I don't know the meaning of the title, I guess it's something to do with all the women in it, but this film is based on the play by Robert Harling, who wrote the screenplay, and directed by Herbert Ross (The Sunshine Boys, The Secret of My Succe$s, Boys on the Side). Basically the film sees many female friends, living in Louisiana, and the whole way through the women all support each other in whatever difficult or emotional situations they are taken into. Shelby Eatenton Latcherie (Golden Globe winning, and Oscar nominated Julia Roberts) is getting married to Jackson Latcherie (Miracle on 34th Street's Dylan McDermott), and getting help from mother M'Lynn (Golden Globe nominated Sally Field) and hairdressing friends Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton) and new recruit Annelle Dupuy Desoto (Daryl Hannah). Then there is loads more chat about marriage, men, the menopause and manicures, before all friends, Ouiser Boudreaux (BAFTA nominated Shirley MacLaine), Clairee Belcher (Olympia Dukakis) and the others are brought together for the tragic death of Shelby, which M'Lynn obviously can't handle, but don't worry, there is a happy ending when all of them rush to help Annelle get to hospital to have her baby. Also starring Alien's Tom Skerritt as Drum Eatenton, Kevin J. O'Connor as Sammy Desoto, Sam Shepard as Spud Jones, Bill McCutcheon as Owen Jenkins and Ann Wedgeworth as Aunt Fern. You have to remember that this is based on a play, so it is obvious why there isn't a whole lot of plot or point to the film, it is literally just a load of women, many sassy one-liners, and some compassionate, slightly too sentimental emotional moments, happy and sad, but good entertainment never-the-less. Very good!
Review of Steel Magnolias
