The Color Purple (1985)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Alice Walker (novel)
Menno Meyjes (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 December 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize Winning Story.

Plot:

The life and trials of a young African American Woman.

Plot Keywords:

1900s | African American | Rural | Face Slap | Sister Sister Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 11 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Danny Glover	...	Albert
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Celie Johnson
Margaret Avery	...	Shug Avery
Oprah Winfrey	...	Sofia
Willard E. Pugh	...	Harpo Johnson (as Willard Pugh)
Akosua Busia	...	Nettie Harris
Desreta Jackson	...	Young Celie Harris
Adolph Caesar	...	Old Mister Johnson
Rae Dawn Chong	...	Squeak
Dana Ivey	...	Miss Millie
Leonard Jackson	...	Pa Harris
Bennet Guillory	...	Grady
John Patton Jr.	...	Preacher
Carl Anderson	...	Reverend Samuel
Susan Beaubian	...	Corrine

Also Known As:

Moon Song (USA) (fake working title)

Runtime:

154 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Anson County, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

The first PG-13-rated to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When she is returning from Memphis on the train, Celie is sipping wine in the dining car. An African-American person could not eat in the dining car in the late 1930s, especially on a Southern run.

Quotes:

Sofia: Sat in that jail, I sat in that jail til I near about done rot to death. I know what it like to wanna go somewhere and cain't. I know what it like to wanna sing... and have it beat out 'ya. I want to thank you, Miss Celie, fo everything you done for me. I 'members that day in the store with Miss Millie - I's feelin' real down. I's feelin' mighty bad. And when I seed you - I know'd there is a God. I know'd there is a God.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

Soundtrack:

Don't Make Me No Never Mind (Slow Drag)

Remarkably moving story from the maestro

This is a truly wonderful film from the guru of directing, Mr Steven Spielberg. This great director has suffered much criticism throughout his career. He was slammed by a lot of the press for 'never really growing up' and it took SCHINDLER'S LIST to quiten these critics. However almost ten years before his remarkable account of the Holocaust Spielberg directed this gem.

It is the moving tale of a young black girl born into a male-dominated world, and tells the story of her gradual loss of identity followed by her defiance in reclaiming the life she lost. This was Whoopi Goldberg's remarkable screen debut that assured her of major stardom, and it is not hard to see why. Her fear towards her husband is frighteningly real, as is her silent rebellious side that ventures outwards in the last section of the film. Danny Glover paints a horrific image of a cruel husband, and still manages to give us a valid reason why he acts the way he does, before a moving conclusion to his character's development. The part of Sofia is also expertly played by Oprah Winfrey, especially during the Christmas reunion scene when the viewer can't help but share her pain through to joy. A special treat is an appearance by Laurence Fishburne (then Larry) in a small role.

It is cinema such as this that proves Steven Spielberg's genius. You will often forget that it is him you are watching (not least by the lack of another genius, Mr John Williams), but it only adds to this director's credit that he is so versatile. If anyone passed over this film as a possible blip in Spielberg's career (as I shamefully did!) watch it now! You will not be disappointed.