Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

An old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur in the American South have a relationship that grows and improves over the years.

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers:

Alfred Uhry (screenplay), Alfred Uhry (play)

Stars:

Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, Dan Aykroyd

Won 4 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Morgan Freeman	...	Hoke Colburn
Jessica Tandy	...	Daisy Werthan
Dan Aykroyd	...	Boolie Werthan
Patti LuPone	...	Florine Werthan (as Patti Lupone)
Esther Rolle	...	Idella
Jo Ann Havrilla	...	Miss McClatchey (as Joann Havrilla)
William Hall Jr.	...	Oscar
Alvin M. Sugarman	...	Dr. Weil
Clarice F. Geigerman	...	Nonie
Muriel Moore	...	Miriam
Sylvia Kaler	...	Beulah
Carolyn Gold	...	Neighbor Lady
Crystal R. Fox	...	Katie Bell
Bob Hannah	...	Red Mitchell
Ray McKinnon	...	Trooper #1

Storyline

An elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta can no longer drive. Her son insists she allow him to hire a driver, which in the 1950s meant a black man. She resists any change in her life but, Hoke, the driver is hired by her son. She refuses to allow him to drive her anywhere at first, but Hoke slowly wins her over with his native good graces. The movie is directly taken from a stage play and does show it. It covers over twenty years of the pair's life together as they slowly build a relationship that transcends their differences.

---

Plot Keywords:

jewish | widow | african american | 1950s | old age | 

---

Taglines:

The funny, touching and totally irresistible story of a working relationship that became a 25-year friendship.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

26 January 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Miss Daisy und ihr Chauffeur

Filming Locations:

Sevananda Natural Foods Grocery, 1111 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$73,745, 17 December 1989, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$106,593,296

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$145,793,296, 31 December 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Zanuck Company, Allied Filmmakers, Majestic Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital (DVD version)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The role of Florine, played by Patti LuPone, is not in the original play. It was written in by Alfred Uhry specifically for LuPone, who, Uhry felt, looked good in a costume.

---

Goofs

When Hoke gets back into the car after being questioned by the police, there is foliage from two different trees grouped together, visible in the reflection of the window; probably so the audience can see Hoke through the glass. Then in the long shot of the car pulling away, there are no trees or plants close enough to the car to have caused those reflections.

---

Quotes

Daisy Werthan: [Hoke and Daisy are driving to Boolie and Florene's for a Christmas party. Daisy, a Jew, is annoyed at the extraneous Christmas light displays] Everybody's wishing the Georgia Power Company a Merry Christmas.
Hoke Colburn: I bet Miss Florene got 'em all beat with the new house.
Daisy Werthan: If I had a nose like Florene's, I wouldn't go around wishing anybody a Merry Christmas!
Hoke Colburn: [laughs] Yes'm... but, I tell ya, I do enjoy a Christmas at their house.
Daisy Werthan: Of course, you're the only Christian in the place!
Hoke Colburn: Well, they got that new ...
[...]

---

Connections

Referenced in Murphy Brown: Driving Miss Crazy (1991)

---

Soundtracks

AFTER THE BALL
(1892)
Words and Music by Charles Harris (as Charles K. Harris)
Sung a cappella by Jessica Tandy (uncredited)
Published by Charles K. Harris Publishing Company, Inc.

User Reviews

Worthy Best Picture Winner of 1989

"Driving Miss Daisy" is one of those films that will likely be remembered as a giant-killer. "Born on the Fourth of July" and "My Left Foot" were the unofficial favorites to win the Best Picture Oscar in 1989, but this film shocked almost everyone. The film deals with a 25-year friendship between a widowed Jewish woman (Jessica Tandy in her Oscar-winning performance) and the black man who drives her around (Morgan Freeman in an Oscar-nominated role). Throughout the film we see their relationship change as the nation's outlook changes as well. They are friends from the late-1940s to the early-1970s and they live to see tragedy (a Jewish temple being bombed and Martin Luther King being killed) and triumph together (the Civil Rights movement giving equal rights to African-Americans). Dan Aykroyd (in an Oscar-nominated performance) does his best work as Tandy's son. Overall, the direction and screenplay are subtle but highly effective. The performances by the key players make the film very enjoyable. However, there are a few slight problems which keep the film from being as good as it could have been. Some things just do not gel quite as well as they could have. Overall a good film that was worthy of a Best Picture Oscar, but its lack of competition that year will likely make it become overlooked in the future. 4.5 out of 5 stars.