If you visited Fernbank Museum of Natural History this week, you likely got stuck in traffic. Sorry, but Shelby's wedding reception was going on and M'Lynn, Clairee, Truvy an 'nem were doing it up right. The remake of "Steel Magnolias" filmed this week at a private residence beside the museum and across the street from Druid Hills Golf Club.
"Even though we honor the original women, somehow these women have made it worth doing again," director Kenny Leon told us during a break in the action on Thursday. "It feels like a brand new film." The modern version stars Queen Latifah as M'Lynn, the role Sally Field played in the original film. Alfre Woodard plays Ouiser, as Shirley MacLaine did in the original and Phylicia Rashad plays Clairee (Olympia Dukakis in the original film). Jill Scott plays Truvy, Dolly Parton's former role, Adepero Oduye plays Annelle (Daryl Hannah in the original film) and Condola Rashad plays Shelby, the bashful-and-blush-loving bride played by Julia Roberts in the original film.
“It’s great working with all these women,” Leon said. “It’s pretty special. If you took any one of these women out of this film, it would be different.” In the scene being filmed Thursday, Clairee utters the memorable line, “If you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me,” as she and Truvy cattily assess other guests. The mayor’s wife takes the dance floor, fans of the movie no doubt recall, looking "like two pigs fighting under a blanket.” In a clever bit of modernizing, this Truvy notes with horror that the mayor’s wife didn’t even bother putting on her Spanx.
(In case Atlanta's Sara Blakely -- just named to Time's list of the world's 100 most influential people -- needed more validation.) Much of the action in "Steel Magnolias" takes place in Truvy's beauty salon. For the remake, the salon will be a set constructed in a warehouse in southwest Atlanta, Leon said. In addition to the Druid Hills home, his version of the Southern classic will feature hospital scenes shot at Riverdale's Southern Regional Medical Center, which is also where scenes for the A&E miniseries "Coma" were filmed. "Magnolias" will wrap on April 28, and is expected to air in September.
“The ultimate message is the preciousness of life,” Leon said. “That never gets old.”
Clark Howard to host charitable soiree
Atlanta's favorite penny pincher, Clark Howard, will host an April 28 event at his Buckhead home at which tickets will cost $500. As the super-frugal Howard might exclaim, "Five HUNDRED dollars???" Fret not; this is for charity. Howard, heard from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 9 to 10 p.m. weekdays on AM750 and 95.5 FM News/Talk WSB, is active in charitable causes, including Habitat for Humanity and his annual Christmas toy drive. Proceeds from the event he's hosting next weekend support the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children's Butterfly Fund, which provides emergency financial assistance for families whose children are being treated. The organization provides $350,000 per year for families in Georgia and the Southeast. The event will honor Dr. Walter J. Curran Jr., executive director of the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, and will feature entertainment from the Buck Buckley Band with a guest performance by Cindy Wilson of the B-52's. For information and tickets, see www.braintumorkids.org or call 404-252-4107.
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