Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers (WGA):

Alfred Uhry (play)
Alfred Uhry (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 January 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The comedy that won a Pulitzer Prize

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Jewish | Widow | 1950s | Chauffeur | American South

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Morgan Freeman	...	Hoke Colburn
Jessica Tandy	...	Daisy Werthan
Dan Aykroyd	...	Boolie Werthan
Patti LuPone	...	Florine Werthan
Esther Rolle	...	Idella
Joann Havrilla	...	Miss McClatchey
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

Also Known As:

Miss Daisy et son chauffeur (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Miss Daisy und ihr Chauffeur (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
A spasso con Daisy (Italy) [it]
Bayan Daisy ve soförü (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Chauffør for Miss Daisy (Denmark) [da]
Conduciendo a Miss Daisy (Argentina) [es]
Conduzindo Miss Daisy (Brazil) [pt]
Ha-Na'hug Shel Miss Daisy (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
I er tjänst, Miss Daisy (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Miss Daisy (Portugal) [pt]
Miss Daisy soförje (Hungary) [hu]
O chauffeur tis kas Daisy (Greece) [el]
På väg med miss Daisy (Sweden) [sv]
Palveluksessanne, Miss Daisy (Finland) [fi]
Paseando a Miss Daisy (Spain) [es]
Tot passejant Miss Daisy (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Wozac pania Daisy (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby Digital (DVD version)

Certification:

Germany:6 | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | Brazil:Livre | South Korea:All | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:PG (#29912) | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:F (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

822 Lullwater Road, Druid Hills, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Majestic Films International

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the very early scene where Miss Daisy is inside starting her car it is a 1949-1953 Chrysler. The car shown backing over the wall from the outside is a 1946-1948 Chrysler.

Quotes:

Daisy Werthan: Did you have the air-conditioning checked? I told you to have the air-conditioning checked.
Hoke Colburn: I had the air-conditioning checked. I don't know what for. You never allow me to turn it on.
Daisy Werthan: Hush up!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

'Hoke" Provides A Great Role Model

Man, did I change my mind about this film, maybe more than any film I've ever watched. The first time I saw it I did not like it and thought it was very overrated. Why I gave more looks, I don't really remember but it went to "fair" the next time and "excellent" by the third. I think the main reason is that I shifted my focus off the irritable old woman (Jessica Tandy) to the long-suffering servant (Morgan Freeman).

Once I looked at this story through "Hoke's" eyes, it became an inspiring story. Freeman's character, "Hoke Colburn," simply provides the best the example of a what true servant of God should act like, plain-and-simple. It's one of the best examples on film I've seen of of patience, kindness, dedication and dignity in a difficult situation. It's also always inspiring to see a nice, good person overturn and win over the opposite with sheer kindness.

Another factor that has raised my rating of this film is the latest "newly-restored widescreen edition," which finally presents this movie as it should be, with all its beautiful cinematography. The sets in here are great, a terrific look at the 1950s through storefronts, billboards, automobiles, etc.

One thing this film taught me: "Hoke's" attitude isn't the only important aspect of this story. It's how we, as viewers, look at things, too, that makes a difference.