Helmet and Fried Green Tomatoes: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox Film

[[Image:51479sweden_helmet.jpg|thumb|left|''[[Pickelhaube]]'' of a Swedish Royal Guard soldier]]

| name = Fried Green Tomatoes

| image = Fried green tomatoes.jpg

| caption = Movie poster

| director = [[Jon Avnet]]

| producer = [[Jon Avnet]]

| writer = [[Fannie Flagg]]<br />[[Carol Sobieski]]

| narrator =

| starring = [[Kathy Bates]]<br />[[Mary Stuart Masterson]]<br />[[Mary-Louise Parker]]<br />[[Jessica Tandy]]

| music = [[Jo Jo Hailey]]<br />[[K-Ci Hailey]]<br />[[Thomas Newman]]

| cinematography = [[Geoffrey Simpson]]

| editing = [[Debra Neil-Fisher]]

| distributor = [[Universal Pictures]]

| released = [[December 27]] [[1991]]

| runtime = 136 min.

| country = {{USA}}

| language = [[English language|English]]

| budget =

| preceded_by =

| followed_by =

| website =

| amg_id = 1:18668

| imdb_id = 0101921

}}

'''''Fried Green Tomatoes''''' is a [[1991]] drama film based on the novel ''[[Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe]]'' by [[Fannie Flagg]]. It was released in the [[UK]] under the novel's full title.

The film was directed by [[Jon Avnet]] and written by [[Fannie Flagg]] and [[Carol Sobieski]]. It stars [[Kathy Bates]], [[Jessica Tandy]], [[Mary-Louise Parker]] and [[Mary Stuart Masterson]]. It received a [[MPAA film rating system|PG-13]] rating from the [[Motion Picture Association of America|MPAA]].

:''For the band, see [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]]''

==Cast==

{| class="wikitable"

|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"

! Actor !! Role

|-

| [[Kathy Bates]] || Evelyn Couch

|-

| [[Mary Stuart Masterson]] || Idgie Threadgoode

|-

| [[Mary-Louise Parker]] || Ruth Jamison

|-

| [[Jessica Tandy]] || Ninny Threadgoode

|-

| [[Cicely Tyson]] || Sipsey

|-

| [[Chris O'Donnell]] || Buddy Threadgoode

|-

| [[Stan Shaw]] || Big George

|-

| [[Gailard Sartain]] || Ed Couch

|-

| [[Timothy Scott]] || Smokey Lonesome (as Tim Scott)

|-

| [[Gary Basaraba]] || Grady Kilgore

|-

| [[Lois Smith]] || Mama Threadgoode

|-

| [[Jo Harvey Allen]] || Women's Awareness Teacher

|-

| [[Macon McCalman]] || Prosecutor

|-

| [[Richard Riehle]] || Reverend Scroggins

|-

| [[Raynor Scheine]] || Curtis Smoot

|-

| [[Grace Zabriskie]] || Eva Bates

|-

| [[Reid Binion]] || Young Julian

|}

== Plot summary ==

A '''helmet''' (a 15th century loan from [[Middle French]], a diminutive of [[Frankish]] ''helm'', from [[Proto-Germanic]] ''*khelmaz'', [[PIE]] ''*kelmo-'' "a cover") is a form of [[protective clothing]] worn on the [[head (anatomy)|head]] and usually made of [[metal]] or other hard substance, such as [[Kevlar]], [[resin fiber]], or plastic typically for protection of the head in combat, or in civilian life, from sports injuries, falling objects or high-speed collisions.

Evelyn Couch ([[Kathy Bates]]) meets an elderly woman named Ninny Threadgoode ([[Jessica Tandy]]) in a nursing home waiting room. Ninny tells her the story of the now-abandoned town of Whistle Stop, [[Alabama]], and the people that lived there - specifically the tale of the relationship between Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison, the two women that ran the Whistle Stop Cafe. As the story of Idgie and Ruth (and a missing person) develops, Evelyn Couch finds herself being empowered by the stories of the strong-willed Idgie and the fiercely loyal and independent Ruth. She also finds a true best friend in Ninny.

Helmets are common in the [[military]], [[construction]], [[mining]] and some sports, including [[American football]], [[baseball]], [[ice hockey]] and [[rock climbing]]. [[Motorcycle helmet]]s and [[bicycle helmet]]s are compulsory headgear in some jurisdictions; in the [[United Kingdom]] only [[Sikh]]s are allowed to ride [[motorcycle]]s without wearing motorcycle helmets.

'''Expanded information'''

== Helmets' original military usage and symbolism ==

The action takes place in Alabama. The heroine, Evelyn Couch, is a housewife. Evelyn is unhappy with her life and her marriage and her husband Ed appears to not be interested in her any more. Their son Cal is grown and is "busy with his own life." She has a lot of problems including thinking very lowy of herself. She and Ed are visiting his aunt in a nursing home and there in a waiting room she meets an old but very nice woman - Ninny Threadgoode.

Helmets are among the most ancient forms of combat protection, and are known to have been worn by [[ancient Greeks]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], throughout the [[Middle Ages]], and up to the end of the 1600s by many combatants. At that time they were purely military equipment, protecting the head from cutting blows with [[sword]]s, flying [[arrow]]s, and low velocity musketry. They were initially constructed from [[leather]], but soon came to be made entirely from forged [[steel]] after about 950A.D. Military use of helmets declined after 1670, and rifled [[firearms]], after 1700, ended their use by foot soldiers. 18th century cavalry units often wore steel body cuirasses, and frequently wore metal skull protectors under their hats, called "secrets".

Ninny tells her stories about the life of two women she used to know. The heroines of her story are Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison. Together they ran the Whistle Stop Cafe in Ninny's small Alabama home town. The film is named “Fried Green Tomatoes” because it is a feature dish at the cafe. From Ninny’s recollections Evelyn knows that Ruth loved Idgie’s brother who was killed in a railway accident. Then follows the story of the relationship between Ruth and Idgie.

The Napoleonic era saw the re-introduction of ornate cavalry helmets, for cuirassiers and dragoons in some armies, which continued in use until the first year of WWI. However, with [[World War I]], the use of heavy [[artillery]], the steel helmet made a quick comeback for foot soldiers. In the [[20th Century]] it offered protection for the head from [[shrapnel]] and spent or glancing bullets. The use of protective helmets by millions of fighting men in the two world wars, increased awareness of "hard hat" protection. By the 1950s hundreds of new applications for helmets were found. The helmet offered, an unexpected advantage, [[symbolism]].

It signifies that, like a soldier, the wearer is someone qualified to do something. You put on a "hard hat" to enter a major construction project, or an oil refinery. Clearly, in modern times, the helmet, its symbolism, and the real protection it offers, has spread far wider than the battlefield.

Ruth and Idgie’s story is about their life after Buddy's death. Idgie helps Ruth to become free from her abusive husband. These two strong women work together to raise Ruth's son. He loses an arm in a railway accident. It is a very touching story of friendship and love, as well as courage and self-sacrifice.

Today's military are using some of the best ballistic helmets made of Kevlar. This means that the helmet has excellent bullet and fragmentation stopping power. Some helmets also have good non-ballistic protective qualities, many do not. Non-ballistic injuries result from blasts, motor vehicle accidents, and falls. Operation Helmet is a charity that gives non-ballistic upgrade kits to the troops.

The recollections of Ninny greatly influences Evelyn. First she is inspired by the strength and strong-will of these two independent women, and Evelyn’s life changes for the better. Second, she finds a true best friend in Ninny. Evelyn invites Ninny to live with her after Ninny's house in Whistle Stop is destroyed.

== Helmets' function and structure ==

The ending leads you to believe that Ninny is in fact Idgie herself, but her statements during the film do not support this.

Despite various designs and requirements, helmets always protect the user's head through a mechanical energy absorption process. Therefor their structure and protective capacity are altered in high energy impacts. Beside their energy absorption capability, their volume and weight are also important issues since higher volume and weight increase the injury risk for the user's head and neck.

==Differences between the film and novel==

Classical helmets from the ancient Greeks to modern day treat the head uniformely and are currently tested on rigid headforms. Anatomical helmets adapted to the inner head structure were invented by [[neurosurgery|neurosurgeons]] at the end of the 20th century. Since the materials are disposed according to the anatomical structure of the [[head]], they are smaller and lighter than the classical helmets.

The film version does not present the lesbian romance between the two central characters, making it appear, to viewers who had not read the book, that Idgie and Ruth were merely best friends. The [[DVD]] edition of the film has an audio commentary with the director acknowledging this and pointing out that a scene between the two women engaging in a food fight was intended to be seen as symbolic love-making.

The character [[Artis O. Peavey]], who was a favorite of many in the novel, did not merit an appearance. Additionally, in the novel every important character has his or her own backstory, but many of these were eliminated in the film version.

<gallery>

Image: closed helmet.jpg|1500s helmet in forged steel (compatible Anachrome 3D).

Image:Casque 501590 fh000009.jpg|Back of a [[SPECTRA helmet]] currently used in the [[Military of France|French Military]]

Image:GordonCooperHelmetNasa.jpg|[[Gordon Cooper]] in Helmet and Pressure Suit

Image:PithHelmetTrumann.jpg|[[Pith helmet]] of [[Harry S. Truman]]

Image:Bicyclinghelmet.saa.jpeg|A [[bicycle helmet]]

Image:Climbinghelmet.saa.jpeg|A helmet used for rock climbing

Image:Modern_day_Football_helmet.jpg|An [[American football]] helmet

Image:Helmet.jpg|A helmet for riding horses ([[Riding helmet]]).

</gallery>

In the novel, Evelyn tries, unsuccessfully, to lose weight on her own several times and, eventually, resorts to going to a weight loss spa. In the film, Evelyn is able to control her dietary habits and maintain a regular exercise regimen on her own.

Helmets used for different purposes differ greatly in their design. For example, a [[bicycle helmet]] would chiefly be required to protect against blunt impact forces. A helmet designed for rock climbing, however, would need to protect against objects (e.g., small rocks and [[climbing equipment]]) falling from above. Consequently, bicycling and rock climbing helmets have little resemblance to each other. Practical concerns also dictate helmet design. A bicycling helmet would preferably be aerodynamic in shape and probably well ventilated, while a rock climbing helmet would be lightweight and with a minimum of bulk to reduce any detrimental effect on the climber's technique.

In the novel, Ninny passes away while Evelyn is visiting a weight loss spa. However, in the film, Ninny leaves the nursing home and ends up going to live with Evelyn and Ed in their home.

[[Goggles]], face guards and [[ear plug]]s are other forms of [[protective headgear]]. [[Hard hat]]s are typically preferred in modern times for construction workers. Helmets are often used by [[riot police]].

The novel's version of Evelyn is somewhat darker than her film portrayal. In the novel, Evelyn is extremely depressed over her weight and how her life has turned to the point of considering suicide. While her unhappiness with her marriage and weight are stated in the film, the degree of seriousness is much lighter than in the novel.

==Heraldry==

As the coat of arms was originally designed to distinguish combatants on the battlefield or in a tournament, even while covered in armour, it is not surprising that heraldic elements were often also used for the decoration of knightly helmets, while it was also possible to use different elements then on the shield, but equally standardized.

The passage of time in the novel and the film is portrayed differently. In the novel, the events of the story are stretched and explored just after the ending of [[World War I]] up to the late 1980's. In the film, most of the story takes place between 1919 and the late 1930's.

Furthermore, it became common to use a helmet (or some other headgear, e.g. a crown) as part of the coat of arms, above the shield, a practice maintained long after her use in reality was ended by military technology and the demise of jousting.

In some systems, the rank of the bearer was reflected in the model of the emblematic helmet, e.g. the metal and the number of bars in the visor, as in France. Anyway, the rank can be reflected by a [[coronet]] or [[wreath]] placed on the helmet (often in stead of directly above the shield).

In the novel, Idgie and Big George are placed on trial for the murder of Frank Bennett years after Ruth has passed away. In the film, the trial takes place less than a year before Ruth's death in which she testifies on Idgie's behalf.

==External links==

{{commons|Helmet}}

*[http://www.bios-pro.com/en/ Anatomical helmets]

* http://secure.specialtydefense.com/images/items/DK%205%20Riot%20Faceshield%201.jpg

* http://www.phototour.minneapolis.mn.us/pics/2749.jpg

* http://policehelmets.homestead.com/files/MET_Riot_Helmet.jpg

* http://www.militariabcn.com/fotos/fcas/ddrriot.JPG

==Box office==

[[Category:Helmets|*]]

The film grossed a total of $82,418,501 in the United States alone, and took in $37,000,000 outside the U.S., bringing the total to $119,418,501 worldwide [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=friedgreentomatoes.htm].

[[Category:Medieval helmets]]

[[Category:Personal armor]]

[[Category:Sporting goods]]

[[Category:Military uniforms]]

[[Category:Ancient Roman legionary equipment]]

[[Category:Headgear]]

==Awards==

[[da:Hjelm (hovedbeklædning)]]

[[Image:Dvd fried green tomatoes.jpg|thumb|130px|right|DVD cover]]

[[de:Helm]]

The movie was nominated for [[Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Actress in a Supporting Role]] (Jessica Tandy) and for [[Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay|Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium]] (Fannie Flagg and Carol Sobieski).

[[et:Kiiver]]

[[eo:Kasko]]

==The Café==

[[fr:Casque]]

The "Whistle Stop Café" is loosely based on a real-life restaurant, the Irondale Café in [[Irondale, Alabama]]. The restaurant is still very much in operation, and is something of a local tourist attraction, thanks to the novel and movie. It is famous for its [[Fried green tomatoes (food)|fried green tomatoes]], and is located adjacent to the main line of the [[Norfolk Southern Railroad]] (formerly [[Southern Railway (US)|Southern Railway]]) and very near one of the line's large [[classification yard]]s.

[[he:קסדה]]

[[id:Helm]]

Irondale is a suburb of [[Birmingham, Alabama]], Flagg's birthplace. After the film became a hit, the set used as the Whistle Stop Café, on ___location in [[Juliette, Georgia]], was converted into a real restaurant, and is still a tourist attraction.

[[io:Kasko]]

[[it:Elmo]]

A second Whistle Stop Café ___location can now be found on Houston Rd in [[Macon, Georgia]].

[[nl:Helm (hoofddeksel)]]

A third Whistle Stop Cafe can can be found in downtown Kennesaw in Georgia.

[[ja:ヘルメット]]

[[no:Hjelm]]

==External link==

[[pl:Hełm]]

*{{imdb title|id=0101921|title=Fried Green Tomatoes}}

[[pt:Capacete]]

*[http://fgobsession.ravenwolfprods.com Fried Green Obsession]

[[sv:Hjälm]]

[[Category:1991 films|Fried Green Tomatoes]]

[[Category:American films|Fried Green Tomatoes]]

[[Category:Comedy-drama films|Fried Green Tomatoes]]

[[Category:English-language films|Fried Green Tomatoes]]

[[Category:Feminist films|Fried Green Tomatoes]]

[[Category:Films based on fiction books|Fried Green Tomatoes]]

[[Category:LGBT-related films|Fried Green Tomatoes]]

[[Category:Period films|Fried Green Tomatoes]]

[[de:Grüne Tomaten]]

[[sv:Stekta gröna tomater på Whistle Stop Café]]

[[ru:Жареные зелёные помидоры (фильм)]]

[[it:Pomodori verdi fritti]]