Steel Magnolias (1989)
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A group of women in a small-town Southern community navigate the complexities of friendship, family, and the challenges of a life-threatening medical condition.
The story
Annelle Dupuy, a shy beauty school graduate, moves to Chinquapin Parish in northwestern Louisiana, where she begins working in Truvy's home-based beauty salon. Nearby, M'Lynn Eatenton and her daughter, Shelby, prepare for Shelby's wedding. During a visit to the salon, Shelby suffers a medical emergency due to her type 1 diabetes. As the women gather to support one another, the narrative explores the deep bonds of their community and the personal struggles they face, including Annelle's mysterious past and the looming health risks surrounding Shelby's pregnancy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a small-town Louisiana community, a group of women bonded by friendship face various life challenges. Annelle, a newcomer, works at Truvy's salon and discovers her husband has abandoned her. Meanwhile, M'Lynn and her daughter Shelby prepare for Shelby's wedding. Despite the risks of her type 1 diabetes, Shelby becomes pregnant. The story follows the women through several milestones, including a Christmas festival and a period of medical crisis. Following a kidney transplant, Shelby's health fails, and she eventually passes away. The film concludes with the women supporting one another through their grief, while Annelle prepares for her own pregnancy, and M'Lynn finds peace in her role as a grandmother.
- First release year
- 1989
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Herbert Ross
- Writers
- Robert Harling · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Sally Field · Truvy; Dolly Parton · M'Lynn; Shirley MacLaine · Clairee; Daryl Hannah · Ouiser; Olympia Dukakis · Annelle; Julia Roberts · Shelby; Tom Skerritt · Spud; Dylan McDermott · Sammy; Kevin J. O'Connor · Jackson; Sam Shepard · preacher
- Genres
- comedy; drama
- Themes
- female friendship; motherhood; resilience; community
- Tone and mood
- heartfelt; humorous
- Premise and plot tags
- ensemble cast; small-town life; medical drama; women's fiction
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1987 play of the same name
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the humor and performances but criticized its portrayal of the South.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 56 · scale: 100 · review count: 13
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Supporting Actress · nomination; Golden Globe · Best Supporting Actress · win; British Academy Film Awards · Best Supporting Actress · nomination; Academy Awards · Best Supporting Actress · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was based in part on the playwright's sister, who died of complications from type 1 diabetes.; Meg Ryan was originally cast as Shelby but was replaced by Julia Roberts.; The house where much of the film was shot became a six-suite bed and breakfast.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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