It’s one of the most iconic endings in cinema history – best friends-turned-fugitives Thelma Dickinson and Louise Sawyer holding hands as they drove their classic car off a cliff and deep into the Grand Canyon.
It symbolised their choice to be free from patriarchal oppression and was considered the only fitting end to Thelma & Louise, a female empowerment film that was ahead of its time.
“Nobody making it had any idea that it was going to strike a nerve the way it did,” says Geena Davis, who played hapless housewife Thelma.
“It caused a big stir that we were totally unprepared for, but it was fun.”
To celebrate 35 years of the groundbreaking road trip movie, Geena, 70, reunited with Susan Sarandon – aka tough-talking waitress Louise – at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered in 1991.
Rewriting the rules
In the movie, Louise kills Thelma’s would-be rapist, turning them into outlaws. Two women in leading roles – in a film written by a woman, Callie Khouri – was noteworthy enough in 1991, but throw in the themes of independence, female rage and vengeance? Like anything trailblazing in pop culture, Thelma & Louise sparked initial controversy over the violence and sexism that flipped the script on typical Tinseltown roles.
Susan, 79, was unapologetic about the Oscar-nominated movie’s message back in 2002, insisting, “Films at their best should challenge your perspective.”
Fighting for Thelma
Reflecting on the film at Cannes this year, the actress admitted, “When we were making it, we weren’t making a feminist film – we were making a buddy flick.”
Though she couldn’t predict its success, Geena had an inkling this movie would be a crucial addition to her CV. She even had her agent call director Ridley Scott every week for a year to secure the role!
Geena says, “I was aware of women’s position in Hollywood by then, but when the movie came out and I saw the reaction women had to it, it was night and day. “Women wanted to really talk about how it impacted on them. Sometimes I’d even hear, ‘My friend and I took a road trip, and we acted out your trip.’ I’m like,
‘I hope the good parts!’ “It made me realise how few opportunities there are to feel inspired by the female characters we watch. That changed everything for me.”
Enter Brad Pitt
It would be remiss to talk about Thelma & Louise’s cultural impact without acknowledging the small but pivotal role of hitchhiking cowboy JD – a then relatively unknown Brad Pitt.
Playing the hitchhiker and convicted robber who seduces then swindles Thelma really put heartthrob Brad on the map, leading to career-turning films Kalifornia, Interview With The Vampire and Legends Of The Fall within a few years.
Geena backed Brad
It was Geena who pushed for Brad to land the part over the other candidates, including his mate George Clooney!
“I’m really grateful to Ridley Scott and Geena, who gave me that shot, because that was the big league,” says Brad, 62.
“I had nothing to show for myself except for my work as an extra and they took a chance on me.”
A rumoured romance
Brad shares how his love scene with Geena “went on for two days of shooting” and that their chemistry even spilled over into real life!
His one-time roommate Jason Priestley later claimed that Brad would “sneak off to visit his secret girlfriend” Geena after Susan had finished filming her scenes.
The iconic film’s larger-than-life characters have now hit the stage, with a West End adaptation now playing at London’s Young Vic Theatre.
The movie’s writer Callie made the story fit for theatre and insists it’s “still a wild and emotional ride”.
Anyone for a road trip to the UK?!
