Steel Magnolias (1989) is a movie that uses the three act structure. The movie begins with a wedding preparation, and we are introduced to the characters this way. Shelby (Julia Roberts) is about to get married while her family, and especially her mom, M’Lynn (Sally Field), is trying to get everything together for the big day. The first act ends about twenty six minutes in when Shelby has an episode at the salon and we learn she is diabetic. Here, we also find out that she won’t be able to have children with her condition. This first mini-climax sets up a clear issue for the rest of the movie, because Shelby wants to have a baby.
During the middle act, Shelby does get pregnant, against her doctor’s and mother’s wishes, and it affects her health. This implies complication, because she also has to go through dialysis and get a kidney transplant from M’Lynn. It is apparent that Shelby’s health is not stable, and the middle act focuses on this uncertainty. We know that something will go wrong because she riskilly chose to get pregnant and have a baby. The climax is at the very end of the middle act, about an hour and thirty-three minutes in, when Shelby dies from her health problems.
The third act shows how the characters are coping with Shelby’s death and what happens after. The movie ends with one of the characters, Anelle (Daryl Hannah), having a baby. The third act is geared toward resolution, and the baby is a reminder that death is a part of life. It’s a happy ending because all the characters are gathered at an Easter celebration and it’s a jovial scene. Shelby’s son, Jack Junior, is surrounded by people who love him and loved his mother. Anelle having her baby is a sign of life, growth, and new excitement for the future.
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