As we slowly return to normalcy post-pandemic, fans of Fried Green Tomatoes have been treated to a nostalgic trip down memory lane, thanks to TCM and Fathom Events bringing the beloved film back to cinemas for a limited time to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Southern Living recently caught up with Mary Stuart Masterson, who played the iconic role of Idgie Threadgoode, to get some inside scoop on the making of this classic film.
In a recent interview, Masterson reflected on the enduring legacy of Fried Green Tomatoes and shared some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories. One of the most memorable? The famous food fight scene between Idgie (played by Masterson) and Ruth (played by Mary Louise Parker) in the kitchen of the Whistle Stop Café was entirely improvised and captured in a single take.
“We each decided and worked with the prop master to choose our ammo ahead of time. Then, that scene was completely improvised. We could have showered, changed, and done it again, but we only needed one take with multiple cameras because it was just too much fun. It was definitely the best day of work—something you never get to do—having a food fight,” Masterson recalled with a laugh.
But what about the unforgettable scene where Idgie becomes the “Bee Charmer”? No stunt double was used—Masterson took on the challenge herself. Wearing a drop of queen bee pheromone, she bravely stuck her hand into a hive full of bees, attracting them to her like a “giant bee magnet.” The scene was filmed on a relatively closed set, with only Masterson, the director, the director of photography, a driver, and the “bee guy” present—along with a lot of bees, of course.
“I was supposed to walk over, grab the honeycomb, and bring it back to the camera. We did a series of takes where you don’t cut, just keep rolling and reset to do it again. By the third take, I was so covered in bees I could barely see. It looked silly—like the bearded lady with a bee beard,” Masterson shared.
The director finally yelled “CUT,” and the bee expert quickly used smoke to calm the bees, urging Masterson to walk away slowly.
“I walked away really slowly, but the bees weren’t leaving, so he kept adding more smoke and finally said, ‘Okay, walk faster, now RUN!’ I jumped into a car, took off the shirt covered in queen bee pheromone, drove away, put on another shirt, and came back to do it three more times,” Masterson recounted. She noted that this was the last major scene she filmed for the entire movie. “Not by accident—just in case I died or something,” she joked.
What a pro! Who needs a stunt double when you have Mary Stuart Masterson?
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