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showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Color Purple (1985) More at IMDbPro »
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Alice Walker (novel)
Menno Meyjes (screenplay)
Release Date:
18 December 1985 (USA) more
Tagline:
Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize Winning Story. more
Plot:
The life and trials of a young African American Woman. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 11 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 8 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(40 articles)
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User Comments:
Remarkably moving story from the maestro more (155 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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 |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Moon Song (USA) (fake working title)
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
154 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Lola Falana and Diana Ross turned down the role of Shug Avery. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Mr.__ finds Celie out in a field reading one of Nettie's letters and strikes her, the letter, her glasses, and the book she was carrying (to hide the letter while she read) all scatter while falling to the ground. In the next shot, we see a close-up of the book, letter, and her glasses all neatly stacked on top of each other as they land on the ground. more
Quotes:
Sofia: [after telling Celie she knows how she feels] Oh... Sofia home, now. Sofia home. Things is gonna be changin' around here. Pass me them peas, boy. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Spielberg on Spielberg (2007) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Scarification Chant and Katutoku Corinne more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (155 total)
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This is a truly wonderful film from the guru of directing, Mr Steven Spielberg. This great director has suffered much criticism throughout his career. He was slammed by a lot of the press for 'never really growing up' and it took SCHINDLER'S LIST to quiten these critics. However almost ten years before his remarkable account of the Holocaust Spielberg directed this gem.
It is the moving tale of a young black girl born into a male-dominated world, and tells the story of her gradual loss of identity followed by her defiance in reclaiming the life she lost. This was Whoopi Goldberg's remarkable screen debut that assured her of major stardom, and it is not hard to see why. Her fear towards her husband is frighteningly real, as is her silent rebellious side that ventures outwards in the last section of the film. Danny Glover paints a horrific image of a cruel husband, and still manages to give us a valid reason why he acts the way he does, before a moving conclusion to his character's development. The part of Sofia is also expertly played by Oprah Winfrey, especially during the Christmas reunion scene when the viewer can't help but share her pain through to joy. A special treat is an appearance by Laurence Fishburne (then Larry) in a small role.
It is cinema such as this that proves Steven Spielberg's genius. You will often forget that it is him you are watching (not least by the lack of another genius, Mr John Williams), but it only adds to this director's credit that he is so versatile. If anyone passed over this film as a possible blip in Spielberg's career (as I shamefully did!) watch it now! You will not be disappointed.