When Does the Film "Steel Magnolias" (1989) Take Place?
"Steel Magnolias" is a dramedy film written by Robert Harling [adapting "Steel Magnolias" (1987) by Robert Harling] that released November 15th, 1989. So when is "Steel Magnolias" set?
It takes place in the years:
We know this because very early on Truvy Jones says, "Oh, get with it, Clairee. This is the '80s. If you can achieve puberty, you can achieve a past." So it is certainly some time between January 1st, 1980 AD and December 31st, 1989 AD. Based on the technology ("That VCR alone was worth getting married for.") and plenty of other details ("Her whole life has been an experiment in terror. Her husband got killed in World War II– then her son got killed in Vietnam."), it can't be the '80s of a different century.
1987 AD - 1990? AD
We know this because very early on Truvy Jones says, "Oh, get with it, Clairee. This is the '80s. If you can achieve puberty, you can achieve a past." So it is certainly some time between January 1st, 1980 AD and December 31st, 1989 AD. Based on the technology ("That VCR alone was worth getting married for.") and plenty of other details ("Her whole life has been an experiment in terror. Her husband got killed in World War II– then her son got killed in Vietnam."), it can't be the '80s of a different century.
More specifically, Truvy also says, "Well, the last romantic thing my husband did for me was back in 1972. He enclosed this carport so I could support him." almost certainly meaning that was the time she first began owning a beauty parlor and earlier she said, "And I'll have you know you are working in the most successful shop in this town 'cause I have a strict philosophy that I have stuck to for 15 years: There is no such thing as natural beauty." If the moment the house's driveway became Truvy's beauty shop is the beginning of her business and if the beginning of her business was when she first started using this motto, it is currently 1987 AD.
1,972 + 15 = 1,987.
Specifically, the narrative begins in the summertime.
Later, we catch up with the characters at a Christmas festival so it is most likely December of 1987 AD at this point.
(HOWEVER, it has also been reported Harling based the story on his own family experience. The real-world events occurred in 1982? AD - 1985 AD. The real-world Susan Robinson (the basis for Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie) married probably sometime in 1982 AD, gave birth to a son in February of 1983 AD, and passed in October of 1985 AD.)
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