Thelma & Louise

Callie Khouri wrote her first screenplay in six months; Ridley Scott optioned it in 1989 meaning only to produce, then directed it. Michelle Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster left the leads in preproduction; Geena Davis tested candidates for J.D. and picked Brad Pitt. None of the geography is real. Thelma’s Arkansas neighbourhood is Tarzana in California; Grand Junction and Paradox Valley in Colorado play Arizona and New Mexico. The cliff at the end is not the Grand Canyon but a spot in Utah south of Dead Horse Point. Five 1966 Ford Thunderbirds were used, one cut open as a camera car, two as stunt cars. There is no villain in the second half: Harvey Keitel’s detective is sympathetic and never blames the women, so the pressure comes from the law, not a person. Six Academy Award nominations brought one win: Callie Khouri, Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. The others: Directing for Ridley Scott, Actress in a Leading Role for both Davis and Sarandon, Cinematography for Adrian Biddle, Film Editing for Thom Noble. Davis and Sarandon made the Time cover of 24 June 1991. A good fit if you want the pursuing detective written as a sympathetic voice, not an enemy. Not for viewers who cannot sit through the attempted rape in the car park and the killing after it.