The 1980s gave us a slew of excellent films that are still popular today. “Steel Magnolias,” which has earned a spot on Rotten Tomatoes’ list. “Essential ’80s Movies” is one of the most iconic films from the late 1980s. It’s no surprise that the comforting picture has remained a classic over the years. With stars like Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, and Sally Field. “Steel Magnolias” is set in a small Louisiana town, where Annelle Dupuy (Daryl Hannah) is a newly graduated hairdresser looking for work. Truvy Jones’s (Dolly Parton) hair salon hires her.
M’Lynn Eatenton (Sally Field), her daughter Shelby (Julia Roberts), Clairee Belcher (Olympia Dukakis). Louisa “Ouiser” Boudreaux are among Truvy’s close friends (Shirley MacLaine). The rest of the movie follows the six ladies as they laugh, cry, and go through the ups and downs of life together. “You know what they say. “if you don’t have anything pleasant to say about someone, come sit near me!”. “Well, you know what they say: come sit by me if you don’t have anything positive to say about anyone!” The photography in the film, as well as the location where it was shot, are both magnificent. So, where did “Steel Magnolias” take place?
Steel Magnolias was shot in a small village in Louisiana.
Even though “Steel Magnolias” is set in the fictional town of Chinquapin. It was filmed in the small Louisiana town of Natchitoches. It is also the hometown of screenwriter Robert Harling. According to People, Harling wrote “Steel Magnolias” as a play in memory of his sister Susan Robinson. She died of diabetes complications following a hazardous pregnancy and a failed kidney transplant. After a successful run off-Broadway. The play was adapted for the cinema and became the classic we know today.
The tree-lined hamlet of Natchitoches served as a gorgeous backdrop for the film. It added an extra layer of intimacy when you realized it was the setting for the true story. According to The Bay St. Louis Little Theatre, the film’s advisor was a former mayor of Natchitoches. Who recommended shots and scenic locales. Fans of “Steel Magnolias” who visit Natchitoches can even go on a tour. To see prominent locations from the film, such as the different women’s residences. The site of the Easter egg hunt at the end of the movie, and even Truvy’s beauty salon. According to the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Locating suitable filming locations for Steel Magnolias
The streets, buildings, historic business district, parks, and cemetery are all here. There hasn’t been much change in the recent three decades. It’s simple to identify locales when watching the film. I began on Front Street, which faces Cane River Lake and is lined with New Orleans-style buildings. I stopped at the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to get a pamphlet with a list of filming sites. Including some of the more difficult-to-find properties.
The river separates the city. Front Street, Steel Magnolia House, the American Cemetery, Ouiser’s house, Truvy’s church, Aunt Fern’s house. The riverfront park where the Easter egg hunt was conducted are all located on the west side. Annelle and Sammy’s house, Truvy’s house, Super One, where Clairee and Ouiser went shopping. Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, where the hospital scenes were filmed. Clairee’s house and Shelby and Jackson’s house are all on the east side of the river. St. Augustine Church, where Shelby and Jackson were married, is also nearby.
I took a stroll along the waterfront, where the film’s concluding moments were shot. The Roque House, which dates from 1803, was a major figure in the scene. Looking along Front Street, the only thing that has changed is the Ford dealership, which has been replaced by stores and offices that are in keeping with the rest of the business district’s style. Whitehead told me earlier in the day that “Steel Magnolias” had been translated into 15 languages around the world. He stated, “It’s a clear narrative with attractive female characters.” “It will always have a particular place in the hearts of people.”
Gossips regarding the Film
This film is based on a true event and is a remarkable picture of friendship that is humorous, loving, inspiring, and, just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, devastating. It’s also frequently hysterically funny. You’ll empathize with Ouiser when she asks M’Lynn, “What’s wrong with you these days?” during Christmas. “Do you have a reindeer under your sleeve?” Dolly Parton’s remark, “When it comes to anguish and suffering, she’s right up there with Elizabeth Taylor,” and Clairee’s life philosophy, “What differentiates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize,” are two more notable quotes.
When it was released in 1989, the film’s tagline was “the funniest movie to make you cry.” There are romances, feuds, births, and deaths off-screen in between the moments in the salon, while on-screen, the women celebrate the healing nature of friendship – and affirm, so help me, that life goes on.
Annelle goes into labor with her baby, whom she names Shelby, in the closing scene. But, hey, that’s life, right? It’s bizarre, tragic, humorous, and sad all at the same time. This film depicts the bittersweetness of the situation while also revealing some basic truths about the power that women derive from one another, regardless of their age or socioeconomic status. The characters as a group consider what keeps us going through life’s ups and downs, the relationships we form, the legacy we leave – and how we should style our hair. All of the essential issues that genuinely unite us.
