Evelyn, an ordinary housewife, visits a nursing home and befriends the old lady Ninny. Together, they bond over stories from the past about two intrepid women of Whistle Stop Cafe.Evelyn, an ordinary housewife, visits a nursing home and befriends the old lady Ninny. Together, they bond over stories from the past about two intrepid women of Whistle Stop Cafe.Evelyn, an ordinary housewife, visits a nursing home and befriends the old lady Ninny. Together, they bond over stories from the past about two intrepid women of Whistle Stop Cafe.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 6 wins & 12 nominations total
- Smokey Lonesome
- (as Tim Scott)
Featured reviews
This movie is beyond anything that I have ever viewed in my entire life. Usually, this sort of movie isn't the kind that I look at, but I fell in love with the story and the characters, as well as the wonderful actresses (Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Mary-Louise Parker) who did an outstanding job portraying their characters in a unique and unforgettable way.
Since I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't seen it, let me just say that it's an astounding tale of a special friendship that goes way beyond what we would call a "regular" one. It will make you thankful for the friends you have and even give women a sense to stand up for their own rights. All in all, I give this movie a 10 out of 10. If you haven't seen it, what are you doing reading this?! Go out and rent it!
If you want to be charmed, enchanted, moved, and find yourself wishing.... This is a film you will cherish.
I won't belabor more than others have written so well. It is a film that resides in my permanent library on my top shelf. When I watch it again, I find myself wishing that I knew the characters personally and somehow find that I do.
This film is one of the only that I esteem. It adds to your life. It hugs the heart and enriches who you are.
I want to thank all the marvelous actors. If they ever wondered why they chose their profession, this film is why.
200 years from now it will be loved and valued. The test of time is guaranteed with Fried Green Tomatoes!
The movie talks about of several women that in spite of a hard and sad life caused by the indifference of people who perhaps never had such a big heart as them, they survive thanks to the love and the understanding.
Besides the beautiful plot, the performances of Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Louise Parker and Mary Stuart Masterson are more than special, are unique, exquisite and of course touching.
"Fried Green Tomatoes" is a little of all. So, don't wait just tears, don't wait just laughs, don't wait just an overflow of feelings. This is not only a drama movie. This movie is more than that.
* Excuse me for mistakes in words.
Well written and superbly acted it tugs at the heartstrings harder than almost any other movie. The way it sets up an obvious story line and then like a gentle roller-coaster suddenly takes you in another direction is unequalled in this type of film.
There are so many points of genuine sadness and whenever you think you have guessed the story you suddenly turn to find an outcome more surprising than you thought.
Major characters die, major characters do not "fall in love" and major characters are not allowed to cop-out; it is as a film should be.
Remarkable well written, produced with care and acted with understatement and love - it is a beautiful film.
Watch it.
It was a good thing that Kathy Bates made this movie so soon after "Misery." She had made such an impression as a psycho in the earlier film that she might have had trouble getting herself out from under the mantle of Annie Wilkes. But she plays a completely different character here, a dowdy, bored housewife who befriends a little old lady forgotten in a retirement home (Jessica Tandy). Tandy begins to tell her the story of a female relative, Idgie Threadgoode, and her deep friendship with Ruth, which is played out in flashback by Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker. The story is one of those melodramatic, life-affirming ones, but it's acted extremely well by the four women, and the film mostly avoids the treacle that threatens to come pouring in around the edges.
Grade: A-
Did you know
- TriviaMary Stuart Masterson did all of the bee stunts herself because her stunt double quit at the last minute.
- GoofsWhen Evelyn was knocking out the wall in her house she was using a 10 pound long-handle sledgehammer to break through the wall. When Ed comes she has switched to a 2 pound sledgehammer. Swinging the big hammer is tiring and imprecise for most people. She switched to the two-pound hammer to knock out the horizontal braces.
- Quotes
[Evelyn is cut off in a parking lot]
Evelyn Couch: Hey! I was waiting for that spot!
Girl #1: Face it, lady, we're younger and faster!
[Evelyn rear-ends the other car six times]
Girl #1: What are you *doing*?
Girl #2: Are you *crazy*?
Evelyn Couch: Face it, girls, I'm older and I have more insurance.
- Alternate versionsIn the TV version, Idgie watches Ruth teaching Sunday school before taking her to her birthday party at the saloon.
- SoundtracksMy Blue Heaven
Written by Walter Donaldson and George Whiting
Performed by Gene Austin and His Orchestra
Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Music
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $11,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $82,418,501
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $105,317
- Dec 29, 1991
- Gross worldwide
- $119,418,501