13 Surprising Things Most Fans Don’t Know About ‘Steel Magnolias’

7. Producers Thought Sally Field Was Too Young

Producers thought that no one would believe the actress was the mother of the 22-year-old Shelby. Sally kindly pointed out to them that her eldest son was just shy of 22 at the time.

8. The Cast Stayed In Local Lake Homes

When the principal cast arrived for filming in Natchitoches, Louisiana, most of them rented property on the Cane River Lake which runs through Natchitoches’ historic district. This included Shirley MacLaine, who reportedly asked her realtor, “Would my nude sunbathing cause any problems?”

The quick-witted real estate agent simply replied: “Only a traffic jam on the lake.”

9. Princess Diana Attended The U.K. Premiere

She was still married to Prince Charles, and the royal couple made an appearance at the emotional London premiere in 1990.

10. The Onscreen Hospital Staff Were Not Actors

The firm hired the actual doctors and nurses who helped care for Robert’s sister, Susan, to give the scenes an authentic emotional weight.

11. The Writer’s Parents Found Peace From The Film

Robert Harling was concerned about his mother being on set for one of the most heartbreaking scenes involving Shelby, as he thought re-living the experience would be too painful.

When he asked how she could put herself through the emotional moment and still have dry eyes, she explained, “I wanted to see Julia get up and walk away.”

12. Dolly Parton Wrote An Original Song For The Movie

Unfortunately, it did not make the final cut. However, Robert remembered her coming into his family’s home nearby while filming and announcing that she had written a song for Susan titled “Eagle When She Flies.”

The song was released on Dolly’s 1991 album of the same name.

13. The Success Of The Film Fulfilled Susan’s Wishes

When talking to her brother before she passed away, Susan told him how she wished she could help with his writing career but had no idea how.

Following her death, he channeled his grief into the script, finishing it in only 10 days.

Credits: metdaan