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IMDbPro

The Color Purple

  • 19851985
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
86K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,216
124
The Color Purple (1985)
Watch ’Trailer [EN]’
Play trailer1:22
7 Videos
78 Photos
  • Drama
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.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
86K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,216
124
  • Director
    • Steven Spielberg
  • Writers
    • Menno Meyjes(screenplay)
    • Alice Walker(novel)
  • Stars
    • Danny Glover
    • Whoopi Goldberg
    • Oprah Winfrey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Steven Spielberg
  • Writers
    • Menno Meyjes(screenplay)
    • Alice Walker(novel)
  • Stars
    • Danny Glover
    • Whoopi Goldberg
    • Oprah Winfrey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 267User reviews
    • 78Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 11 Oscars
      • 14 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos7

    Trailer [EN]
    Trailer 1:22
    Trailer [EN]
    The Color Purple
    Trailer 0:30
    The Color Purple
    Three Movies That Changed Billy Porter's Life
    Clip 3:39
    Three Movies That Changed Billy Porter's Life
    'The Color Purple' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:31
    'The Color Purple' | Anniversary Mashup
    Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks Give Movies Lego Remakes
    Clip 1:58
    Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks Give Movies Lego Remakes
    Emmy Nominee Laverne Cox Quoted This Movie to Reese Witherspoon
    Full Episode 3:43
    Emmy Nominee Laverne Cox Quoted This Movie to Reese Witherspoon
    The Evolution of Steven Spielberg
    Video 4:23
    The Evolution of Steven Spielberg

    Photos78

    Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple (1985)
    Whoopi Goldberg, Rae Dawn Chong, and Margaret Avery in The Color Purple (1985)
    Oprah Winfrey and Willard E. Pugh in The Color Purple (1985)
    Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple (1985)
    Danny Glover and Margaret Avery in The Color Purple (1985)
    Danny Glover, Adolph Caesar, and Willard E. Pugh in The Color Purple (1985)
    Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, and Bennet Guillory in The Color Purple (1985)
    Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover in The Color Purple (1985)
    Adolph Caesar in The Color Purple (1985)
    Cynthia Erivo and Joaquina Kalukango at an event for The Color Purple (1985)
    Joaquina Kalukango at an event for The Color Purple (1985)
    Joaquina Kalukango at an event for The Color Purple (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Danny Glover
    Danny Glover
    • Albert
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Whoopi Goldberg
    • Celie Johnson
    Oprah Winfrey
    Oprah Winfrey
    • Sofia
    Margaret Avery
    Margaret Avery
    • Shug Avery
    Willard E. Pugh
    Willard E. Pugh
    • Harpo Johnson
    • (as Willard Pugh)
    Akosua Busia
    Akosua Busia
    • Nettie Harris
    Desreta Jackson
    Desreta Jackson
    • Young Celie Harris
    Adolph Caesar
    Adolph Caesar
    • Old Mister Johnson
    Rae Dawn Chong
    Rae Dawn Chong
    • Squeak
    Dana Ivey
    Dana Ivey
    • Miss Millie
    Leonard Jackson
    Leonard Jackson
    • Pa Harris
    Bennet Guillory
    Bennet Guillory
    • Grady
    John Patton Jr.
    • Preacher
    Carl Anderson
    Carl Anderson
    • Reverend Samuel
    Susan Beaubian
    Susan Beaubian
    • Corrine
    James Tillis
    • Buster
    Phillip Strong
    • Mayor
    Laurence Fishburne
    Laurence Fishburne
    • Swain
    • (as Larry Fishburne)
    • Director
      • Steven Spielberg
    • Writers
      • Menno Meyjes(screenplay)
      • Alice Walker(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sofia'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.
    • Goofs
      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

      Sophia: All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men, but I ain't never thought I'd have to fight in my own house!

    • Crazy credits
      Film title logo when end credits are done.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Enemy Mine/The Color Purple/Out of Africa/Spies Like Us (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)
      Music by Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton

      Lyrics by Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton and Lionel Richie

      Vocals by Táta Vega

    User reviews267

    Review
    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•39
    26
    • tfrizzell
    • Dec 2, 2000

    FAQ1

    • Why does Celie suggest to Harpo that he beat Sofia?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 7, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Moon Song
    • Filming locations
      • Salisbury, North Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Amblin Entertainment
      • The Guber-Peters Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • 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
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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