Search - Steel Magnolias on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Profanity Movie Release: 1989 DVD Release: 07/25/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 59 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 14 Genres: Drama, Medical Drama, Ensemble Film, Domestic Comedy

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

Sally Field - M'Lynn Eatenton
Dolly Parton - Truvy Jones
Shirley MacLaine - Ouiser Boudreaux
Daryl Hannah - Annelle Dupuy Desoto
Olympia Dukakis - Clairee Belcher
Julia Roberts - Shelby Eatenton Latcherie

Break out the hankies for this beautiful, feature-intensive presentation of Steel Magnolias, arriving on DVD in an attractive, comprehensive package courtesy of Columbia TriStar Home Video. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with a choice of English Dolby Digital Surround, or Spanish or Portuguese Dolby Digital Stereo with optional English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, or Thai subtitles this disc also boasts an impressive list of special features. In addition to a wonderful transfer of the film, viewers can access "Talent Files and Production Notes," "Deleted Scenes," "Exclusive Featurette," the film's soundtrack as an "Isolated Music Score," and "Bonus Trailers," making this disc a must-have for the countless fans of this heartwarming film. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide