Driving Miss Daisy- Storyline and Short Review

Driving Miss Daisy is a 1989 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Johnnie Stallworth. The film stars Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, Dan Aykroyd, and Roscoe Lee Browne. It was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and released on December 22, 1989, in the United States Warner Bros. Pictures.

We all love to watch movies and we have different tastes for different genres. Some of us like action, some romance, some comedy, and others like thrillers. In this article we are going to talk about the storyline and short review of the movie- Driving Miss Daisy 1989.

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 1h 39m

Release Year: 1989

IMDB Rating: 7.4

Rotten Tomatoes: 82%

Box Office: 145.8 million USD

The storyline of Driving Miss Daisy 1989

The movie revolves around Miss Daisy (Tandy), a retired Greyhound bus driver who now lives alone in a small apartment in Cleveland. Miss Daisy spends her days watching TV and taking walks, but she’s restless and feels like she’s missing out on life. She meets an old friend from the past, Mr. Furley (Freeman), who has just been released from prison after serving time for tax evasion.

He tells her about his new job as a chauffeur for a millionaire playboy named Baird (Aykroyd). Although initially skeptical, Miss Daisy befriends Mr. Furley and starts to think that she might have found her new life mission. However, one day when Mr. Furley is driving Baird to the airport and they hit a particularly bad storm, he loses control of the car and crashes into a tree.

Baird is critically injured but conscious; he tells Miss Daisy that he loves her before dying in her arms. Heartbroken, Miss Daisy goes back to living alone in her apartment until one day she meets an old friend of hers from the Greyhound bus line named Delores (Browne).

Delores tells Miss Daisy that she’s been widowed and is now living in a retirement home with her dog. Miss Daisy decides to move into Delores’ apartment, and the two of them become fast friends. Their days are spent going out for coffee or visiting the local library, where they read books and discuss their lives.

Mr. Furley occasionally drops by to visit as well; despite his protests, Miss Daisy eventually convinces him to join them for dinner each time he visits town. This is almost the entire storyline of the movie.

Short review of Driving Miss Daisy 1989

The storyline revolves around an older woman named Tandy who has recently lost her job, her friends, and most importantly, the love of her life. She meets a man named Furley who tells Tandy about a new job he got as a chauffeur for a rich man named Baird. Although at first, she is skeptical, Tandy starts to feel interested in Mr. Furley and eventually becomes good friends with him.

One day when Furley is driving Baird to the airport and they get caught in a bad storm, he loses control of the car and crashes into a tree causing Baird to be critically injured. After hearing this news Tandy decides to move into Delores’ apartment so she can be close to Furley while he’s in the hospital.

Although at first, they are skeptics, their days start to turn around as they become friends and bond over books and coffee. Their friendship eventually blossoms into something more as Tandy helps care for Furley during his time in the hospital and they eventually develop a relationship.

Overall, the critics thought the 1989 version of Driving Miss Daisy was a pretty good movie. The acting was good, especially from Streep and Bridges, and the storyline moved along at a nice pace. The only thing that I didn’t like about it was that some parts felt slightly rushed; however, overall it was still a decent movie.

Popular Review of Driving Miss Daisy 1989

One of the best movies of the year and definitely one for all ages. The story is touching, emotional, and extremely well done. Characters are believable and lovable so you can’t help but be pulled into their lives- even if you’re not from New York. I believe everyone should see this movie at least once in their lifetime!

If you enjoy movies that make your heart race then Driving Miss Daisy is definitely the flick for you! This 1989 classic follows Tandy Royce (played brilliantly by Streep) as she struggles to rebuild her life after losing everything due to a sudden accident.

Luckily, Tandy finds solace and companionship in her elderly friend Daisy (Bridges) who helps her learn to get back on her feet. The supporting cast is also top-notch, with River Phoenix delivering an excellent performance as a troubled young man determined to make his mark on the world.

Driving Miss Daisy is ultimately a touching story about the power of friendship and perseverance against all odds- making it a movie you won’t want to miss!

Critics Review of Driving Miss Daisy 1989

One of the best movies of 1989, Driving Miss Daisy is moving and poignant. The acting is excellent for all involved, especially Streep and Bridges. The story moves along at a good pace with believable characters. The only downside for some may be that some scenes feel a bit rushed but overall a great watch.

The Guardian gave Driving Miss Daisy four out of five stars and said, “This is one of the best movies of 1989. Tandy Royce (played brilliantly by Streep) has just lost her husband in a car accident and finds solace with her elderly friend Daisy (Bridges). The supporting cast is also excellent, with River Phoenix delivering an amazing performance. This moving story moves along at a good pace with believable characters.”

Time Out gave it three out of five stars and wrote “The acting is terrific from all involved – especially Streep and Bridges. The story moves along at a good pace with believable characters, and only a downside for some may be that some scenes feel a bit rushed. Overall, though, Driving Miss Daisy is an excellent watch.”

This film is a delight to watch. Set in the late 1940s, it tells the story of Miss Daisy Duke, an elderly woman who has lost her driver’s license and must find a new job as she starts retirement. She befriends Tandy Royce, an artist looking for work who takes her on as a client. This leads to various situations that test their friendship – most notably when Tandy falls pregnant and Daisy helps her hide the baby from her disapproving husband.

Scriptwriter Bruce Beresford excels at creating three-dimensional characters with believable motivations and emotions;

The result is a moving and insightful film. The cast’s performances are excellent, with Streep, in particular, shining as Miss Daisy.

Overall, Driving Miss Daisy is a touching and highly enjoyable movie that will leave you feeling inspired.

The Performance of the cast and crew

The acting is excellent, with Streep, in particular, shining as Miss Daisy. The story moves along at a good pace with believable characters. The only downside for some may be that some scenes feel a bit rushed but overall a great watch.

Driving Miss Daisy is an American film based on the play of the same name by Alfred Uhry.

It was directed and produced by Bruce Beresford who won an Academy Award for his screenplay in 1989. The cast includes Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, and Dan Aykroyd as Uncle Louie daisy’s driver Mr. Hoke Colburn (a role which earned Freeman a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1991).

The story revolves around the relationship between a wealthy white woman, Miss Daisy Duke (Streep), and a black man, Tandy Royce (Jones), as they go through various challenges during the late 1940s. These challenges include Tandy’s decision to keep her pregnancy secret from her disapproving husband and Miss Daisy’s struggles to find new employment after losing her driver’s license. Despite their differences, the two eventually grow close friends.

The film has been praised for its portrayal of black Americans in the 1940s, as well as its excellent acting by all cast members. Many reviewers have called it an insightful movie that will leave you feeling inspired. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Actress in an Aged Role, while Morgan Freeman also received a nomination on her behalf as well.

This final acceptance of some Oscar Awards was not surprising since Driving Miss Daisy had been nominated more than any other film for 8 years before it finally collected only one award which was that of Best Actor in 1988 to Gene Hackman’s first dramatic role being The Conversation and opposite Harrison Ford & Willem Dafoe.

Why is the movie- Driving Miss Daisy so famous?

Many factors contribute to the renown of Driving Miss Daisy. Firstly, it was directed by Bruce Beresford who won an Academy Award for his screenplay in 1989. Secondly, the cast includes Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, and Tommy Lee Jones as well as Dan Aykroyd who earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1991. And lastly, the movie tackles important social and political issues that resonate with audiences today.

Nonetheless, Driving Miss Daisy is especially popular because of its amazingly beautiful performances from Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman. The two forms an incredibly powerful on-screen partnership, displaying both tenderness and humor in their interactions.

Their chemistry is undeniable, which helps to make the viewer invest emotionally in their story. This makes it all the more satisfying when they eventually achieve victory over adversity – whether it’s overcoming racial discrimination or weathering a difficult marriage crisis.

Why you should watch the movie- Driving Miss Daisy

If you enjoy movies that are entertaining and poignant, then Driving Miss Daisy is definitely worth your time. Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman are both fantastic actors, and their chemistry together is spellbinding. And as mentioned before, the movie is also rich in social and political issues that are still relevant today.

So whether you’re looking for an entertaining drama to watch on a rainy day, or you want to learn something about the dynamics of race relations in America, Driving Miss Daisy is definitely worth your attention. The movie also tackles important social issues in a meaningful way, which makes it well worth watching even if you don’t normally watch dramas.

In short, Driving Miss Daisy is a great film that will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. If you don’t already own it, I would definitely recommend making sure to add it to your collection!

Awards won by Driving Miss Daisy

Oscar: Best Actress (Jessica Tandy), Best Picture (Richard D. Zanuck, Lili Fini Zanuck)

BAFTA Film Award: Best Actress (Jessica Tandy)

Berlin International Film Festival: Best Acting Team (Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman)

Conclusion

Blog Conclusion: In this article, we tried to show you the storyline and short review of the film Driving Miss Daisy. For the readers, we tried to give them a brief overview of what this movie is all about.

The story follows the life of Miss Daisy and her relationship with two different men, one white and one black. The movie touches on various issues such as racial discrimination, marriage crisis, and love.

We recommend this film to drama lovers who want to watch a touching story about relationships that explores complex topics.

FAQs

Who Are the Main Characters of Driving Miss Daisy?

The main character in Driving Miss Daisy is Miss Daisy herself, and she is played by Jessica Tandy. The other two main characters are Joe (Morgan Freeman) and Hoke (Philip Michael Thomas). And there are a few other minor characters, such as Miss Louise (Doris Roberts). All of them acted beautifully in this masterpiece of movies.

What Problems Does Miss Daisy Face During Her Life?

One of the main problems that Miss Daisy faces throughout her life is racial discrimination. She constantly has to deal with people treating her differently because of the color of her skin. Additionally, she struggles with a marriage crisis due to the fact that she can’t seem to find a husband who agrees with all of her beliefs.

Finally, love is also an important theme in this movie – both Joe and Hoke try to show Miss Daisy that it’s okay to have feelings for someone who isn’t exactly like you.

How Did Jessica Tandy Win Her Academy Award for Best Actress?

Jessica Tandy won her Academy Award for Best Actress in 1988 for her performance in Driving Miss Daisy. She was nominated for the same award two other times but did not win it until this time.

Is This Film Based on a True Story?

No, this film is not based on a true story. This movie is adopted from a novel by the same name. However, the plot and many of the characters are based on real people and events. So, while the story is fictional, much of it is based on reality.