IMDb >
Purple Rain (1984)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsPurple Rain (1984) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 33 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 2) |
          |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
27 July 1984 (USA)
more
Plot:
A young man with a talent for music has begun a career with much promise. He meets an aspiring singer...
more
| add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 3 wins
&
4 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(45 articles)
Listen, Don't Watch: 10 Soundtracks Better Than Their Movies
(From ReelzChannel. 12 November 2009, 4:31 AM, PST)
Entertainment Weekly Lists the 25 Best Soundtracks from the Past 25 Years
(From Collider.com. 3 November 2009, 2:34 PM, PST)
(From ReelzChannel. 12 November 2009, 4:31 AM, PST)
Entertainment Weekly Lists the 25 Best Soundtracks from the Past 25 Years
(From Collider.com. 3 November 2009, 2:34 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Much undervalued film
more (77 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Prince | ... | The Kid |
 | Apollonia Kotero | ... | Apollonia |
 | Morris Day | ... | Morris |
| Olga Karlatos | ... | Mother |
| Clarence Williams III | ... | Father |
| Jerome Benton | ... | Jerome |
| Billy Sparks | ... | Billy |
| Jill Jones | ... | Jill |
| Charles Huntsberry | ... | Chick |
| Dez Dickerson | ... | Dez |
| Brenda Bennett | ... | Brenda |
| Susan Moonsie | ... | Susan (as Susan) |
| Sandra Claire Gershman | ... | Beautiful Babe |
| Kim Upsher | ... | Kim |
| Alan Leeds | ... | Stage Hand |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
111 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Canada:AA (Ontario) |
Canada:PA (Manitoba) |
Canada:R (Nova Scotia) |
Iceland:12 |
Netherlands:12 |
New Zealand:M |
Australia:M |
Finland:K-14 |
Norway:15 |
Sweden:11 |
UK:15 |
USA:R |
West Germany:16 |
Singapore:NC-16
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
'Purple Rain' was shopped around to numerous production companies including Indigo Films; which was owned by _Jim Brown (I)_ and Richard Pryor. Brown himself expressed his disappointment about not acquiring the project in the Spike Lee documentary Jim Brown: All American (2002) (TV).
more
Goofs:
Continuity: Prince's motorcycle tire changes from a street tire to an off-road tire when he is near the river.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Here's Looking at You, Warner Bros. (1991) (TV)
more
Soundtrack:
Purple Rain
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (77 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Purple Rain (1984) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Bodyguard | Across the Universe | High Fidelity | Sid and Nancy | The Notebook |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
A much undervalued film that tells the story of a young musician caught in an ever-declining spiral of domestic violence.
At times difficult to watch, while Morris Day is portrayed as the misogynist, Prince as the knight on (motorcycle) steed, he is still called upon to twice beat a woman as part of the screenplay. That he can do this and still emerge as a flawed but vindicated hero is credit to the writing. Prince is so free of ego in this film that not only does he portray himself as a narcissistic megalomaniac who beats women, but his most famous song is fictionalised as being written by his father and Wendy & Lisa. Even further, two of his compositions - Computer Blue (admittedly the album's weakest track) and Darling Nikki - are shown as being songs that kill off an audience. Perhaps the only concession to the Princely ego is a card that lists the (slightly shorter than Prince) Apollonia as 5'6.
The nearly complete-amateur cast are mainly band members playing themselves (and reviewers who slate the actors on the terms that they've never appeared in other movies are completely missing the point), and do perfectly well under the direction. Morris Day gets most of the plaudits for his likable ham, though Jerome Benton must also get credit for bouncing off him well, particularly their stage act, which is hilarious. Day and Benton even go so far as to make an Abbott and Costello routine funny, which takes some doing.
Lastly, there's Prince. While I admit to bias, I do actually think he's a pretty good actor in terms of being able to portray a low-key version of himself. Acting ISN'T his profession, this was a film made for entertainment, so anyone pointing out that the guy in the lead role isn't Robert DeNiro and thinking they're making a point is sadly deluded. I don't want this review to be a derisory attack of other people's comments, but I've even this film slated as having a low budget and being darkly lit. How would a film about domestic violence be shot, then? With full overhead spotlights and a CGI dinosaur walking into frame?
The film acts almost as a perfect snapshot of the neon light and skinny tie era… until you remember that it was actually made in a world of curly perms and tinny synths, and this isn't some retro-recreation. Prince's best film with Oscar-winning music, it sees him at his zenith, and it's saddening to realise that, even though he would make some fine albums, he would never again capture this high.