Steel Magnolias - wikipedia Steel Magnolias For other uses, see Steel Magnolias ( disambiguation ). Steel Magnolias Theatrical release poster Directed by Herbert Ross Produced by Ray Stark Andrew Stone Victoria White Screenplay by Robert Harling Based on Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling Starring Sally Field Dolly Parton Shirley MacLaine Daryl Hannah Olympia Dukakis Julia Roberts Tom Skerritt Dylan McDermott Kevin J. O'Connor Sam Shepard Music by Georges Delerue Cinematography John A. Alonzo Edited by Paul Hirsch Production company Rastar Distributed by TriStar Pictures Release date November 15, 1989 ( 1989 - 11 - 15 ) Running time 117 minutes Country United States Language English Box office $95.9 million Steel Magnolias is a 1989 American comedy - drama film directed by Herbert Ross. It is a film adaptation of Robert Harling 's 1987 play of the same name. The play and film are about the bond a group of women share in a small - town Southern community, and how they cope with the death of one of their own. The story is based on Robert Harling 's real life experience of the death of his sister, Susan Harling Robinson, in 1985 due to complications from Type 1 diabetes. He changed his sister 's name in the story from Susan to Shelby Eatenton - Latcherie. The title suggests the main female characters can be both as delicate as the magnolia flower, and as tough as steel. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Background 4 Production 5 Reception 6 Home media 7 Awards and nominations 8 Failed TV sequel pilot 9 Remake 10 See also 11 References 12 External links Plot Annelle Dupuy, a reserved beauty school graduate, is hired by Truvy Jones to work in her home - based beauty salon in northwestern Louisiana. At the same time, in another part of the neighborhood, M'Lynn Eatenton, and her daughter, Shelby, are preparing for Shelby 's wedding, which is taking place later that day. They arrive, along with Clairee Belcher, the cheerful widow of the former mayor, to have their hair done. Suddenly, Shelby, who has type 1 diabetes, falls into a hypoglycemic state, but recovers quickly with the help of her mother 's quick thinking. Later that afternoon, short - tempered, grouchy, and sarcastic Louisa `` Ouiser '' Boudreaux arrives in the salon and questions Annelle about where she has moved from, forcing Annelle to reveal that her husband has recently left her while fleeing the police, taking all their money and their car. Moved by Annelle 's emotional confession, Shelby invites her to the wedding, where Annelle meets Sammy DeSoto, who is tending bar. Several months pass and Shelby returns to town to celebrate Christmas. During the festivities, she announces that she and her husband, Jackson Latcherie, are expecting their first child. M'Lynn is devastated by the news, as the doctors had warned that Shelby 's extreme diabetes situation means that pregnancy could be a death sentence, but Shelby, unable to adopt, was unwilling to go on without having children, calling that a `` life of nothing special. '' Shelby 's father Drum, and her brothers Jonathan and Tommy, are thrilled. Truvy, Annelle, and Clairee had originally thought that Shelby could n't have children, but on the night of the big announcement, M'Lynn clarifies for them the doctors ' warnings. Unable to give her any words of wisdom, Truvy suggests they focus on the joy of the situation : Jackson and Shelby 's first child, as well as Drum and M'Lynn's first grandchild. M'Lynn agrees, saying that nothing pleases Shelby more than proving her wrong. Shelby successfully delivers a baby boy, Jackson Jr., but shows signs of kidney failure and starts dialysis. She celebrates July Fourth, around the time Jackson Jr. turns one, by successfully receiving a donated kidney from M'Lynn, allowing Shelby to seemingly resume a normal life. Four months later, on Halloween, Ouiser, Clairee, Truvy, and M'Lynn throw Annelle a surprise wedding shower, as she is now engaged to Sammy. Shelby is unavailable to attend due to a conflicting schedule with her nursing job, and is later found by Jackson unconscious on the porch of her house. Shelby is rushed to the hospital, where it is determined that her body rejected the new kidney, and she is now in a coma. The doctors inform the family that Shelby is likely to remain comatose indefinitely, and they jointly decide to take her off life support. At the funeral, after the other mourners have left, M'Lynn breaks down in hysterics in front of Ouiser, Clairee, Truvy, and Annelle, but is comforted by them. Later, at the wake, M'Lynn begins to accept her daughter 's decision to end her life in return for a few years of motherhood. Annelle, now married and pregnant, asks M'Lynn if she could name her own baby after Shelby, since Shelby was the reason Annelle and Sammy met. M'Lynn gives her blessing and assures Annelle that Shelby would have loved it. Months later, on Easter morning, Annelle goes into labor during an Easter egg hunt, is rushed to the hospital by Truvy and her husband Spud, and another life begins. Cast Actor Character Relationship Sally Field Mary Lynn `` M'Lynn '' Eatenton Social Worker ; Wife to Drum Eatenton ; Mother to Shelby, Jonathan and Tommy ; Jackson 's mother - in - law ; Jack Jr. 's maternal grandmother Dolly Parton Truvy Jones Beautician ; Wife to Spud Jones ; Mother to Louie ; town gossip Shirley MacLaine Louisa `` Ouiser '' Boudreaux Clairee Belcher 's best friend and confidant ; Eatenton Family 's next - door neighbor ; town curmudgeon, and Drum Eatenton 's nemesis Daryl Hannah Annelle Dupuy DeSoto Newcomer to town ; Apprentice Beautician hired by Truvy Jones ; first married to Bunkie Dupuy ; later marries Sammy Desoto Olympia Dukakis Clairee Belcher Former town first lady ; sister to Drew Marmillion, sister - in - law to Belle Marmillion ; aunt to Marshall and Nancy Beth Marmillion ; best friend and confidant of Ouiser Boudreaux ; friend of the Eatentons and Joneses Julia Roberts Shelby Eatenton Latcherie Eldest child and only daughter of Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton ; sister to Jonathan and Tommy ; marries Jackson Latcherie and gives birth to Jackson `` Jack '' Latcherie, Jr. ; suffers from type one diabetes Tom Skerritt Thomas Drummond `` Drum '' Eatenton Husband of M'Lynn Eatenton, Father to Shelby, Jonathan and Tommy ; Jackson Latcherie 's father - in - law ; Jack Jr. 's maternal grandfather Sam Shepard Spud Jones Sporadically employed laborer ; Truvy Jones 's husband and Louie 's father Dylan McDermott Jackson Latcherie Lawyer ; Shelby Eatenton 's husband ; Jack Jr. 's father ; Drum and M'Lynn's son - in - law and Jonathan and Tommy 's brother - in - law Kevin J. O'Connor Sammy DeSoto Annelle Dupuy 's eventual husband, who met her at Shelby and Jackson 's wedding reception Bill McCutcheon Owen Jenkins Ouiser Boudreaux 's former boyfriend who has returned to town Ann Wedgeworth Aunt Fern Thornton Jackson Latcherie 's aunt ; her specialty is baking animal - shaped cakes Knowl Johnson Tommy Eatenton Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton 's first - born son and middle child ; Shelby and Jonathan 's brother ; Jackson 's brother - in - law ; Jack Jr. 's maternal uncle Jonathan Ward Jonathan Eatenton Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton 's second - born son and youngest child ; Shelby and Tommy 's brother ; Jackson 's brother - in - law ; Jack Jr. 's maternal uncle Ronald Young Drew Marmillion Clairee Belcher 's brother ; Husband to Belle Marmillion ; Father to Marshall and Nancy Beth Bibi Besch Belle Marmillion Drew Marmillion 's wife ; Mother to Marshall and Nancy Beth ; Clairee Belcher 's sister - in - law Janine Turner Nancy - Beth Marmillion Drew and Belle Marmillion 's daughter ; Marshall 's sister ; Clairee Belcher 's niece ; town 's dethroned `` Miss Merry Christmas '' James Wlcek Marshall Marmillion Drew and Belle Marmillion 's son ; Nancy Beth 's brother ; Clairee Belcher 's nephew ; announces to his parents he is gay Tom Hodges Louie Jones Truvy and Spud Jones 's rebellious son C. Houser Jackson Latcherie, Jr. ( 1 year old ) Jackson and Shelby Latcherie 's son ; Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton 's grandson ; Jonathan and Tommy Eatenton 's nephew Daniel Camp Jackson Latcherie, Jr. ( 3 years old ) Background The original play dramatized experiences of the family and friends of the play 's author 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 Released by TriStar Pictures in the United States on November 15, 1989 and grossed more than $83.7 million at the box office. 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 playing the preacher and Truvy has one son instead of two ). Natchitoches, Louisiana served as both the 1989 film location and scenario location with historian Robert DeBlieux, a former Natchitoches mayor, as the local advisor. Reception It received generally positive reviews from critics and has a score of 69 % on Rotten Tomatoes. An example of a less enthusiastic critic was Hal Hinson of The Washington Post, who said that it felt, `` more Hollywood than the South. '' More enthusiastic was Roger Ebert, 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. '' The movie received a limited release on November 15, 1989 : entered the U.S. box office at No. 4 with an opening weekend gross of $5,425,440 ; by the time of wider release two days later it grossed $15,643,935 ; stayed in the top 10 for 16 weeks, gross $83,759,091 domestically with a further $12,145,000 with foreign markets giving a worldwide gross of $95,904,091. 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 movie 's overall gross was $135,904,091. The film was released on Blu - ray through the boutique label Twilight Time, on September 11, 2012 -- it has since gone out of print. Awards and nominations Year Association Nominated work Result 1990 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Julia Roberts Nominated 1990 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Olympia Dukakis Nominated 1990 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Shirley MacLaine Nominated 1990 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actress Shirley MacLaine Nominated 1990 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress -- Motion Picture Drama Sally Field Nominated 1990 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress -- Motion Picture Julia Roberts Won 1990 People 's Choice Awards Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture Steel Magnolias Won 1991 BAFTA Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Shirley MacLaine Nominated Failed tv sequel pilot CBS broadcast on August 17, 1990, a half - hour television pilot sitcom sans Shelby 's character as the story line was post death. 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. Remake Main article : Steel Magnolias ( 2012 film ) Lifetime Television Network announced ( October 10, 2011 ) a planned remake under the direction of Kenny Leon, director of the ABC movie A Raisin in the Sun ( 2008 ), set in Louisiana featuring lead role black actors : Queen Latifah ( M'Lynn ), Jill Scott ( Truvy ), Alfre Woodard ( Ouiser ), Phylicia Rashād ( Clairee ), Adepero Oduye ( Annelle ) and Condola Rashād ( Shelby ). The New York Times had mixed reactions : applauded it on some points and on others as either schmaltz or less attentive than the 1989 film. See also List of films featuring diabetes Lists of films References Jump up ^ Lechuguilla ( November 22, 1989 ). `` Steel Magnolias ( 1989 ) ''. IMDb. Jump up ^ `` Steel Magnolias at Box Office Mojo ''. Retrieved September 29, 2010. Jump up ^ Scanlon, J. ( 2007 ) `` If My Husband Calls I 'm Not Here : The Beauty Parlor as Real and Representational Female Space ''. Feminist Studies, 33 ( 2 ) Jump up ^ People Archives : Vol. 29, No. 3 ( January 25, 1988 ), `` Robert Harling, Author of a Hit Comedy Based on a Family Tragedy '' by Kim Hubbard. Jump up ^ `` 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 Jump up ^ Lechuguilla ( November 22, 1989 ). `` Steel Magnolias ( 1989 ) ''. IMDb. Jump up ^ `` Steel Magnolias ''. Bay St. Louis Little Theatre. Retrieved February 8, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Steel Magnolias - Movie Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes ''. Jump up ^ Hinson, Hal ( November 17, 1989 ). `` ' Steel Magnolias ' ( PG ) ''. The Washington Post. 1989 The Washington Post Company. Retrieved May 29, 2013. Jump up ^ Ebert, Roger ( November 17, 1989 ). `` Review of Steel Magnolias ''. Chicago Sun - Times. rogerebert.suntimes.com. Retrieved May 29, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Steel Magnolias ( 1989 ) ''. imdb.com. Retrieved June 15, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Steel Magnolias ( 1989 ) - Box Office Mojo ''. Jump up ^ Hunt, Dennis ( August 2, 1990 ). `` VIDEO RENTALS : ' Internal Affairs ' Has Appeal ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Steel Magnolias ( 1989 ) - Financial Information ''. the-numbers.com. Retrieved June 15, 2017. Jump up ^ Hilton, Perez. `` Steel Magnolias To Be Remade With All - Black Cast ''. Retrieved October 12, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Queen Latifah, Jill Scott for New Take on ' Steel Magnolias ' ''. Smooth Jazz Network. May 7, 2012. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2015. Jump up ^ http://www.wtma.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=13&itemid=29851110 Jump up ^ Hale, Mike ( October 5, 2012 ). `` ' Steel Magnolias ' on Lifetime, With Queen Latifah ''. The New York Times. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to : Steel Magnolias Steel Magnolias on IMDb Steel Magnolias at Rotten Tomatoes Steel Magnolias at the TCM Movie Database Diabetes in the Movies Steel Magnolias at Box Office Mojo hide Films directed by Herbert Ross Goodbye, Mr. Chips ( 1969 ) The Owl and the Pussycat ( 1970 ) T.R. Baskin ( 1971 ) Play It Again, Sam ( 1972 ) The Last of Sheila ( 1973 ) Funny Lady ( 1975 ) The Sunshine Boys ( 1975 ) The Seven - Per - Cent Solution ( 1976 ) The Turning Point ( 1977 ) The Goodbye Girl ( 1977 ) California Suite ( 1978 ) Nijinsky ( 1980 ) Pennies from Heaven ( 1981 ) I Ought to Be in Pictures ( 1982 ) Max Dugan Returns ( 1983 ) Footloose ( 1984 ) Protocol ( 1984 ) The Secret of My Success ( 1987 ) Dancers ( 1987 ) Steel Magnolias ( 1989 ) My Blue Heaven ( 1990 ) True Colors ( 1991 ) Undercover Blues ( 1993 ) Boys on the Side ( 1995 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steel_Magnolias&oldid=845852934 '' Categories : 1989 films English - language films 1980s buddy films 1980s comedy - drama films American comedy - drama films American female buddy films Buddy drama films Films scored by Georges Delerue Films about weddings American films based on plays Films directed by Herbert Ross Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe - winning performance Films set in Louisiana Natchitoches, Louisiana TriStar Pictures films Films shot in Louisiana Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from February 2015 Use mdy dates from June 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Aragonés Català Čeština Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Euskara فارسی Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Latina Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska 15 more Edit links This page was last edited on 14 June 2018, at 15 : 51. 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Question: who dies at the end of steel magnolias
Answer: Shelby