Stale Magnolias, one of the worst movies ever

So Steel Magnolias is based on the true story of a woman named Susan Harling.

Her older brother, Robert Harling, was a New York actor who wrote her story after she died. It started as a Broadway play and was made into a movie.

I remember seeing the movie in 1989. I was in my late 20's, living in Breederific, Bible-Belt flyover country, and everyone around me was consumed with being wed n Bred.

I saw the movie in the cinema and thought, God this woman is a DUMBASS. Brittle diabetic, doctors telling her not to breed and she's determined to breed for a selfish asshole who will be saying "Shelby Who?" six months from now, and she's birthing a kid who won't remember her.

It was the late 80's, when everyone was consumed with having a career with baybee as accessory. To say I was out of step with my peers was an understatement.

This is one of the most comprehensive articles I've seen on the subject. IT's an anniversary piece (30th) and it's in a publication called Garden and Gun. (odd combination)

In the movie, when Shelby advises her mother that she's pregnant against her mother's advice and medical advice, the main character insinuates she's having marital problems (she's in the first year of marriage) and a baybee may "help" the situation.

From the article:

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Harling says he went to a place of “rage and anger,” a state exacerbated by the fact that his sister’s widower remarried shortly after her death. Even more difficult was the fact that his nephew began calling his stepmother “Mama.” Harling was afraid Susan would be forgotten.

I remember reading elsewhere that her trash husband indeed married less than three months after her death.

I did like parts of the movie outside the story line. Shirley MacLaine is fabulous. Dolly Parton was a class act. Julia Robert's fake Southern accent is just about unbearable.

I never saw this movie but I think I found out what it was about 10yrs ago and was appalled by the plot/topic, and posted about it here way back when. Now that I know it was based on a true story. I'm more appalled.

I hope someone keeps tabs on that 'proud eugenisist' cunt for breeding despite her ..what was it?? awtardism, or some heritable crap. when the shit inevitably hits the fan.. either the kids are awtards or she breaks down.. something else to laugh at. or empathise with.. blech..

two cents ¢¢

CERTIFIED HOSEHEAD!!!

No one is more arrogant towards women, more aggressive or scornful, than the man who is anxious (insecure..my word) about his virility. Simone de Beauvoir

people (especially women) do not give ONE DAMN about what they inflict on children and I defy anyone to prove me wrong

Dysfunctional relationships almost always have a child. The more dysfunctional, the more children. The selfish wants of adults outweigh the needs of the child.

Some mistakes cannot be fixed, but some mistakes can be 'fixed'.

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. Leo J. Burke

Adoption agencies have strict criteria (usually). Breeders, whose combined IQ's would barely hit triple digits, have none.

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bell_flower
I remember reading elsewhere that her trash husband indeed married less than three months after her death.

Well obviously, HE wasn't going to raise that kid. He needed a replacement nanny.

I remember speaking out against the plot and general bullshit of the main character and her husband in this movie. And it was just me saying this because every teen/woman thought that this movie was so romantic. Um no, not even remotely romantic! And lots of men claimed to like it to play up to women hoping to get laid. I also lived in the Bible Belt and I literally lost friends and alienated people in high school because I expressed my honest views and it horrified them. I was the lone voice like always.

I thought Darryl Hannah's character was hilarious - there are so many women in the Bible Belt who go back and forth from being the perfect little Christian to drinking, sex and partying. I don't think my peers caught the irony but I sure did.

I loved Shirley MacLaine's character and secretly wanted to grow up to be her one day.

Dolly Parton's character was lots of fun too.