Steel Magnolias

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Steel Magnolias ★★★ 1989 (PG)

Shelby Eatenton (Roberts) is a young woman stricken with severe diabetes who chooses to live her life to the fullest despite her bad health. Much of the action centers around a Louisiana beauty shop (run by Parton) where the women get together to discuss the goings-on of their lives. Screenplay by R. Harling, based on his partially autobiographical play. Sweet, poignant, and often hilarious, yet just as often overwrought. MacLaine is funny as a bitter divorcee; Parton is sexy and fun as the hairdresser; but Field and Roberts (as mother and daughter) go off the deep end and make it all entirely too weepy. 118m/C VHS, DVD . Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley Mac-Laine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Tom Skerritt, Sam Shepard, Dylan McDermott, Kevin J. O'Connor, Bill McCutcheon, Ann Wedgeworth, Janine Turner; D: Herbert Ross; W: Robert Harling; C: John A. Alonzo; M: Georges Delerue. Golden Globes '90: Support. Actress (Roberts).