Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

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:

Mahjong | Employer Employee Relationship | Retiree | Hailstorm | Chauffeur

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 11 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Oct. 10

9:00 PM

HALMRK

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

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (DVD version) | Dolby

Certification:

Germany:6 | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Canada:PG | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:PG | 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:

Continuity: When Daisy is telling Hoke about the first time she went to Mobile, the reflection of his arms and hands in the car door don't match the cuts back to him standing next to the car.

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 "Gilmore Girls: Driving Miss Gilmore (#6.21)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

SANTA BABY

Oscar Winner For Best Picture Is Hard To Resist

In an era of mega blockbusters, and sci-fi extravaganzas, this little drama is like water in the desert. "Driving Miss Daisy" will appeal to people tired of noisy, mindless over-produced films. The film's plot is very simple: a wealthy Jewish woman and ex-teacher (Jessica Tandy) wrecks her car (for the umpteen time), and his son (Dan Akroyd) decides that it is time for her to have a chauffeur. Unfortunately for the driver (Morgan Freeman), his boss is a high-strung woman, who refuses to give up her independence, making his job more difficult than what it needs to be. Moving, delicate and genteel exploration of bitter rivalry that blossoms into genuine friendship. Race relations is a big part of the story, but one could argue that the movie is mostly about how one soul could impact another. Tandy won the Oscar and she is wonderful, and Freeman is her match; their great chemistry is the key to the film's appeal. It's a sweet, heartwarming film, more complex than what it appears to be at first glance. It's very funny too. Not a great technical achievement but solid entertainment, competently done by great professionals.