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 Fox	...	Katie Bell (as Crystal R. Fox)
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 comedy that won a Pulitzer Prize

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

26 January 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Driving Miss Daisy

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

Dan Aykroyd and Esther Rolle later appeared in My Fellow Americans (1996).

---

Goofs

When Hoke returns the can of salmon he says he knows he was supposed to eat the pork chop, but it was kind of stiff. It seems unlikely a Jewish woman would have leftover pork chops.

---

Quotes

Hoke Colburn: [seeing Boolie in his office after his trip with Daisy to Mobile] It's Mr. Sinclair Harris, sir.
Boolie Werthan: My cousin Sinclair?
Hoke Colburn: It's his wife... the one that talk funny?
Boolie Werthan: Jeanette. She's from Canton, Ohio
Hoke Colburn: Well, she's tryin' to hire me!
Boolie Werthan: What?
Hoke Colburn: Yessir, she said, 'how they treatin' you down there, Hoke?' You know how she sound, like her nose stuffed up. So I said, 'fine, Mrs. Harris, just fine, thank you.' She said, 'Well, you lookin' for a change, you know who to call.'
Boolie Werthan: I'll be damned!
[...]

---

Connections

Spoofed in Drivin' Miss Daisy Crazy Again (1992)

---

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

Unlikely best friends enter old age together

Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy (in Oscar Winning performance) invoke grace and dignity in this sensitive treatment of race relations and old age. Freeman stars as a gentle, wise black chauffeur in the service of a spunky Jewish widow, played by Tandy. As the years pass, their relationship evolves into a remarkable friendship despite their different backgrounds.

The film is skillfully adapted from the award-winning play, unfolding against the backdrop of civil rights changes in the South. Somewhat simplistic to be considered a strong statement about race relations, the Best Picture/Best Screenpaly Oscar Winner makes a heartwarming effort to give witness to dignified aging.

Freeman was never better, and the chemistry between the two leads is simply beautiful to watch. This is a very special cinema experience.