Driving Miss Daisy
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
- Genre:Comedy / Drama
- Runtime:95 minutes
Cast
Morgan Freeman : Hoke Colburn
Jessica Tandy : Daisy Werthan
Dan Aykroyd : Boolie Werthan
Patti LuPone : Florine Werthan (as Patti Lupone)
Esther Rolle : Idella
It is 1948 and Mrs. (“Miss”) Daisy Werthan, a 72-year-old widow, lives in Atlanta, Georgia, alone except for an African American housemaid named Idella (Rolle). After a driving mishap where her Chrysler automobile is totaled, Miss Daisy’s son Boolie (Aykroyd) tells her she will have to get a chauffeur because no insurance company will insure her. She refuses, but Boolie is determined to find her one. Meanwhile, she is stuck at home and is unable to run errands or visit friends.
Boolie finds a man named Hoke Colburn (Freeman), who had driven for a local judge until he died, and he decided to remain in the area rather than accompany the widow when she moved away.
Miss Daisy at first refuses to let Hoke drive her, going so far as to walk to the local Piggly Wiggly. It is revealed that her reluctance to be driven around is because she is embarrassed. People might think she is either too old to drive, or so well off that she can afford a driver.
Daisy comes to accept Hoke and the fact that she needs him to drive her around. Miss Daisy finds out that Hoke cannot read, so she teaches him how to read. Over the years Hoke drives Daisy in a succession of vehicles including a Hudson Commodore and a series of Cadillacs. When it became time to trade in the car for a new vehicle, Hoke often purchases the previous car and uses it as his personal vehicle.
Miss Daisy has Hoke drive her to her brother’s 90th birthday party in Mobile, Alabama. Hoke reveals, during the trip, that it is the first time that he has left his home state of Georgia. During their trip from Atlanta to Mobile, Daisy realizes in several circumstances that Hoke’s race affects how others treat him; her eyes are further opened to the social aspects of racial prejudice. As Daisy and Hoke spend time together, she gains appreciation for Hoke’s many skills.
One day in 1963, while watching The Edge of Night in the kitchen, Idella dies. Miss Daisy is saddened because Idella was very close to her. She and her family attend the funeral, and are given a place of honor in the seating arrangements, and are the only white people in attendance. Read more
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