Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

A housewife who is unhappy with her life befriends an old lady in a nursing home and is enthralled by the tales she tells of people she used to know.

Director:

Jon Avnet

Writers:

Fannie Flagg (novel), Fannie Flagg (screenplay)

Stars:

Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kathy Bates	...	Evelyn Couch
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Idgie Threadgoode
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Ruth Jamison
Jessica Tandy	...	Ninny Threadgoode
Cicely Tyson	...	Sipsey
Chris O'Donnell	...	Buddy Threadgoode
Stan Shaw	...	Big George
Gailard Sartain	...	Ed Couch
Timothy Scott	...	Smokey Lonesome (as Tim Scott)
Gary Basaraba	...	Grady Kilgore
Lois Smith	...	Mama Threadgoode
Jo Harvey Allen	...	Women's Awareness Teacher
Macon McCalman	...	Prosecutor Percy
Richard Riehle	...	Reverend Scroggins
Raynor Scheine	...	Sheriff Curtis Smoote

Storyline

Evelyn Couch is having trouble in her marriage, and no one seems to take her seriously. While in a nursing home visiting relatives, she meets Ninny Threadgoode, an outgoing old woman, who tells her the story of Idgie Threadgoode, a young woman in 1920's Alabama. Through Idgie's inspiring life, Evelyn learns to be more assertive and builds a lasting friendship of her own with Ninny.

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Plot Keywords:

domestic violence | cannibalism | nursing home | friendship | alabama | 

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Taglines:

The secret of life? The secret's in the sauce.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tomates verdes fritos

Filming Locations:

Agnes Scott College - 141 E. College Avenue, Decatur, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$82,418,501

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$119,418,501

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures,Act III Communications,Avnet/Kerner Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min 137 min (extended)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joanne Whalley was offered to play Ruth Jamison.

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Goofs

During the scenes set in 1920 near the beginning of the film, Gene Austin's "My Blue Heaven" is playing at a wedding. The song was written in 1924 and not released until 1927.

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Quotes

Evelyn Couch: Excuse me young man there was no reason for you to be so rude to me back there.
Boy at Supermarket: Get away from me you fat cow!
Evelyn Couch: [shocked] What did you call me?
Boy at Supermarket: Beat it you old bitch!
Evelyn Couch: Why are you being so mean to me? What have I ever done to you?

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Alternate Versions

They also include additional footage in the final cafe sequence in which Sipsey refuses to give barbecue (with the special sauce) to two colored boys who come to the back door.

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Connections

Featured in The Celluloid Closet (1995)

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Soundtracks

Cannon Ball
Performed by Nora Lee King
Courtesy of Rosetta Records, Inc.

User Reviews

What An Authentic Flavor This Film Has

The twenty year friendship between two young women in the early twentieth century American South is the focus of this 1991 film from director Jon Avnet. Told in flashbacks, the story adopts a modern POV, with social empowerment being the theme. As such, the story is both unusual and unexpected, given its historical time frame. Viewers will be disappointed if they expect a more traditional Southern story ... about some dark, sinister secret emotionally repressed, and set among the lazy willows and old Magnolia trees.

Empowerment can be a wonderful thing. But, if it is taken to extremes, as it is in two subplots, one involving Frank Bennett, and the other involving Evelyn Couch, then it can be a cause for concern. And that's my main problem with this film. The subplots tend to lack credibility, although they do not detract from the overall character study of Idgie and Ruth.

What was most impressive to me was the film's atmospheric "flavor". Production design, set decoration, and costumes all sparkle with such vitality and detail, that you really feel like you're back in the rural South of the 1920's.

Most modern films pander to youth. To its everlasting credit, "Fried Green Tomatoes" features the wisdom of an elderly character, played by Jessica Tandy, in a nursing home. An added bonus of the film is Kathy Bates, whose acting is always first-rate.