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The Color Purple
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The Color Purple (1985) More at IMDbPro »

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The Color Purple (1985) -- The life and trials of a young African American Woman.

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   24,066 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 43% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Writers:
Alice Walker (novel)
Menno Meyjes (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Color Purple on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 December 1985 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize Winning Story. more
Plot:
The life and trials of a young African American Woman. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 11 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 8 nominations more
User Comments:
Remarkably moving story from the maestro more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Moon Song (USA) (fake working title)
more
Runtime:
154 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Author Alice Walker was uneasy about Steven Spielberg's appointment to direct the film; however, she was confident in a then-unknown Whoopi Goldberg after seeing her San Francisco stand-up routine in which she portrayed many different characters. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the confrontation between Squeak and Sofia, Shug Avery can be clearly seen behind Squeak (wearing a red sequin dress), but changes position, and even disappears in one shot, then reappears. more
Quotes:
Harpo: Who this, Pa? Who this?
Albert: The woman that shoulda been yo' mammy.
more
Soundtrack:
Sister's Theme more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
28 out of 33 people found the following comment useful:-
Remarkably moving story from the maestro, 18 April 2000
Author: King_Opossum from somewhere much higher than you...

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.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Color Purple (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
THE COLOR PURPLE GOT THE BIGGEST OSCAR SNUB aahobson
I Cry Every Friggin Time... PrimoEscobar
I miss films like this :( Afanoffilm
Although someone may have mentioned this before, lashell289
British title Dark-Chocolate-Hobnobs
'Nothing but death can keep me from it' RobertMitchumRules2005
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