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.

---

Plot Keywords:

female bonding | domestic violence | strong female | friendship | alabama | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ed asks Evelyn how she could hit someone 6 times by accident but she only rammed the red Volkswagen Bug 4 times.

---

Goofs

When Buddy is chasing Ruth's hat down the tracks he gets his shoe caught between a guard rail and the main rail. Guard rails are typically used on bridges and at switches, but has no purpose in this location other than to catch Buddy's foot.

---

Quotes

Judge: Percy, it don't look like you got a case at all. In the first place, there's no body. Second, we got us a preacher nobody's gonna dispute...
Prosecutor Percy: But Your Honor...
Judge: I'm tellin' you, What you got is a whole lotta nothing. I say Frank Bennett got himself drunk, drove into the river and was long ago eaten up and I don't give a good goddamn! What we got us here is a case of accidental death. Case dismissed!

---

Alternate Versions

In the TV/DVD version there is a scene, immediately before Idgie goes to visit Ruth, in which we learn that Idgie has been living in Sipsie's house Troutville, the colored annex of Whistle Stop.

---

Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Alien from L.A. (1993)

---

Soundtracks

What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
Written by James Dean, Paul Riser, and William Weatherspoon
Produced by Arthur Baker
Co-Produced by Tommy Faragher
Performed by Paul Young
Mixed by Michael Brauer
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment (U.K.)

User Reviews

Storytelling at Its Best

I enjoyed this movie immensely. This is one of the best examples of storytelling that I have seen. The structure of the movie - alternating between the past and present, with multiple intertwining plots - keeps the viewer hooked on how the story will unfold. It unfolds gracefully and is enjoyable throughout.

The acting is exceptional. Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary Louise Parker carry the bulk of the acting load. They are fantastic. The relationship between these very different young women is complex and satisfying.

Since the movie is about women and the female roles are so strong, this movie has been dubbed a "chick flick", but that pejorative is unfair. This is good film making and those who like plot-driven cinema will enjoy this immensely. This one is in my DVD collection.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fried Green Tomatoes

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$105,317, 29 December 1991

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