Edited by: Bernie Cook
When they drove their Thunderbird off a cliff rather than surrender to the law, Thelma and
Louise became icons of female rebellion, provoking strong reactions from viewers who felt either
empowered or outraged by the duo's transgressions of women's traditional roles. The 1991 film
quickly became - and continues to be - a potent cultural reference point, even inspiring a bumper
sticker that declares, Thelma and Louise Live! In this insightful study of Thelma and Louise, six
noted film scholars investigate the initial reception and ongoing impact of this landmark film.
The writers consider Thelma and Louise from a variety of perspectives, turning attention to the
film's promotion and audience response over time; to theories of comedy and the role of laughter
in the film; to the film's soundtrack and score; to the performances of stars Susan Sarandon and
Geena Davis; to the emergence of Brad Pitt as a star and male sex object; and to the film's place
in the history of road and crime film genres. Complementing the scholarly analysis is an in-depth
interview of screenwriter Callie Khouri by editor Bernie Cook, as well as reviews of Thelma and
Louise that appeared in U.S. News & World Report and Time. Offering myriad new ways of
understanding the complex interrelations of gender, identity, and violence, Thelma and Louise Live!
attests to the ongoing life and still-evolving meanings of this now-classic film.

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