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Robert M. Harling III (born November 12, 1951) is an American writer, producer and film director. Biography. Early life. He was born in 1951 in Dothan, Alabama, one of three children of Robert M. Harling Jr (1923-2019) and Margaret Jones Harling (1923-2013).
Jul 28, 2017 · The Heartbreaking Real-Life Story Behind 'Steel Magnolias'. We caught up with writer Robert Harling for a look back at his iconic play, which debuted off-Broadway 30 years ago. It's been 30 years since Steel Magnolias, the play that inspired the iconic film by the same name, opened off-Broadway.
Writer: The Evening Star. Robert Harling was born in 1951. He is a writer and producer, known for The Evening Star (1996), Steel Magnolias (1989) and The First Wives Club (1996).
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- Robert Harling
- The original play was written in 10 days. For "Steel Magnolias" writer Robert Harling, he didn't have to go far to find inspiration for the script. The film version of "Steel Magnolias" was based on Harling's play, which in turn was based on the events of Harling's real life.
- Steel Magnolias wasn't written as a comedy. Though "Steel Magnolias" ends with tragedy, there are plenty of funny moments sprinkled throughout. However, despite the many one-liners, Robert Harling actually didn't set out to write a comedy.
- The role of Truvy was written for Margo Martindale. Margo Martindale was exactly who writer Robert Harling had in mind when we wrote the role of Truvy, which is why she originated the character in the play.
- All of Hollywood's top stars wanted to be in the film. When it was announced that "Steel Magnolias" was going to be turned into a film, many of Hollywood's top leading ladies flocked to go see the play, as Margo Martindale recalled on "Live with Kelly and Ryan."
- The title was inspired by real life. Harling said the title, "Steel Magnolias," is the perfect description for the women it profiles: They're both delicate like a flower, but also hard as steel.
- Harling wrote the play in 10 days. Many writers take months or years to write a play. But Harling wrote "Steel Magnolias" in only 10 days. "Ten days later, that's all it took because I had lived the story."
- It was originally going to be a short story. Harling said when he began putting his sister's story down in writing, it began as a short story. "But I was missing the sound of the wonderful vernacular," he said.
- Harling at first thought his story was a drama. When the play was first in rehearsal, Harling says they thought it was strictly a drama, since they were performing a dark, emotional story.
Robert Harling was born in 1951. He is a writer and producer, known for The Evening Star (1996), Steel Magnolias (1989) and The First Wives Club (1996).
Steel Magnolias is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts.
