In the two decades since its release, “Sweet Home Alabama” has gone from a rejected script to an unexpected box office hit to a beloved romantic comedy.
Reese Witherspoon was fresh off the success of “Legally Blonde” when she decided to play Melanie Carmichael, a former southern troublemaker turned New York City fashion designer.
But even in her most optimistic moments, Reese Witherspoon probably did not anticipate that collaborating with director Andy Tennant, whose previous film had performed so poorly that he was placed in “director jail,” and starring opposite an unknown leading man by the name of Josh Lucas would result in enormous success.
However, it is precisely what happened. With an opening weekend of $35,6 million, the film held the record for the biggest September opening for ten years.
Melanie travels to her Alabama birthplace to formalize her divorce from Jake (Lucas), her childhood sweetheart, so she can marry Andrew (Patrick Dempsey), the son of the mayor of New York City (Candice Bergen).
However, things become tricky as Melanie encounters Jake again.
“Sweet Home Alabama” has become a renowned rom-com classic due to the on-screen chemistry between Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas, as well as the superb supporting ensemble that included Fred Ward, Jean Smart, Melanie Lynskey, Ethan Embry, Mary Kay Place, and a very young Dakota Fanning.
Insider spoke with Tennant and Lucas to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the film’s theatrical release. Tennant and Lucas shared never-before-told stories about the film’s production, including details about the original ending that had to be reshot, the multiple slaps Lucas received from Witherspoon for a scene that was ultimately cut, and how the romantic comedy almost starred Charlize Theron.
The director of “Sweet Home Alabama” is Andy Tennant.
Photograph by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage/Getty
From being in “director prison” to receiving a reprieve because of “Legally Blonde”
Andy Tennant directed television series in the 1980s (“The Wonder Years,” “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” and “The Adventures of Brisco Country, Jr.,” respectively), before transitioning to feature films in the mid-1990s (“It Takes Two,” “Fools Rush In,” “Ever After: A Cinderella Story”). He was offered “Sweet Home Alabama” at that time.
Tennant: The script was presented to me; it was not very good. Everyone in town had ignored it. Then I moved on to create “Anna and the King” (starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat, the 1999 movie received mixed reviews and stirred up controversy when the Thai government deemed it historically inaccurate). This resulted in my placement in “director jail.” After nearly a year in the prison, “Sweet Home Alabama” came around again.
The script was just as horrible as I remembered, but I thought the concept was brilliant. In addition, I had four tiny children to feed. In the original script, I believe the fiancé of Reese’s character was a horrible jerk, but the gentleman from the South was a sexy, handsome man. This was the main insight I and my co-writer, Rick Parks, gained from the rewriting. I believe he drove stock cars. Why don’t we create a love triangle in which the two potential partners are a terrific guy and the right guy? This essentially became our North Star.
Before rewriting the film, Tennant recalled a vacation to the South, which contributed to its southern vibe.
Rick and I traveled throughout Alabama. We traveled to Aliceville and spoke with people who invited us into their porch for sweet tea. It was an enlightening encounter.
We were eating lunch when we heard explosions in the distance, and we were like, “What the hell is that?” A Civil War reenactment was taking place eight to ten miles away. Thus, while conversing with a waitress, we engaged in a lengthy discussion with some locals about how this may have sounded during the Civil War: hearing cannons not too far from where you were. Therefore, we drove out to observe the reenactment, and it was such a bizarre occurrence that we had to include it in the film.
2002 Charlize Theron.
Prior to Reese Witherspoon, Charlize Theron was in talks to play the lead.
Tennant: Charlize and her production business were the project’s original backers. They intended for Charlize to star in the film. When I collaborated with Rick on the revision, I don’t believe she was a fan, and therefore everyone split ways.
I knew Reese since I filmed a television movie with her when she was 15 years old. So we maintained contact. We would eat lunch approximately once a year. I had lunch with her just before submitting the script for “Sweet Home Alabama.” Just as we were catching up, I inquired, “What have you been up to?” She then stated: “I created a film that nobody will see. It’s absurd, but it was a lot of fun to make.” This turned out to be the film “Legally Blonde.” And when she asked what I was doing, I responded, “We just scripted a movie, but I’m not sure if it will ever be produced.” After the release of “Legally Blonde,” the studio called me and asked, “What do you think of Reese Witherspoon?” And I was like, “I have known her since she was 15 years old. She would be fantastic.” Then Reese called and said, “You will never believe it, but they sent me your script!”
“Sweet Home Alabama” was only produced because of “Legally Blonde.”
Lucas in the film Sweet Home Alabama.
Buena Vista Pictures
Josh Lucas was certain he was going to be fired before to the film’s production.
Josh Lucas began performing at age 19 and worked throughout his 20s in television, film, and even an Australian television series. In the mid-1990s, he went to New York City and began performing onstage while appearing in films such as “American Psycho” and “You Can Count on Me.” Then he auditioned for the role of Jake, the male protagonist in “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Lucas: I recall the audition so vividly because I’ve never felt more uncomfortable at an audition. I called my agent at the moment and said, “Listen, please tell them I’m really sorry, but I deserve another chance, let me go back in and do it again correctly.” And my agent informed me, “We spoke with them, and they thought you were fantastic and will bring you back.” And I was like, “What!?!”
There was never a named actor attached to play Jake, according to Tennant. It was always let’s find a good person. Josh arrived from New York, and several female producers and casting directors remarked that he was handsome, wonderful, pleasant, and had a fantastic voice. Everyone agreed, “That was simple.”
I believe that was true for Andy. My recollection is that Andy believed I was the right person to represent him, and he did so vigorously. I don’t know whether anyone else wanted me, including Disney (which released the film through its then-theatrical distribution subsidiary Buena Vista Pictures) and everyone in a position of authority. I was in no way established and lacked a substantial career to support that claim. They phoned me and said, “Disney doesn’t want you to do this film, nobody wants you to do this film but Andy, so they’re offering you nothing, so take it or leave it.” I responded, “Hell yeah, let’s take it.”
Possibly, I was the lowest-paid actor in the entire film. I am referring to every single character in the film. However, it remains one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
In certain takes, Lucas would be so serious that Tennant would call him “Ralph,” referring to actor Ralph Fiennes, to get him to relax.
Lucas: Certainly I recall that. There was a moment late in filming where we were playing pool at a pub, and I don’t remember what I did, but Andy turned to me and said, “What are you doing?” “My God, when did you become funny? Why did it take so long?”
Tennant: I’ve worked on two films with Josh, and I adore him. It is merely a stuff. Actors understand what works for them, and I needed him to relax a bit. Some of it was accurate, “Josh, the comeback This is a joke.”
“Sweet Home Alabama” features Lucas and Witherspoon.
Buena Vista Pictures
Lucas was convinced he had no rapport with Witherspoon and would be sacked.
Lucas: There was no justification for Reese’s lack of confidence in me. And I believe she had a great deal of apprehension about me and what I would bring, as she was unable to examine my previous work and comprehend why I was cast.
I was, at the very least, rather afraid. I had never undertaken a project of that magnitude before. I was somewhat uncomfortable, so this does not bode well for the individual working across from you. Consequently, I believe Andy was able to take advantage of the intensity of his job experience. We rehearsed the early scenes in the film, including Melanie’s arrival at Jake’s house with the divorce papers for him to sign. There is tension in the relationship as well as an underlying sense of love and desire.
But I was frightened I would be terminated before we even began. I truly was. I felt quite uncomfortable and that it was ineffective. That I was not employed. Andy came over to me on the second or third day and said, “Disney totally adores what you’re doing, you guys are free.” It was intriguing because there was a time when I thought, “Really? It liberated me. Andy just kept having my back.
Tennant: I believe you get the cast you deserve; Reese was coming off a great success with “Legally Blonde.” Patrick Dempsey had done movies previously, but he was the ’80s heartthrob and this was his debut as a leading man, but Josh was unknown, so if Josh was nervous, he should have seen what it was like inside my head.
Melanie Lynskey (with infant…in a bar) and Dakota Fanning in “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Buena Vista Pictures
Tennant had no idea that the line “baby in a bar” would become as famous as the film itself, but he did know that Dakota Fanning was a rising star.
Tennant: I didn’t know how funny that line would be, but Melanie [Lynskey] is wonderful and can make anything work when she portrays Jaclyn Smith and the designer.
We needed someone who resembled Reese, but Dakota was 40 when she was 10 years old. Hello, Mr. Tennant, is there anything I can do for you? she would ask. I thought, “Who are you?”
I anticipated her success due to her talent and dedication. And I believe that was her first kiss captured on tape.
In “Sweet Home Alabama,” Witherspoon and Dempsey star.
Buena Vista Pictures
The marriage proposal sequence was filmed in the actual Tiffany’s, where Tennant’s wife was once proposed to.
When Tennant and Parks submitted the rewrite, one of the studio’s key comments was that Andrew’s proposal to Melanie at the beginning of the film was not special enough.
Tennant: The studio believed the film required a stronger introduction. Therefore, I returned home and spoke with my wife, who informed me, “I was proposed to at Tiffany’s.” And I was like, “What?” In addition, she described how an ex-boyfriend had proposed there. Now, not in the manner Patrick’s character did it, which is private after-hours, but that is where the concept originated.
We shot it in New York City at the genuine Tiffany’s. We were the first film crew to shoot there since “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
Witherspoon was intended to slap Lucas at the conclusion of this scene.
Touchstone
The scenario at the coon-dog cemetery intended to conclude with Witherspoon slapping Lucas.
Melanie visits the cemetery of her elderly dog Bear during the most dramatic sequence in the film. She begins to weep, but for reasons well beyond the loss of her dog. She is reminiscing about her life with Jake and the child they lost as a result of her miscarriage. When Jake enters the scene, Melanie is at her most vulnerable, and they share a passionate kiss. Jake yanks her away and instructs her to return to New York City. In the original, she slaps him and then flees. That segment was ultimately eliminated from the film.
Tennant: That’s an unexpected scene for this type of film. It’s merely a beautiful sequence with subtext, which Reese played magnificently. The loss of their child, the loss of their dreams, and the loss of their innocence. In addition, Josh’s character enters and expresses his happiness for her. It succeeds because to the abilities of these two actors.
We were within it. In a sense, Reese and I were in this relationship, not in a real-life capacity, but as characters in this thing. There was an intensity of past and historical suffering. All of this is boiling. Reese brings this to the scene, and I believe I do as well. In some ways, I believe we pushed each other to discover the truth. Thus, there were moments of intensity.
Originally, when I say “Go home” at the conclusion of that scene, Reese slaps me and then walks away.
Melanie slapped Jake for a variety of reasons, according to Tennant. I believe the intention was for her to slap him out of embarrassment over her abrupt display of weakness. He made her feel things she no longer desired to feel, and she exploded.
We performed this action six to ten times. Reese never failed to impress me.
Tennant: When we tested the film, people disliked the slap so much that we eliminated it. However, Josh was struck a number of times. And it was chilly that evening. When you receive a frigid slap, it is significantly more painful.
She rang my doorbell a few times, Lucas.
Tennant: I may have instructed Reese to hit him a few more times simply to annoy him.
In “Sweet Home Alabama,” this bloodhound portrayed both Bryant and Lucas.
Buena Vista Pictures
The dog despised Lucas.
Tennant stated that Parks’ dog would jump into the water and retrieve rocks from the bottom. They included a dog who dives for a bone in the script as a representation of small-town America, but the dog in the film refused to enter the water.
There were other dogs who portrayed Bryant, but the primary one refused to leap for the scene in which he jumps from the dock and swims for the bone. Consequently, I had to throw him down the dock, and he began to despise me thereafter.
Tennant: Yeah. We had to create a false dog head to emerge from the water because, in an ideal world, the dog would have jumped into the water. What do they express? Never interact with children or animals.
In the film, he is my best buddy, but in real life, he was afraid of me. He would see me and immediately avoid me. Bloodhounds are the most incredible canines, however they are not suitable as film dogs.
Fred Ward is featured in “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Buena Vista Pictures
Tennant claims Fred Ward’s character
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