson Latcherie
- Bill McCutcheon - Owen Jenkins
- Walker May - Newspaper Boy
- Robert Adams - Dr. Judd
- Robert Ginnaven - Mayor Van Meter
- James Wlcek - Marshall Marmillion
- Robert Harling - Minister
- Jonathan Ward - Jonathan Eatenton
- Nancy Parsons - Janice Van Meter
- Roger D. McCann - Cook's Helper
- Travis Harrison - Delivery Boy
- Trent Dawson - Church Singer
- Spencer Henderson - Dancing Couple
- Bibi Besch - Belle Marmillion
- Debbie McCann - Cook's Helper
- Sandra Asbury-Johnson - Dancing Couple
- Carol Sutton - Nurse Pam
- C. Houser - Jack Jr. (1 year old)
- Betty J. Dove - Nurse
- Dolly Parton - Truvy Jones
- Daryl Hannah - Annelle Dupuy Desoto
- Julia Roberts - Shelby Eatenton Latcherie
- Sam Shepard - Spud Jones
- Kevin J. O'Connor - Sammy Desoto
- Tom Hodges - Louie Jones
- Ronald Young - Drew Marmillion
- Norman Fletcher - Mr. Latcherie, Sr.
- Teresa Beaudoin - Receptionist
- Betsy Widhalm - Church Organist
- Janine Turner - Nancy Beth Marmillion
- Gale J. Odom - Church Singer
- James Shapkoff III - Delivery Man
- Robert R. Morgan - Cook
- Rodney Alan Fulton - Bobby Ray Ross
- Gladys Mallard - Nurse
- Daniel Camp - Jack Jr. (3 years old)
- Aja Sansone - Monique
- Oscar J. Bienvenu, Jr. - Doctor
- Rick Hurst - Bark Boone
- Lori Tate - Mrs. Latcherie, Sr.
- Knowl Johnson - Tommy Eatenton
- Ann Wedgeworth - Aunt Fern
- Director(s):
- Herbert Ross
- Writer(s):
- Robert Harling
- Producer(s):
- Raymond Stark
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Profanity, Adult Language, Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children)
- Categories:
- Drama
- Closed Captioning:
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- Subtitles:
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- 1989 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- 1989 - People's Choice Awards - Best Picture - Drama
