What happens to Shelby in STEEL MAGNOLIAS? (Possible spoilers)

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 5:10pm

I'm going solely based on the movie because I didn't get to see the play so I don't know how the ending differs from the movie to the play.

But I just finished watching the whole movie from beginning to end for the first time, and I'm not sure they make it known what Shelby's cause of death is. I know she's diabetic and she get's the kidney transplant from her mother. Maybe I'm just oblivious, but they don't tell us what happens. I'm only assuming her body rejects the transplant.

Is that right?

[EganFan2]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 5:12pm

Yes, her body rejects the kidney.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 5:12pm

*SPOILER*




At first, the transplant is successful. Then, a short while later, the kidney fails and she goes into full septic shock.




*SPOILER*

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 5:26pm

I can't compare the movie to the play.

But, I think the movie is spectacular. The cast is magnificent. With such great actresses as Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field and wonderful performances from Julia Roberts, Daryl Hannah and Dolly Parton...it is such a tight plot.

This is definitely an extraordinary movie.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 5:34pm

Olympia Dukakis was awful in the movie, IMO. She plays EVERY ROLE with a Massachusetts accent. It's embarrassing.

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 5:41pm

I love this movie A LOT. It a wonderful movie, backed by that friggin' amazing cast.

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 5:44pm

aww i love it too...it just came on tnt last night and i think it comes on again tonight <333

yay for chick flicks that are actually good movies...

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 7:55pm

I watched the movie today too and I have again FORBIDDEN myself from ever watching it again as I do after every time I watch it.... I am just such an emotional mess and so worn out by the end, I can hardly handle it!

[JonnyV]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 8:02pm

It's based on the death of the writer's sister. Not sure of the exact cause of death, though.

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 8:11pm

Scroll up. The characters exact cause of death was posted.
I also <3 this movie. Not all chick flicks are bad. I usually double this one up with Waiting to Exhale.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 8:17pm

I saw the play, my mother raved about ti so that was my imputus. I loved it, I thought it was great.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 8:26pm

The play is 1000 times better! The movie is phenomenal, but it confuses the focus a little. The play only has the women and they are only ever in the Beauty shop. The themes of Friendship, love, and the unique perspective of what exactly goes on in a beauty shop in a small town are lost when you start adding all of the men and locations.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 8:32pm

"Here! Hit Her! Hit Ouiser!! Go ahead and knock her lights out!!"
Olympia did that such justice with MacLaine as her "Ouiser", LOL!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 10:25pm

I like the movie, but I don't think it's a masterpiece.

I hated the play - it was so boring.

[vbplayer]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 10:59pm

Loved it. Laughter through tears.........brilliant.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 10/16/05 at 11:04pm

i enjoyed the movie alot more than the actual play.

[safety_in_falsehood]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 9:53am

Steel Magnolias is awesome. I saw the play, fell in love with the story and then saw the movie and sobbed my eyes out. I would say it is the best story about friendship and unselfish love in a long time...we need more great stories like this!

[actor51678]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 10:06am

I acutally prefer the movie to the play. I've seen it onstage three times, two amateur productions and the recent Broadway revival and I felt ALL productions missed the emotional mark in one way or another. I didn't go to see the play with any expectations of the brilliant performances in the movie, how can you compare really, but I couldn't help but feel let down. I think that the Broadway production did well with the funnier side of the story, but had difficulty navigating to the more serious moments.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 11:30am

"Spectacular?" Well, I think guilty pleasure is more like it. It's not very particularly well written or clever, though it's certainly enjoyable, and the gay men certainly do love it-- not exactly sure why -- but seems to right up there with MOMMIE DEAREST and VALLEY OF THE DOLLS as "must see" queer cinema.

[Michie]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 11:38pm

I'm sorry to butt in but, going back to the original question...Shelby died after a diabetic coma. Both organ rejection and septic shock take time to develope (days or weeks.) She had Type 1 (juvenile onset) diabetes. This type is much harder to control than most Type 2 (adult onset)patients'. The fact that she was a very brittle diabetic (large swings in her blood sugar levels) is shown early on in the beauty shop when she goes from coherent to combative and disoriented very rapidly. Her mother remedies the situation with orange juice to bring her blood sugar back up. Sadly, there is no one around when her blood sugar precipitously drops at home with little Jack. When that happens the person passes rapidly into a coma. The brain uses glucose for its fuel source. Without it over a long enough time, like a brain deprived of oxygen, it suffers irreperable damage and dies. Incidently, Robert Harling's sister on whom the play is based, was Susan. She was married to a doctor not a lawyer and she is buried in Mansfield, LA where all of my family is originally from. My cousin is the same age as Robert and knows him well. Oh, and I'm an R.N. I Hope this helps.