You may be familiar with the 1989 Academy Award Winning film Driving Miss Daisy staring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy but did you know that the Best Picture Winner was filmed in Atlanta?

That’s right, the movie Driving Miss Daisy is based on the play written by Alfred Uhry and you can visit the neighborhood that inspired the film. Just take the Frederick Law Olmsted’s Druid Hills Tour, one of the many tours offered by the Atlanta Preservation Center.

Schedule some time to take a leisurely stroll and gaze at the elegant homes in the Druid Hills neighborhood then enjoy cinema at its best while you view Driving Miss Daisy. Don’t forget the popcorn. Try a local favorite – Atlanta Gourmet Popcorn.

In case you’ve never seen the film before, below is a brief description and editorial review provided by Jeff Shannon.

Winner of the Academy Award for best picture of 1989, this gracefully moving drama, adapted from the hit play by Alfred Uhry, chronicles the 25-year friendship between a stubborn, aging Southern widow (Jessica Tandy) and her loyal chauffeur (Morgan Freeman). At first, the self-sufficient Miss Daisy is reluctant to accept the services of a chauffeur, but Hoke is quiet, wise, and tolerant, and as the years pass the unlikely friends develop a deep mutual respect and admiration. Tandy deservedly won the Oscar for her sassy and sensitive performance, and Freeman earned an Oscar nomination for bringing quiet depth and integrity to his memorable role. Ironically, director Bruce Beresford (Tender Mercies) was not nominated, but the film won Oscars for makeup and for Uhry’s screenplay, in addition to a supporting actor nomination for Dan Aykroyd as Daisy’s supportive son. Delicate, funny, and bittersweet, Driving Miss Daisy was a surprise hit when released, and marked the crowning achievement of Tandy’s great career. –Jeff Shannon

Watch the Driving Miss Daisy movie trailer here!

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