Driving Miss Daisy, a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Beresford and written by Alfred Uhry, based on Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. The film stars Morgan Freeman as Hoke Colburn, a black chauffeur who drives an elderly white woman, Daisy Werthan (played by Jessica Tandy) around Atlanta, Georgia. The film received critical acclaim and won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress (for Tandy) and Best Makeup.
What was special about Driving Miss Daisy
“Driving Miss Daisy” is considered a classic and it was notable for a number of reasons. Some of the key points are:
The film deals with themes of racism and prejudice in the American South during the 1940s and 1950s, and the relationship that develops between Hoke and Daisy, despite their initial prejudices.
It was the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture that had an African American lead.
The film was a commercial success, grossing over $145 million worldwide.
The performances of the lead actors, Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy, were widely praised, with both actors receiving Oscar nominations for their roles. Tandy went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.
The film was directed by Bruce Beresford, who brought a sense of warmth and humor to the film, which helped to balance the serious themes of the story.
The script was written by Alfred Uhry, who adapted the screenplay from his own stage play, also called “Driving Miss Daisy”.
All these aspects made the movie a cinematic milestone as it was one of the first films to tackle the issues of racism and prejudice in the American South during the 1940s and 1950s in a serious, yet gentle and comedic way.
What awards Driving Miss Daisy Won ?
“Driving Miss Daisy” won several awards and nominations, including:
- Academy Awards:
- Best Picture
- Best Actress in a Leading Role (Jessica Tandy)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (Alfred Uhry)
- Best Makeup
- Golden Globe Awards:
- Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Jessica Tandy)
- Best Screenplay – Motion Picture (Alfred Uhry)
- BAFTA Awards:
- Best Actress in a Leading Role (Jessica Tandy)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (Alfred Uhry)
- It also won many other awards and nominations in different festivals and ceremonies.
similar movies of Driving Miss Daisy to watch
few movies that are similar to “Driving Miss Daisy” in terms of their themes, tone, and style:
- “The Help” (2011) – A drama film based on the novel of the same name by Kathryn Stockett, set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, which tells the story of the relationship between a young white woman and two black maids during the Civil Rights Movement.
- “Green Book” (2018) – A biographical comedy-drama film based on the true story of a tour of the Deep South by African American classical and jazz pianist Don Shirley and Tony Lip, a working-class Italian American bouncer who served as Shirley’s driver and bodyguard.
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) – A classic film based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, set in the 1930s in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, and tells the story of a young girl, Scout Finch, and her brother Jem, who learn about racism and injustice when their father, Atticus Finch, defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman.
- “The Color Purple” (1985) – A film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, set in the early 20th century, it tells the story of Celie, a poor African American woman living in the South who faces a series of hardships and abuse, including racism and sexism.
- “The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946) – A drama film directed by William Wyler and starring Fredric March, Myrna Loy, and Dana Andrews, it is set in the aftermath of World War II and tells the story of three veterans returning home to civilian life and how they and their families struggle to adjust to the changes.
These are just a few examples, but there are many other films that explore similar themes and styles. I hope you find a movie that you enjoy watching.