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Sweet Magnolias Season 4 was a fantastic chapter for Annie Sullivan (Anneliese Judge).

Annie and Ty became an official couple, and Annie and her friends started the Mini-Magnolias, their own tradition with milkshake nights.

Besides that, Annie became more passionate about photography and got accepted into college. Viewers got to know more sides of Annie than ever before.

(Courtesy of Netflix)

Besides acting, Anneliese Judge hosts a book club on her Instagram. It isn’t your typical book club. It’s a community focused on discovering new stories and perspectives at your own pace! They highlight a must-read book with exclusive interviews and lively discussions each month.

They’re reading Sweet Magnolias: Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods this February.

Anneliese and her friends encourage viewers to join them for an exclusive chat with Miss Woods and Sheryl Anderson, the showrunner behind the Sweet Magnolias series.

TV Fanatic recently chatted with Anneliese Judge,...

Sweet Magnolias Season 4 finally pulls through by bringing Annie Sullivan and Ty Townsend together, but many are wondering if their relationship will last.

Annie and Ty have been longtime childhood friends after growing up with their parents, Dana Sue and Maddie, as best friends. 

Throughout the first three seasons of the Netflix drama, it is clear that Ty has feelings for Annie, but he is unsure if she will reciprocate them, so he decides to hide them from her. 

Read full article on The Direct.

If you haven’t binged the current season, avoid the spoilers ahead!

Sweet Magnolias Season 4 was largely Maddie and Cal’s season, but it featured enough other core couples where all fan bases should be happy.

After multiple seasons of drama, needless love triangles, and antagonists, it was refreshing to return to the heart of the series: deep friendships, family, romance, and a sense of community.

This season tempered much of the drama and focused more on rebuilding relationships and Serenity after a literal and financial storm hit.

(Courtesy of Netflix/© 2025 Netflix, Inc)

We discuss the entire season, highlighting the key points, so be cautious if you avoid spoilers.

Sweet Magnolias Season 4 Finally Gave Maddie & Cal the Attention They Deserve

Sweet Magnolias Season 4 answered our prayers and gave Maddie and Cal the attention they deserved.

For a while, it felt like the characters got lost in the massive cast ensemble,...

Your patience is being rewarded. It’s time for more margarita nights in Serenity. Sweet Magnolias Season 4 will be released on Netflix on February 6.

Sweet Magnolias’s third Season was the weakest, so Netflix must improve the narrative. Hopefully, it listened to the fans and repaired several relationships.

This trailer gives us some hope.

(Netflix/Screenshot)

We wish they had released the trailer earlier since it looks so hopeful, and we love going home to Serenity.

Good promotion is essential, and Sweet Magnolias still has a devoted fan base who wants to tune in.

Sweet Magnolias Season 4 Appears Community Focused (Netflix/Screenshot)

The streamer finally released the Sweet Magnolias Season 4 trailer as it follows lifelong best friends Maddie Joanna Garcia Swisher) Helen (Heather Headley) and Dana Sue (Brooke Elliot) as they navigate the next of their lives.

The women’s friendship was always the strongest part of the series, so...

Sweet Magnolias Season 4 Updates ( Photo Credit – Netflix )

Friendship, romance, career, and family sum up Sweet Magnolias. The romantic drama series has received a positive response and a good chunk of viewership ever since it first premiered in May 2020. Three seasons in and a fourth one on the way, the show only gets better over time. Here is everything we know about the upcoming season of the successful series.

Sweet Magnolias Season 4: Release Date

Season 4 of Sweet Magnolias will premiere on Netflix on February 6, 2025. Based in Serenity, South Carolina, the show focuses on themes of bonding, secrets, childhood, complex equations, and small-town romance. The show is an adaptation of the Sweet Magnolias novels by author Sherryl Woods.

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Sweet Magnolias Season 4: Episode Titles

While the order of all the episodes hasn’t been confirmed, the titles are out for the fans to discuss,...

Superman & Lois star Tyler Hoechlin's debut acting role will soon be available to watch on Prime Video. Road to Perdition, the 2002 film adapted from the DC Comics of the same name, is a crime drama with an all-star cast.

Tom Hanks stars as Michael Sullivan in Road to Perdition, with Hoechlin playing the role of his son, Michael Sullivan Jr. The film is set in 1931 during the Great Depression, as a mob enforcer and his son get vengeance against another mobster who murdered the rest of their family. Hanks' character works for the Irish mob boss John Rooney (played by Paul Newman in his final live-action theatrical film role). Rooney raised Sullivan Sr. as his own child after he was orphaned, causing Rooney's own biological son Connor (Daniel Craig) to be jealous of the bond the two share.

Related Gladiator Fans Have Even More to Look Forward to...

A life without Sweet Magnolias would be depressing. We all need feel-good TV shows, and watching the happenings in Serenity fills us with joy, tears, and laughter.

Fortunately, three seasons are available on Netflix, following the drama of leading ladies Maddie Townsend, Dana Sue Sullivan, and Helen Decatur.

Season four is also coming; we can confirm that filming has begun. Read on for everything we know about Sweet Magnolias Season 4, including the release date, possible spoilers, and more.

Has Sweet Magnolias Been Renewed?

Yes, Netflix renewed Sweet Magnolias for Season 4 in October 2023. Even though it had only been three months since it aired, the fanbase had started getting worried because Sweet Magnolias Season 3 didn’t end on a major cliffhanger.

Ending on a cliffhanger sometimes speeds up the renewal process, but there were two months between the air date and the renewal decision for the other seasons.

Sweet Magnolias has...

Sweet Magnolias Season 4 is a go at Netflix!

The streaming service confirmed Thursday that a new season is officially in the works.

All three leading ladies -- JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott, and Heather Headley will return for another season since there would be no Magnolias without them.

What is Sweet Magnolias About?

Sweet Magnolias follows lifelong best friends Maddie (Swisher), Dana Sue (Elliott), and Helen (Headley) as they juggle relationships, family, and careers in the charming small town of Serenity, Sc.

Sweet Magnolias is based on the popular series of novels published by Mira Books, an imprint of Harlequin, by New York Times best-selling author Sherryl Woods, who also serves as an executive producer on the series.

Sheryl J. Anderson (Ties That Bind) returns as showrunner and executive producer. Dan Paulson (Chesapeake Shores), whose Daniel L. Paulson Productions is producing, also returns as an executive producer.

Sweet Magnolias is...

“Sweet Magnolias” will return for a fourth season on Netflix, the streamer announced Thursday.

The series, whose third installment was released in July, has scored global success on the streamer, with its first three seasons appearing on Netflix’s global top 10 list for 10 weeks across more than 60 countries. With the new installment’s premiere earlier this summer, “Sweet Magnolias” Season 3 debuted in the top spot on the most-watched TV list as it logged 4.6 million views in its first week on the streamer.

Sheryl J. Anderson will return as showrunner and executive producer for the fourth season alongside Dan Paulson, who returns as an EP for Daniel L. Paulson Productions. The fourth season will consist of 10 50-minute episodes, per the streamer.

Based on the series of novels by Sherryl Woods, who also serves as an executive producer on the show, the show “follows lifelong best friends Maddie, Dana Sue and Helen as they juggle relationships,...

Lucy Hale (who played Aria) is happy that her character Aria is mentioned in the Pretty Little Liars reboot and supports the new series. She would be open to making a cameo in upcoming episodes of the reboot and thinks it would be fun. The upcoming episodes of Pretty Little Liars: Summer School will feature the return of Annabeth Gish as Dr. Annie Sullivan and will have an expanded cast.

Lucy Hale, a star of the original Pretty Little Liars, reacts to the reboot's mention of her character. Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, a more overtly horror take on the franchise, debuted on the Max streaming service in July 2022. The new series significantly ties back to the original in the Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin season 1 finale, as Imogen (Bailee Madison) tells Tabitha (Chandler Kinney) that a couple from Rosewood have adopted her baby. She says, happily, that they quite...

The following contains spoilers for Sweet Magnolias Season 3, which debuted Thursday, July 20, on Netflix.

Netflix's Sweet Magnolias Season 3 recently aired on the streaming platform, and fans are already wondering what is next for the Magnolias. This season brought another cute, romantic chapter to the small-town narrative. However, it also added some fresh twists to the show, such as slowing down the romance.

One of the most shocking aspects of Sweet Magnolias Season 3 was the rift between Helen, Maddie, and Dana Sue following a "Margaritas Night" gone wrong. Thankfully, this was only a temporary split for the beloved Magnolia women. There was some heartbreak, new love, and escalating drama in this season. While some narratives were left at a good point, other storylines set up for impending changes in Season 4.

Related: Warner Bros. Discovery Negotiates With Netflix to License Older HBO Shows

Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Features Unfinished Family Business

Family drama...

There’s nothing like friendship.

On Friday, Netflix debuted the official trailer for “Sweet Magnolias” season 3, the drama about three lifelong friends in South Carolina helping each other through life’s struggles.

Read More: JoAnna Garcia Swisher Says Her ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Co-Stars Became Her Support System Following The Death Of Her Mother

Netflix

“Following the brawl at Sullivan’s, Maddie wrestles with the best way to help Cal and works to clear her own emotional path,” the official description reads. “Helen faces difficult decisions about the men in her life. And Dana Sue searches for a way to use Miss Frances’ check to help the community, without upending her family.”

Photo courtesy of Netflix

The synopsis continues, “The identity of the tire slasher sends shockwaves through Serenity, the recall causes unexpected consequences, and there are romantic surprises in every generation. Throughout the season, the ladies tackle these problems — and all...

Life in Serenity has never been more dramatic.

Netflix dropped the first trailer for Sweet Magnolia's Season 3.

The trailer featured drama, rivalries, and romance for our favorite Magnolias, which the fans have been waiting for since February 2022.

Cal is dealing with the aftermath of punching Stu and dealing with his anger issues in Sweet Magnolias Season 3.

Like Dana Sue was torn between two men in Sweet Magnolias Season 2, Helen wavers between Ryan's proposal and her connection with Erik this time.

Dana Sue must deal with an old rival who despises her and how well her life has turned out. Any guesses on who this woman is?

The trailer features many juicy details, including a wedding. Which of our lucky ladies do you think it'll be?

The official synopsis of Sweet Magnolias Season 3 reads as follows:

Following the brawl at Sullivan's, Maddie wrestles with the best way to help Cal...

Sweet Magnolias is making a big change ahead of its return on Netflix.

Deadline broke the news this week that the role of Katie Townsend would be recast.

The publication revealed that Ella Grace Helton will take on the role for Sweet Magnolias Season 3 -- and beyond.

Helton takes over for departing star Bianca Berry Tarantino.

Scheduling conflicts triggered producers to make the move, with the departing star set to star opposite Natalie Portman on the Apple TV+ drama Lady in the Lake.

As previously reported, Netflix will welcome viewers back to Serenity on Thursday, July 20, with all ten episodes available on that date.

The streaming service has been switching things up recently, with several of its most popular series having their seasons divided into two parts.

You're probably breathing out a huge sigh of relief right about now.

Getting on board with such a change is difficult if you've...

Kids, they change so much from day to day: Sweet Magnolias has recast the role of Maddie Townsend and Bill Townsend’s daughter in the upcoming third season, our sister site Deadline reports.

Bianca Berry Tarantino as Katie Townsend Courtesy of Netflix

Ella Grace Helton (United We Fall) will take over for Bianca Berry Tarantino as Katie Townsend, the young child of Joanna Garcia Swisher and Chris Klein’s divorced characters. Tarantino — who recurred for the first two seasons — had to exit the Netflix drama due to scheduling conflicts and can next be seen in the Apple TV+ limited series Lady In the Lake,...

Netflix has set July 20 for the Season 3 premiere of Sweet Magnolias, and has released some first-look photos of the upcoming 10-episode season (see above and below).

Based on Sherryl Woods’ popular series of novels, Sweet Magnolias follows lifelong best friends Maddie (Joanna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott) and Helen (Heather Headley), who are born and raised in Serenity, Sc, a small southern town where everybody knows everybody and everybody knows everybody’s business.

Season 2 ended with several cliffhangers. Ronnie and Dana Sue reunited, but mystery-woman Kathy might mean trouble for Dana Sue in the upcoming season. The season also ended with the death of Miss Frances (Cindy Karr) and Maddie, with Helen and Dana Sue in mourning over her passing.

In Season 3, following the brawl at Sullivan’s, Maddie wrestles with the best way to help Cal (Justin Bruening) and works to clear her own emotional path. Helen faces...

We have some excellent news for fans of Sweet Magnolias.

Sweet Magnolias Season 3 will premiere on Netflix this summer.

TV Line reports that all ten episodes of the third season will be available to stream on Thursday, July 20.

The wait for fresh episodes has been excruciating after Sweet Magnolias Season 2 wrapped in February 2022 with many twists.

The series has a knack for leaving us wanting more, and thankfully, we'll get some answers very soon.

Sweet Magnolias follows lifelong best friends Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), and Helen (Heather Headley) as they juggle relationships, family, and careers in the charming small town of Serenity, Sc.

Sweet Magnolias is based on the popular series of novels published by Mira Books, an imprint of Harlequin, by New York Times best-selling author Sherryl Woods, who also serves as an executive producer on the series.

Sheryl J. Anderson (Ties That Bind) returns...

It was an epic night for the Academy, with now-classic films and performances in competition, an anomaly between Best Picture and Best Director nominations, a young actress redefining the acting categories and the culmination of a decades-long feud. Let’s flashback to when first-time host Frank Sinatra guided the 35th Academy Awards ceremony on April 8, 1963.

In the years of the Best Picture category being limited to five films, the Best Director category typically fell in line with those productions, with maybe one variation. In 1963, only two directors from Best Picture nominees received bids; unsurprisingly, those two films also had the most nominations and the most wins. David Lean‘s sprawling epic biopic “Lawrence of Arabia” led the pack, coming into the night with ten bids and leaving with seven statues, including Best Picture and Lean’s second career win for Best Director. It has the unusual distinction of being the...

Netflix is putting down roots in Serenity, renewing Sweet Magnolias for a third season, TVLine has confirmed.

Based on Sherryl Woods’ popular book series, Sweet Magnolias tells the story of three childhood best friends — lawyer Helen, chef Dana Sue and full-time divorcée Maddie — who team up to fulfill their lifelong dream of opening a spa in their hometown of Serenity, S.C.

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The show’s 10-episode second season dropped in February, shaking...

Life in Serenity will be tougher than ever on Sweet Magnolias Season 2!

Netflix on Friday dropped the first footage of the long-in-the-works new batch of episodes.

The trailer delves deep into what our favorite characters are up to, which means good and bad news for fans.

Maddie will grow closer to Cal on Sweet Magnolias Season 2, which is always a good thing.

Dana Sue is also questioning whether Jeremy or Ronnie is the best man for her.

Yes, the romance will be on full display.

It reads as follows:

As Season 2 opens, Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue learn who is in the car.

But that's just the first of many surprises that come out of Prom Night -- surprises that reshape relationships all over town.

Friendships flounder.

Old loves end and new loves begin. Long-hidden secrets disrupt jobs, change lives, and shift the balance of power in Serenity.

Everyone is affected.

Life in Serenity is looking anything but serene these days. Netflix on Friday released the official trailer for Sweet Magnolias‘ upcoming second season, and the ladies are drowning in drama — and margaritas, thankfully.

The two-minute preview of the new season offers a taste of what’s in store for Maddie, Dana Sue and Heather, including: Maddie growing closer to Cal, while still finding time to put Bill in his place (multitasking at its finest!); Dana Sue struggling to choose between Jeremy and Ronnie (a win-win if you ask us); and Helen coming to terms with her own feelings for Erik.

It's a great week to be a fan of Netflix's Sweet Magnolias.

We learned the show would premiere its second season on February 4, 2022 earlier this week, and now we have some photos.

Hooray, right?

Yes, the streamer released three photos, one for each main character, and they're our biggest glimpse at Sweet Magnolias Season 2 yet.

The best part of the trio of photos?

Our trio at the wheel of the show are all in happy places, likely meaning that there will be a lot of good things to come for them on the second season.

Now, you may also be wondering what's about to go down on the second season, and thankfully, Netflix has dropped a spoilery synopsis.

It reads as follows:

As Season 2 opens, Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue learn who is in the car.

But that's just the first of many surprises that come out of Prom Night...

It's been a long hiatus, but we finally have a premiere date for Sweet Magnolias Season 2!

Netflix has finally revealed the show will be back on the air in 2022, according to TV Line.

As for a specific date, it's below.

Friday, February 4, is the lucky date.

But how many episodes are we getting?

Sweet Magnolias Season 2 will consist of 10 new episodes, meaning we'll have a lot of time to check in with our favorite ladies.

Now, you may be wondering what's on tap for the coming season, and thankfully, Netflix has dropped the synopsis.

“As Season 2 opens, Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue learn who is in the car," the streamer teases.

"But that’s just the first of many surprises that come out of Prom Night — surprises that reshape relationships all over town. Friendships flounder."

"Old loves end and new loves begin."

"Long-hidden secrets disrupt jobs, change lives, and shift...

When you grow up disabled, the names of other disabled or Deaf icons are always running through your mind — Helen Keller being one of the mainstays. Whether one is actually deaf or not, any perceived limitation causes someone to bring up the author and disability rights advocate, for good and ill.

My earliest memories of Keller come from the place I’ve loved and chosen to cover for my career: the movie screen. Patty Duke’s Oscar nominated performance in 1962’s “The Miracle Worker” wasn’t the first movie about a disabled person I saw, but it was the most ubiquitous.

It’s an image that has become ingrained in nearly all discussions of disability representation on-screen. Despite the fact that 1 in 4 people in the United States have some form of disability, they only make up about 3.1 percent of on-screen portrayals, which is actually a 10-year high according to GLAAD.

Michael Constantine, who played Gus, the father of Nia Vardalos’ Toula Portokalos in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” by far the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time, died on Aug. 31. He was 94.

Constantine’s agent confirmed the news of his death to Variety. He died of natural causes.

“My Big Fat Greek Wedding” scored a domestic gross of $241 million in 2002; No. 2 on the list is “What Women Want” with $183 million. The film drew a SAG Awards nomination for outstanding performance by the cast of a theatrical motion picture.

As Roger Ebert recounted, Constantine’s Gus “specializes in finding the Greek root for any word (even ‘kimono’), and delivers a toast in which he explains that ‘Miller’ goes back to the Greek word for apple, and ‘Portokalos’ is based on the Greek word for oranges, and so, he concludes triumphantly, ‘In the end, we’re all fruits.’ ”

Variety said: “Constantine fares...

The SNL star said he lost his sense of smell, one of the virus’ symptoms

Did Michael Che catch Covid-19 last year? We don’t know, but but the “SNL” co-head writer said in his new HBO Max sketch series “That Damn Michael Che” that at some point, he experienced symptoms that sure sound like Covid-19.

“I remember I got in the shower and I couldn’t smell my shampoo and I was like, what the f— is going on,” Che said during an aside in the show’s fifth episode, “Well Played, Crackers.”

“I started smelling everything,” Che continued. “Remember that scene in the Hellen Keller story when she’s walking around (going) ‘water, water?’ That was me with covid symptoms, smelling spices and peppers…. Is this just me, no one else went through this?”

The movie Che’s talking about is the 1962 classic “The Miracle Worker,” starring Patty Duke,...

Three key characters are making themselves comfortable in Serenity, S.C.

Jamie Lynn Spears (as Noreen Fitzgibbons), Dion Johnstone (as Erik Whitley) and Brandon Quinn (as Ronnie Sullivan) have all been promoted to series regulars for Sweet Magnolias‘ upcoming second season, our sister site Deadline reports.

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Based...

In the past decade or so, Rita Moreno has received multiple lifetime achievement awards, and would probably receive even more — except that she’s too busy working.

The actress, who turns 89 on Dec. 11, is one of the few people to win an Egot: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. She’s also received the 2004 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the 2009 National Medal of Arts, 2013 SAG Life Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors in 2015, and a Peabody Career Achievement in 2019, to name a few.

But she has no intention of resting on her laurels. In “Rita Moreno: A Memoir,” she expresses frustration at not working more. “I still feel that way!” she told Variety shortly after the book came out in 2013. She is always busy: If it’s not film, “I do theater, I do television, concerts, I do talks, lectures, I do a lot of fundraising as a performer.”

Her 70-year career covers the spectrum of entertainment,...

It looks like there will be a long wait before fans of Sweet Magnolias are greeted with fresh episodes.

The series emerged as an instant hit with fans upon its launch earlier this, and a second season was ordered quickly.

This time last year, production was almost complete on its freshman season.

But this is no typical year, and we've had TV shows shut down production often due to the pandemic.

Unfortunately for fans of Sweet Magnolias, no scenes for Season 2 have actually been filmed, meaning that there will likely be a long wait for new episodes.

"We haven’t started shooting Season 2 yet. We want to get back to it as quickly as we can, but we are still working on the details," showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson told Parade.

"I don’t want to jinx it. We know it’s hard to wait, but we appreciate everyone’s patience,...

Netflix does not have the best track record when it comes to keeping shows around.

And given that it's been over two months since Sweet Magnolias dropped, fans have been worried about its future.

Thankfully, Netflix confirmed today that a second season of the TV adaptation of Sweet Magnolias is officially in the works.

Sweet Magnolias follows three South Carolina women, best friends since childhood, as they shepherd each other through the complexities of romance, career, and family.

The series stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Reba) as recent divorcée Maddie Townsend, Heather Headley (Chicago Med) as star attorney Helen Decatur, Brooke Elliott (Drop Dead Diva) as chef Dana Sue Sullivan, Justin Bruening (Grey’s Anatomy) as Maddie’s boyfriend Cal Maddox.

The cast also includes Chris Klein (The Flash) as Maddie’s ex-husband Bill Townsend, Logan Allen as Maddie’s younger son Kyle Townsend, Carson Rowland (American Housewife) as Maddie’s older son Tyler Townsend,...

Netflix is putting down roots in Serenity with a Season 2 renewal of Sweet Magnolias, TVLine has learned.

Based on Sherryl Woods’ Sweet Magnolias book series, the feel-good drama tells the story of three best friends — a chef, a lawyer and a recent divorcée — who decide to fulfill their childhood dream of opening a spa in their small South Carolina town.

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The series’ 10-episode first season premiered on Tuesday, May 19, culminating with a game-changing (and...

Since 2000, slightly more than half the lead actor and actress Oscars (21 out of 38) have gone to portrayals of real-life individuals. It’s a bias that dates back to George Arliss and “Disraeli” (1929), although award-winning impersonations have become increasingly stark, even critical, in the latter years.

Notwithstanding Oliver Cromwell’s plea to “Paint me as I am, warts and all!,” early Hollywood awarded acting honors to a near-dozen respectful, even adoring bio-pics. Arliss turned the moody, depressive Disraeli into a matchmaking Dutch uncle. Charles Laughton went cute, not cruel, as Henry VIII. Paul Muni sidestepped Louis Pasteur’s alleged data tampering, just as James Cagney’s George M. Cohan in 1942 ignored the opposition to Actors’ Equity that earned Cohan actors’ enmity.

Honoring real-life subjects virtually dried up for the next 40 years, with the rare exceptions going easy on the likes of George Patton, Thomas More, Fanny Brice and Annie Sullivan. (Who...

Remember those DVD collections organized by star, that combined favorite actors’ big movies with good titles you might not have seen? Shout Select has gone that route in honor of the great Anne Bancroft, collecting eight titles in one box. They span the years 1952 to 1989 … and are sourced from multiple studios and disc boutiques. Eight, count ’em 8 — no dog-eared transfers, and one is even a fully-appointed Criterion disc. We’re told that Mel Brooks applied some of the clout that made this happen.

The Anne Bancroft Collection

Blu-ray

Shout Select

1952 – 1987 / B&w + Color / Street Date December 10, 2019 / 79.97

Starring: Anne Bancroft, Marilyn Monroe, Richard Widmark; Patty Duke; Peter Finch; Dustin Hoffman, Katherine Ross; Dom De Luise; Mel Brooks; Jane Fonda, Meg Tilly; Anthony Hopkins.

Directed by Roy Baker; Arthur Penn; Jack Clayton; Mike Nichols; Anne Bancroft; Alan Johnson; Norman Jewison; David Hugh Jones.

This Shout Select compilation disc was reportedly curated by Anne Bancroft’s husband,...

Shout! Factory has released a highly impressive Blu-ray boxed set, "The Anne Bancroft Collection" containing key films from the Oscar-winner's career. Here is the official press release:

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Los Angeles, CA – Celebrate the extraordinary film career of actress/writer/director Anne Bancroft in the first-ever collection of her most iconic performances, The Anne Bancroft Collection, on Blu-ray™ December 10th from Shout! Factory. From Annie Sullivan to Mrs. Robinson, and from Helene Hanff to Anna Bronski, this Oscar®-winning and profoundly versatile actress delivered some of the most poignant and sharply comic characters in modern film.

The collection, curated by Bancroft’s husband, the inimitable writer/director/producer Mel Brooks, includes the films Don’t Bother To Knock (1952), The Miracle Worker (1962), The Pumpkin Eater (1964), The Graduate (1967), Fatso (1980), To Be Or Not To Be (1983), and for the first time on Blu-ray™, Agnes Of God (1985), and...

“A Mesmerizing Battle Of Wills”

By Raymond Benson

Some say the year 1939 was the “greatest year of cinema,” and, sure, there were many memorable titles released then that remain classics today. I argue, though, that 1962 was even better. Lawrence of Arabia. To Kill a Mockingbird. Dr. No. The Longest Day. The Manchurian Candidate. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The Music Man. Jules and Jim. And there was also Arthur Penn’s The Miracle Worker.

Based on the stage play by William Gibson (who also wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay), The Miracle Worker contains two of the most astonishing performances ever put on celluloid. Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke both deservedly won Oscars for their roles, respectively, as the teacher Annie Sullivan and the remarkable Helen Keller as a young girl. The pair light up the screen in intimate, physically-demanding scenes that become a mesmerizing battle of wills—which is what...

Since the supporting acting awards were introduced at the 9th Oscars in 1936, only 10 films have bragging rights to wins for both their leading ladies and a featured actress. “The Favourite” could well become the 11th to do so. Olivia Colman is locked in a tight race for Best Actress with Lady Gaga (“A Star is Born”) and Glenn Close (“The Wife”). And two past Oscar winners — Emma Stone (“La La Land”) and Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardener”) — are in strong contention for Best Supporting Actress.

As with “The Favourite,” both the first and last films to win both these Oscars were period pieces. Just two years after the academy began rewarding supporting performances, Fay Bainter reaped nominations in both categories. While she lost her Best Actress bid for “White Banners” to her “Jezebel” co-star Bette Davis, she won Best Supporting Actress for playing Davis’ on-screen nemesis.

The most recent double...

Anne Bancroft would’ve celebrated her 87th birthday on September 17. Born in 1931, the actress had a celebrated career on both the stage and screen, becoming one of the few people to win the trifecta of performance awards. In honor of her birthday, let’s take a look back at 12 of her greatest films, ranked worst to best.

Bancroft made her Broadway debut in William Gibson‘s “Two for the Seesaw,” directed by Arthur Penn. The role brought her a Tony as Best Featured Actress in a play (1958). The very next year, she re-teamed with Gibson and Penn for “The Miracle Worker,” for which she won a second Tony (Best Actress in a Play in 1959).

Following the stage success, Bancroft, Penn and Gibson adapted “The Miracle Worker” to the big screen in 1962. Recreating the role of Annie Sullivan, a teacher struggling to help the deaf and blind Helen Keller (Patty Duke) learn to communicate,...