MovieChat Forums > Driving Miss Daisy (1990) Discussion > $75 a week? In 1961? Hot damn!

$75 a week? In 1961? Hot damn!


That is one helluva lotta money, especially for a chauffeur, a black one, and in the South. That's about the equivalent of at least $600 a week today, if not $700.

Of course, Hoke was worth every penny of it, but still. Nice for him!





I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

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He was paying Hoke for being much more than a driver...he was a caregiver and helped Miss Daisy stay in her home, and out of Boolie's!

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Actually, a well qualified full time secretary would have made $100 a week in Atlanta at that time, so while it was decent pay, it was nothing extraordinary.

Also, the story is brought to life by the principle character's grandson and while his parents were no doubt very grateful for the relationship that forge between the family's matriarch and her driver, some license was taken depicting the generosity of the family, for the real Uhrys were never as remotely wealthy as the fictitious Werthans.

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The part I got a kick out was Boolie originally offered him $65. Assuming Hoke was making 60 (maybe less) he just got a 25% pay increase (minimum). In this day and age of 1-2% pay increases that sound "Awful good."

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