Purlie (TV 1981)

In the early days of the civil rights movement, a Southern plantation owner holds his sharecroppers in virtual slavery. Purlie comes home as a preacher who will shake things up and bring freedom to his people.

Director:

Rudi Goldman

Writers:

Ossie Davis (play), Philip Rose (play),

Stars:

Robert Guillaume, Sherman Hemsley, Rhetta Hughes

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Robert Guillaume	...	Purlie Victorious Judson
Sherman Hemsley	...	Gitlow Judson
Rhetta Hughes	...	Missy
Melba Moore	...	Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins
Clarice Taylor	...	Idella Landy
Brandon Maggart	...	Stonewall Jackson (Ol' Cap'n)
Don Scardino	...	Charlie Cotchipee
Linda Hopkins	...	Sister Hopkins
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Loretta Abbot
Brenda Braxton
P.L. Brown
Olivia Detante
Suzzanne Douglas
Cisco Drayton
Tanya Gibson

Storyline

In the early days of the civil rights movement, a Southern plantation owner holds his sharecroppers in virtual slavery. Purlie comes home as a preacher who will shake things up and bring freedom to his people.

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Plot Keywords:

preacher | sharecropper | american south | cotton field | cotton | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Filming Locations:

Lehman College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production of "Purlie" opened at the Broadway Theater in New York on March 15, 1970, ran for 688 performances and was nominated for the 1970 Tony Award for the Best Musical. Sherman Hemsley, Melba Moore {Winner of the 1970 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical) and Linda Hopkins recreated their stage roles in this filmed production.

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Quotes

Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins: [Lutiebelle's just been assaulted by old man Cotchipee] He kissed me!
[points to her cheek]
Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins: Right here.
Missy: Right where?
Gitlow Judson: Oh, Missy, for Pete's sake!
Purlie Victorious Judson: He kissed my woman, Gitlow. He kissed the woman I love!
Gitlow Judson: So what?
Purlie Victorious Judson: So, what do you mean "so what?" Ain't no man kisses the woman I love and lives!
[Gitlow laughs uproariously at this]
Purlie Victorious Judson: That's right, you go ahead and laugh.
[...]

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Connections

Version of Gone Are the Days! (1963)

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Soundtracks

"Purlie"
Music by Gary Geld
Lyrics by Peter Udell
Sung by Melba Moore

User Reviews

I am so old

This is an amazing musical. I remember watching this when I was like 7. It came on PBS. All me, my sister and my cousins could say was " yes Reverin Pearlaay!" We loved it. I thought for SURE I made it up. If anyone has this on VIDEO you are lucky. It is an amazing and wonderfully charming play! AAAAAAAAH it gets like a zillon stars from me Shala. age 27