File this one under “truth is stranger than fiction.” You hear rumors throughout the years about famous people on movie sets. How do you know what to believe? But this story, about how mean director Herbert Ross was to Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton may be the stuff great rock operas on made on – somewhere in here is the truer story, the All About Eve story that we’ll probably never know – either way, oh the irony at Roberts getting her first Oscar nomination anyway:
“Herb Ross was basically a choreographer,” said MacLaine, who played twice-widowed salon patron Ouiser. “That means he could be sometimes very stern and sometimes very harsh. My deepest memories of the film were how we bonded together after he told one of us or all of us we couldn’t act.”
Field — who played who played Roberts’ character’s mother, M’Lynn — said that the late filmmaker “did pick on one of us severely. He never told me I couldn’t act. . . He went after Julia with a vengeance. This was pretty much her first big film.” (Ross died of heart failure in October 2001.)
According to MacLaine, 79, Roberts “would come to my house every night and say, ‘I think I’m terrible. What am I doing?’ and she really was in tears. I remember the day Herb said to Dolly Parton, ‘Why don’t you take some acting lessons?'”
“You don’t say that to Dolly Parton!” Field exclaimed. “Dolly Parton is absolutely the funniest, wittiest and filthiest, and she will cut you to ribbons.”
Several veteran actresses often stood up for Roberts when Ross’ directives got out of control. “Our keenest memory was how hard it was to work with our director. We hated him and we would go after him,” Field recalled. “The stronger ones of the group who were just older and had been there longer would go after him. That meant Shirley and Dolly.” According to Field, Ross even asked Roberts “to cut off some little wart or mole she had under her eye.”
Despite their off-camera drama, the stars still look at the film fondly. “For me, it is the story about the power of friendship,” Field said. MacLaine added, “And we stayed friends after the movie. We never went to the director’s funeral, but. . .”
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I wonder where Darryl Hannah and Olympia Dukakis were in all this?
Anyone who speaks negatively about Dolly Parton is a nasty beast… Enough said
Herb Ross was such a pill. I know people who worked in the theater who came into contact with him and this is completely in character. According to one person in particular, only Arthur Laurents was nastier and that is a high standard of nasty.
I was afraid this post was going to be a woman vs. woman issue so it was nice to hear Field stand up to both Dolly (who I worship) and Roberts (who I hate but this story makes her sound very human). Even MacLaine who worked with Ross multiple times acknowledges his nastiness and was said to fight back against him.
Also, I can totally imagine Sally Field just exclaiming, ‘YOU DON’T SAY THAT TO DOLLY PARTON!!!!’ in complete mortification on-set. She may not be a chameleon of an actress but she wears her feelings on her sleeve and that is why I love her.
What a shame. I love Steel Magnolias. And I like Goodbye Girl and Turning Point.
But this story, which seems mostly true, makes me think very ill of the director. And he even looks like a CREEP (imdb photo).
I love dirt. Especially old dirt unearthed after years of lying under some rock. This was the best thing you posted in months. Thank you, Sasha.
Off topic but, is it just me or does it feel like 4 great films are already flying under the radar and going unnoticed for 2013 and they are best picture worthy, but arent being noticed judt because theyre released early in the year. These four films are Trance, Disconnect, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Side Effects. I feel like Mud is going to go unnoticed also, but it deserves more recognition.
[Double Standard]
I didn’t know the late director. And I am not on his side in essence.
*not being directed to Sasha* BUT why not just let him rest in peace?
If #a […] director (or any of other professionals) reportedly molested a girl, and he/she happens to have been taken as genius more or less in filmmaking, well, yeah riiight, I am sooo sure, that man or woman, the culprit I mean, would find no place in our kind hearts…………… But, here, Ross, oh my gooosh, yeaaah, the man was allegedly too fussy, talking sheeet in process on the job, too much for some of us the angels; of course, it’s sooo unforgeeetable *sarcasm*……………. (Please read the last paragraph.)
To my mind, I find it funny *absurd* when one occasionally happens to be so desperate to rationalize or come to rescue for something or someone #unworthy of protection, if any, [nothing to do with Roberts or any other thesps] while at the same time never hesitant to bash a dead man who’d just happened to be likely temporarily *on the set* inappropriate as alleged, most likely so in aims at something better as the outcome (a better film/movie) at the end of the day. (It doesn’t matter if Steel MagnoliaS — with an S [for the time being I’ve seen no “S”, there, in the AD tile] — is a good film or not: that’s not the point.)
Gimme a break.
(This comment is not about Julia Roberts or anyone else who reportedly were facing such an incident.)
The son-of-a-bitch may be dead, but the people he bullied aren’t. And they have an opinion about it.
People who think dead assholes should be canonized are such touchy-feely hypocrites.
I wouldn’t say it’s a great film, but it’s certainly memorable and watchable and it’s certainly due to the skills of the actresses involved. I remember Roberts’s southern accent sounding a bit forced, however, which was surprising considering she’s from the South. But her role was pure Oscar bait, so really not surprised she won a nomination. I know so many people who treasure this movie, so it definitely has made its mark.
This is interesting because Maggie Smith recently talked about (on 60 minutes) how she disliked working with Herbert Ross as well. He directed her in ‘California Suite’ where she won her 2nd oscar. Watching her character, you would think that the experience would have been a ball, but unfortunately it wasn’t because of Ross.
My wife’s favorite movie….I made fun of it when we saw it in the theater as newlyweds, but I great memories of it!
Strangely, I would like to see this movie again. I will see it again. I saw it in my home town…Yreka, CA…sitting or resting on a couch.., It has to do with youth. Ryan you should e-mail me. It is ok if you don’t.
Anyway, this movie is not great…but I have a weird affection for it.
Even though I have not seen it for years…it is just that we and all these stars are getting O L D….er.
Nope. Not a great movie. The play on which it’s based isn’t a great play either. The movie functions for me like sentimental, well-intentioned camp. It’s mediocre sitcom stuff with a soap opera ending. Ironically, the actresses are what makes the movie work. The audience has affection for the actresses, who are unimpeachable in their roles, thereby the audience buys into the movie.
I’ve never been a fan of directors or people in positions of power who can’t direct or manage without being insulting or cruel. And it’s like the movie is some kind of masterpiece. Yes, many of us remember the movie fondly. But please, it’s not like he was Scorsese.
Frankly, had I been on the set and heard him talking to Dolly like that, bitch would have have got cut. 😉
The shade of it all!