About the movie

Past and present form a whole, as Jessica Tandy’s character tells Kathy Bates the story of the Whistlestop Café, maintained by two young, independent women (ably performed by Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker) who came up for equal rights in a time when and place where racism was the order of the day. Nicely entertaining, the flashbacks in particular, which luckily take up most of the movie.

Starring Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary-Louise Parker, Mary Stuart Masterson, Cicely Tyson and Chris O'Donnell.
Produced by Jon Avnet and Jordan Kerner.
Directed by Jon Avnet.

About the music

The music on this CD is epic, romantic and full of lush melodies. Therefore, if one has to make a comparison with other Newman-scores, one is more likely to end up putting Fried Green Tomatoes next to Little Women and How to Make an American Quilt than to The Rapture or Unstrung Heroes. The similarities between Newman's score for this movie and for those other two women-pictures are striking. While Little Women doesn't have the soul-like melodies of Fried Green Tomatoes and Fried Green Tomatoes in its turn lacks the pastoral Americana-feeling of Little Women, the three scores all have one thing in common: a tender, soft and very romantic main theme. Besides some really inspired writing for strings and woodwinds, this score features the vocal qualities of Marion Williams. Two traditional soul-melodies are included on this disc, the energetic Didn't It Rain and the breathtaking anthem A Charge To Keep I Have. Newman also uses Williams's sensual voice in tracks like Ghost Train and Night Baseball. As said, this score is a stunning mix of Newman's talent for melody and the movie's soul-like background. Regarded as one of Newman's best scores, this CD offers some of the most beautiful movie music around. Don't miss it for the world.

The soundtrack

Street date: June 1992.
Availability: out of print.

At the time of the movie's release, in December 1991, MCA released a CD with songs and two tracks by Thomas Newman. Click here for more information about this album.

Thomas Newman talks about his score in the documentary on Fried Green Tomatoes; the 62-minute program, found in Universal's "Collector's Edition" DVD-release, includes an extended segment about the music, with Newman and director Jon Avnet discussing the score's genesis and usage in the film.

This score received a BMI Film Music Award in 1993.

Track listing

1. Ghost Train - Main Title* (3:09)
2. Whistle Stop, Ala. (1:16)
3. Marion Williams: A Charge To Keep I Have (2:34)
4. Xmas In Hooverville (1:50)
5. The Treehouse (1:11)
6. Night Baseball* (0:57)
7. Whither Thou Goest I Will Go (1:53)
8. Buddy Threadgoode (1:19)
9. Marion Williams: Didn't It Rain (2:53)
10. The Bee Chamber (1:59)
11. Wallpaper (1:30)
12. The Smell Of Coffee (1:12)
13. Visiting Ruth (1:44)
14. Miss Otis Died (1:27)
15. Ralph Grierson: The Town Follies (0:45)
16. Klansmen (2:04)
17. Smokey Lonesome (1:22)
18. Big George* (1:50)
19. Night Baseball - Mandolin Reprise (1:01)
20. The Whistle Stop Cafe (1:00)