released by tristar pictures in the united states on november 15, 1989, it grossed more than $83.7 million at the box office. harling's first produced screenplay, he adapted the original film script which was then heavily rewritten beyond the on-stage one-set scenario (which had taken place entirely in truvy's beauty salon) of the stage production: the scenes increased and the sequence was more tightly linked with major holidays than the play; the increased characters beyond the original, all-female play cast caused dialogue changes between on-screen characters (among them, harling playing the preacher and truvy has one son instead of two). natchitoches, louisiana served as both the 1989 film location and scenario location with historian robert deblieux, a former natchitoches mayor, as the local advisor. the house where much of the film was shot is now a six-suite b&b, available for rent.