A black Southern woman struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father and others over four decades.A black Southern woman struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father and others over four decades.A black Southern woman struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father and others over four decades.
- Director
- Writers
- Menno Meyjes(screenplay)
- Alice Walker(novel)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Menno Meyjes(screenplay)
- Alice Walker(novel)
- Stars
- Nominated for 11 Oscars
- 14 wins & 23 nominations total
Videos8
Willard E. Pugh
- Harpo Johnsonas Harpo Johnson
- (as Willard Pugh)
Laurence Fishburne
- Swainas Swain
- (as Larry Fishburne)
- Director
- Writers
- Menno Meyjes(screenplay)
- Alice Walker(novel)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
This film follows the life of Celie, a young black girl growing up in the early 1900's. The first time we see Celie, she is 14 - and pregnant - by her father. We stay with her for the next 30 years of her tough life... —Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com>
- Taglines
- Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize Winning Story.
- Genre
- Certificate
- PG-13
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaSofia's speech at the dinner table was an ad-lib prompted by Steven Spielberg, in the middle of filming the scene. He asked Winfrey to express to Celie how she felt that day when she saw Celie in the store, as Sofia was shopping for Miss Millie.
- GoofsWhen 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.
- Crazy creditsFilm title logo when end credits are done
- SoundtracksMiss Celie's Blues (Sister)
Music by Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton
Lyrics by Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton and Lionel Richie
Vocals by Táta Vega
Top review
Forgotten Spielberg Masterpiece
Alice Walker's epic novel is put on the big-screen by director Steven Spielberg and the results are excellent. The film deals with the maturity and independence of a mistreated black woman (Whoopi Goldberg in an Oscar-nominated role) from the years 1909 to 1947. The audience gets to experience all of her triumphs and tragedies through the film's running time. A very strong cast of supporting players make the film memorable as well. Danny Glover, Adolph Caesar, Rae Dawn Chong, Margaret Avery, and Oprah Winfrey (the last two Oscar-nominated) all shine with the great screenplay and Spielberg's subtle direction. Somewhat forgotten on Spielberg's list of credits, but still one of his very best films. 5 stars out of 5.
helpful•3726
- tfrizzell
- Dec 2, 2000
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $15,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $98,467,863
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,710,333
- Dec 22, 1985
- Gross worldwide
- $98,467,863
- Runtime2 hours 34 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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