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The Color Purple

  • 1985
  • PG-13
  • 2h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
91K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
729
636
The Color Purple (1985)
Watch Trailer [EN]
Play trailer1:22
12 Videos
99+ 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.

  • Director
    • Steven Spielberg
  • Writers
    • Menno Meyjes
    • Alice Walker
  • Stars
    • Danny Glover
    • Whoopi Goldberg
    • Oprah Winfrey
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    91K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    729
    636
    • Director
      • Steven Spielberg
    • Writers
      • Menno Meyjes
      • Alice Walker
    • Stars
      • Danny Glover
      • Whoopi Goldberg
      • Oprah Winfrey
    • 272User reviews
    • 78Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 11 Oscars
      • 14 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos12

    Trailer [EN]
    Trailer 1:22
    Watch Trailer [EN]
    The Color Purple
    Trailer 0:30
    Watch The Color Purple
    Three Movies That Changed Billy Porter's Life
    Clip 3:39
    Watch Three Movies That Changed Billy Porter's Life
    'The Color Purple' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:31
    Watch 'The Color Purple' | Anniversary Mashup
    Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks Give Movies Lego Remakes
    Clip 1:58
    Watch Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks Give Movies Lego Remakes
    The Color Purple: Love Me
    Clip 2:28
    Watch The Color Purple: Love Me
    The Color Purple: Reunited
    Clip 2:24
    Watch The Color Purple: Reunited
    The Color Purple: Purple
    Clip 0:53
    Watch The Color Purple: Purple
    The Color Purple: Fight My Whole Life
    Clip 1:21
    Watch The Color Purple: Fight My Whole Life
    The Color Purple: Out Of Here
    Clip 1:48
    Watch The Color Purple: Out Of Here
    The Color Purple: Sister
    Clip 2:22
    Watch The Color Purple: Sister
    The Evolution of Steven Spielberg
    Video 4:23
    Watch The Evolution of Steven Spielberg

    Photos223

    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
      • Alice Walker
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more 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
      The credits are all colored purple.
    • 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 reviews272

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Simply beautiful
    Simply beautiful really is the only way to describe such a wondrous film, one which warms the heart, nourishes the soul, and brings a tear to the eye. This statement is neither hyperbolic nor exaggerated, one of many reasons I suggest you see this film.

    The film opens in 1909 when Celie (Whoopi Goldberg in her feature film debut) as a young girl, as well as a victim of incest, impregnated by her father. Unattractive and unloved, separated from her beloved sister and children, Celie has no other option than to be wedded to an abusive, impoverished, and philandering husband named Albert (Danny Glover), a man who treats her no better than a slave. However, Celie's life forever changes when Albert returns home in accompaniment with his mistress Shug (Margaret Avery), a beautiful Blues singer.

    In spite of the seemingly hopeless situation the film's plot provides Celie with, the Color Purple is not a tale of her despair, but rather her triumph, one which is immensely inspiring. Stellar in every aspect this film is, including Stephen Spielberg's highly credible direction, the acting, especially of the four most prominent stars: Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey (both quite impressive in their debuts), Danny Glover, and Margaret Avery, the plot, etc. As one of my most revered novels and films, I definitely recommend the Color Purple.

    Grade: A+
    helpful•80
    26
    • krhayes-1
    • Mar 26, 2002

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    Production art
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    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(General Store Interiors)
    • 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

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