The Color Purple (1985)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Alice Walker (novel)
Menno Meyjes (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 December 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize Winning Story.

Plot:

The life and trials of a young African American Woman.

Plot Keywords:

1900s | African American | Rural | Face Slap | Sister Sister Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 11 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

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
James Tillis	...	Buster
Phillip Strong	...	Mayor
Laurence Fishburne	...	Swain (as Larry Fishburne)
Peto Kinsaka	...	Adam
Lelo Masamba	...	Olivia
Margaret Freeman	...	Odessa
Howard Starr	...	Young Harpo
Daphaine Oliver	...	Young Olivia
Jadili Johnson	...	Young Adam
Lillian Njoki Distefano	...	Young Tashi
Donna Buie	...	Daisy
Leon Rippy	...	Store Clerk
John R. Hart	...	Mailman
David Thomas	...	Road-Gang Leader
Carrie Murray	...	Loretta
Juliet Poe	...	Church Sister
Katie Simon	...	Church Sister
Ethel Taylor	...	Church Sister
Marcus Covington	...	Boy
Marcus Liles	...	Boo
April Myres	...	Emma
Maurice Moore	...	Child #1
Lechanda Latharp	...	Child #2
Drew Bundini Brown	...	Jook Joint Patron
Arnold F. Turner	...	Jook Joint Patron (as Arnold Turner)
Jeris Poindexter	...	Jook Joint Patron (as Jeris Lee Poindexter)
Hawthorne James	...	Jook Joint Patron (as James Hawthorne)
Sonny Terry	...	Jook Joint Musician (as Saunders Sonny Terry)
Greg Phillinganes	...	Jook Joint Musician
Roy Gaines	...	Jook Joint Musician
Paulinho Da Costa	...	African Musician
Nana Yaw Asiedu	...	African Musician
Clarence Avant	...	African Musician
Bayo Martin	...	African Musician
Ndugu Chancler	...	African Musician
Jeffrey Kwashi	...	African Musician
Pete Munzhi	...	African Musician
Aniijia Rae Schockley	...	African Musician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maria Howell	...	Church choir soloist (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Spielberg

Writing credits
Alice Walker		(novel)
Menno Meyjes		(screenplay)

Produced by
Peter Guber	....	executive producer
Carole Isenberg	....	associate producer (as Carol Isenberg)
Quincy Jones	....	producer
Kathleen Kennedy	....	producer
Frank Marshall	....	producer
Jon Peters	....	executive producer
Steven Spielberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Quincy Jones

Cinematography by
Allen Daviau

Film Editing by
Michael Kahn

Production Design by
J. Michael Riva

Art Direction by
Bo Welch		(as Robert W. Welch)

Set Decoration by
Linda DeScenna

Costume Design by
Aggie Guerard Rodgers

Makeup Department
Richard Alonzo	....	makeup artist
Ken Chase	....	makeup designer
Lola Kemp	....	hair stylist
Leila Khan	....	hair stylist: Kenya
Steve LaPorte	....	makeup artist
Michael Laudati	....	makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	supervising hair stylist (as Robert Stevenson)

Production Management
Gerald R. Molen	....	unit production manager
Arthur F. Repola	....	post-production supervisor (as Arthur Repola)
Vincent Winter	....	production supervisor: Kenya unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bruce Cohen	....	dga trainee
Pat Kehoe	....	first assistant director
Frank Marshall	....	second unit director: Kenya
Victoria E. Rhodes	....	second assistant director (as Victoria Elizabeth Rhodes)
Richard A. Wells	....	first assistant director (as Richard Alexander Wells)

Art Department
Jack Johnson	....	illustrator (as John C. Johnson Jr.)
Tom McCown	....	set dresser
Ric McElvin	....	lead man
Erik L. Nelson	....	property master
Joseph C. Nemec III	....	assistant art director
Dan Ondrejko	....	greensman (as Daniel L. Ondrejko)
Ernest Phillips	....	stand-by painter
Virginia L. Randolph	....	set designer
Robert Scaife	....	construction coordinator (as Robert E. Scaife)
Ed Verreaux	....	illustrator
Howard Armstrong	....	set design consultant (uncredited)
Anthony Klaiman	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Mark Konkel	....	painter (uncredited)
David Russell	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Ken Scaife	....	general foreman (uncredited)
John Villarino	....	foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard L. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor
Michael J. Benavente	....	sound editor
Willie D. Burton	....	production sound mixer (as Willie Burton)
James Christopher	....	sound editor
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dean Drabin	....	foley mixer
Teresa Eckton	....	sound editor
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gil Haimsohn	....	assistant sound editor
Robert W. Harris	....	cable person (as Robert Harris)
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator (as Marvin Lewis)
Peter Lonsdale	....	assistant adr editor
Matthew C. May	....	assistant sound editor
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Alan L. Nineberg	....	adr editor (as Alan Nineberg)
Mark Pappas	....	assistant sound editor
Rod Rogers	....	assistant adr editor
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	supervising foley editor (as Solange)
Larry Singer	....	supervising adr editor
John W. Singleton	....	foley editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist (as Ed Steidele)
Sherman Waze	....	sound editor
Burton Weinstein	....	sound editor (as Burton M. Weinstein)
J.R. Westen	....	adr mixer
David A. Whittaker	....	sound editor (as David Whittaker)
David Williams	....	foley editor
Paul Pavelka	....	re-recording engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Greg C. Jensen	....	special effects assistant (as Greg Jensen)
Bob Stoker	....	special effects assistant
Lucinda Strub	....	special effects assistant
Matt Sweeney	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Alex Brown	....	stunts
Greg Wayne Elam	....	stunt coordinator (as Greg W. Elam)
Kym Washington	....	stunts
Dana Dru Evenson	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Rick Sawaya	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Engler	....	camera operator (as William Eric Engler)
John Flemming	....	grip: Kenya unit
Norman Harris	....	gaffer (as Norm Harris)
Donald L. Hartley	....	dolly grip (as Donald Hartley)
M. Todd Henry	....	first assistant camera
Gene Kearney	....	key grip
Ron Kenyon	....	electrical best boy
Martin Kenzie	....	first assistant camera: Kenya
Norman G. Langley	....	camera operator
Michael McDermott	....	electrician: Kenya unit
Bob Munoz	....	best boy grip
Reggie Newkirk	....	first assistant camera (as Reginold Newkirk)
Nigel Seal	....	gaffer/loader: Kenya unit
John R. Shannon	....	still photographer (as John Shannon)
Simon Trevor	....	camera operator: Kenya
Robert McCarthy	....	electrician (uncredited)
Casey Nelson	....	electrician (uncredited)
Bruton Peterson	....	electrician (uncredited)
Robert Samuels	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Phelt M. Saucier	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jo Doster	....	location casting (as Jo Ann Doster)
Job Seda	....	casting: Kenya unit
Peg Halligan	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Francine Jamison-Tanchuck	....	costume supervisor (as Francine Jamison)
Joanna Johnston	....	wardrobe: Kenya
Betty Jean Slater	....	women's set costumer
Bill Tiegs	....	set costumer: men
Don Vargas	....	costume supervisor: men
Haleen K. Holt	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)
Annalisa Strickland	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Connie Abellera	....	assistant film editor
Craig Bassett	....	assistant film editor
Martin Cohen	....	assistant film editor
Patrick Crane	....	post-production assistant
Jim Schurmann	....	color timer

Music Department
Tom Bähler	....	music supervisor (as Tom Bahler)
Brian Banks	....	music scoring preproduction
Else Blangsted	....	supervising music editor
Chris Boardman	....	music adaptor
Bruce Botnick	....	music scoring
Lyle J. Burbridge	....	music scoring associate (as Lyle Burbridge)
Jorge Calandrelli	....	music adaptor
Jorge Calandrelli	....	orchestrator
Andraé Crouch	....	music arranger and conductor: Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ Choir (as Andrae Crouch)
Sandra Crouch	....	music arranger and conductor: Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ Choir
James Flamberg	....	supervising music editor (as Jim Flamberg)
Humberto Gatica	....	pre-recorded music mixer
Jimmie Haskell	....	music adaptor
Jimmie Haskell	....	orchestrator
Jack Hayes	....	music adaptor
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
Richard Hazard	....	music adaptor (as Dick Hazard)
Richard Hazard	....	orchestrator (as Dick Hazard)
Helaine Head	....	music department assistant
Jerry Hey	....	music adaptor
Jerry Hey	....	orchestrator
Randy Kerber	....	music adaptor
Randy Kerber	....	orchestrator
Tom Kramer	....	music editor
Anthony Marinelli	....	music scoring preproduction
A. David Marshall	....	music editor (as David Marshall)
Harvey W. Mason	....	music adaptor (as Harvey Mason)
Harvey W. Mason	....	orchestrator (as Harvey Mason)
Greig McRitchie	....	music adaptor
Greig McRitchie	....	orchestrator
Sam Nestico	....	music adaptor
Sam Nestico	....	orchestrator
Jeff Porcaro	....	musician: percussion
Steve Ray	....	music department assistant
Raoul Roach	....	music department assistant
Joel Rosenbaum	....	music adaptor
Joel Rosenbaum	....	orchestrator
Mark Ross	....	music department assistant
Nathan Scott	....	music adaptor
Nathan Scott	....	orchestrator
Pam Small	....	music department assistant
Fred Steiner	....	music adaptor
Fred Steiner	....	orchestrator
Bill Summers	....	music adaptor
Bill Summers	....	orchestrator
Ernie Watts	....	musician: clarinet
Daniel J. Johnson	....	co-music editor (uncredited)
Clay Mitchell	....	musical consultant (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Robert Amon	....	antique picture cars
John Feinblatt	....	transportation captain
Eugene Schwartz	....	transportation coordinator (as Gene Schwartz)
Gregory Dultz	....	driver: Steven Spielberg (uncredited)

Other crew
Julie Adams	....	dialect coach
Kokayi Ampah	....	location manager
Kate Barker	....	assistant: Ms. Kennedy
Bethany Brown	....	production accountant
Ken Burton	....	projectionist
Dave Clark	....	researcher
Jeffrey R. Coates	....	production associate
Michael Crane	....	lab consultant
Con Cremins	....	location accountant: Kenya unit
Niegel Dundas	....	camp manager/animal consultant: Kenya unit
Jim Ealy	....	first aid
Mitchell El Mahdy	....	first aid (as Mitch Elmahdy)
William R. Ferris	....	researcher (as Bill Ferris)
Jason Gould	....	production associate
Barbara Harley	....	London contact: Kenya unit
Iris Hedrick	....	assistant accountant
Phyllis Gardner Hirsen	....	unit publicist
Robin Hollister	....	production associate: Kenya unit
Dorothy Hungerford	....	production associate
Judith Jennings	....	teacher
Rebecca Leventhal	....	production associate
Mark Marshall	....	production assistant
Kathleen Miranda	....	secretary to Mr. Spielberg
Julie Moskowitz	....	assistant: Mr. Spielberg
Ramon Pahoyo	....	craft service
Richard Pryor Jr.	....	production associate
Bonne Radford	....	production controller (as Bonnie Radford)
Mary T. Radford	....	assistant: Mr. Marshall
Madeline Randolph	....	assistant: Mr. Jones
Anne Rapp	....	script supervisor
James Robertson	....	assistant camp manager: Kenya unit
Bobbi Ross	....	teacher
Harry Rotz	....	hat maker
Marshal Royal	....	researcher
Monty Ruben	....	production consultant: Kenya unit
Lata Ryan	....	production coordinator
George Sims	....	researcher
Phil Smith	....	wrangler
Don Spinney	....	animal trainer
Steven Talmy	....	production associate
Claude Thompson	....	choreographer
Mike Villarino	....	special set effects
Alice Walker	....	project consultant
Laurel Walter	....	production secretary
Snooky Young	....	researcher
Kevin Berman	....	consultant (uncredited)
Beverly Robinson	....	consultant (uncredited)
Beverly J. Robinson	....	consultant (uncredited)

Thanks
David Dykis	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Amblin Entertainment
• Guber-Peters Company, The
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Elliniki Kinimatografiki Enosi (ELKE) (1986) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1985) (France) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1990) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Warner Home Video (1987) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (1998) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Directors Sound & Editorial Services  adr recorded at
• For Stars Catering  catering
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  special thanks (vintage clothing rentals)
• K!SSPROOF Entertainment  cast bookings
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  music recorded at
• North Carolina Film Commission, The  special thanks
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering
• Reuben Cannon & Associates  casting
• Sunrise Films  negative cutting
• The Anson County Historical Society  special thanks
• The Citizens of Anson and Union Counties, North Carolina  special thanks
• The Huntley Family  special thanks
• The Record Plant  pre-recorded music recorded at

Also Known As:

Moon Song (USA) (fake working title)

Runtime:

154 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Anson County, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

Producers Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy cast Margaret Avery as Shug Avery after Tina Turner turned it down.

Goofs:

Continuity: The letters of the word "Sky" on the wax paper change constantly throughout the movie.

Quotes:

Celie: The jail you planned for me is the one you're gonna rot in.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 101 Biggest Celebrity Oops (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

My Heart

This is a movie!

This film captured my heart from the very beginning, when hearing Quincy Jones' first notes or seeing the wonderful color of purple of the flowers in the meadows. This is truly a film to cry and die for...! The whole cast gives the best performance in a film I've seen in years and Spielberg has really outdone himself! Whoppi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey(oh lord!), Danny Glover, and the others, all give us their best and you can feel it - almost touch it! Goldberg IS Celie, she gives her that insecurity and feeling of inferiority that is needed for the character, and we grow with her, we grow strong together with her, throughout the movie, and we triumph with her. Margaret Avery is wonderful as Shug Avery, even when she's at her most arrogant, and shows us that "sinners", indeed, "have souls too". The always sympathetic, charming Danny Glover makes a marvellous job at making people hate him and the magnificent music of(I'd say sir)Quincy Jones adds even more beauty to this splendid film! The photography, the music, the director and the music makes this beautiful, soulful movie into an experience of life. You don't want to miss it! "Sista'...remember my name..."