'Off the Cliff': A New Book Looks at the Unique Hollywood Legacy of Thelma and Louise

The Takeaway | Jun 30, 2017

It's one of the world's most recognizable and beloved movies: Thelma and Louise is the story of two women running away from the law, and from their own lives. Following its release in 1991, the film became an extraordinary hit.

Author Becky Aikman has a new book out about the making of the film, and its place in Hollywood history. She says some of what gave the movie resonance in the nineties remains just as fresh today, especially for women.

“I think the movie had such a profound effect on people because they were seeing real women...and these women were coping with the kinds of issues that so frustrate women in normal life," Aikman says.

The film also shaped Hollywood for women for years to come, with its young female screenwriter and two women in the lead roles. Aikman's new book is titled "Off the Cliff: How the Making of Thelma & Louise Drove Hollywood to the Edge."

This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich.

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