IMDb > The Color Purple (1985)
The Color Purple
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Color Purple (1985) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 4)
The Color Purple (1985) -- The life and trials of a young African American Woman.
The Color Purple (1985) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   25,066 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 17% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Alice Walker (novel)
Menno Meyjes (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Color Purple on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 December 1985 (USA) more
Genre:
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
User Comments:
Vintage Spielberg In Both The Good & Bad more (157 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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Moon Song (USA) (fake working title)
more
Runtime:
154 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Whoopi Goldberg's first feature film. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: After Sofia is knocked unconscious by the sheriff, her right hand starts to reach out for her wind-blown skirt. more
Quotes:
Celie: [on leaving the farm in Shug's car, shouting to Albert] I'm poor, black, I might even be ugly, but dear God, I'm here. I'm here. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Old Ship Of Zion more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 19 people found the following comment useful.
Vintage Spielberg In Both The Good & Bad, 27 January 2007
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

As with many Steven Spielberg films, this is a beautiful-looking movie, scene-after-scene almost looking like paintings. To me, that was the main attraction of the movie because the story - although powerful - to me, wasn't as appealing as the rich visuals. It's also one of those films almost guaranteed to bring a tear or two to ones eyes at the end.

This is much more involving story if you are a woman or black person, because you can relate more to the characters in the film. As with typical Hollywood, political correctness rules: most of the men (white or black) are bad while the women (mostly black) are all good. If you are a male watching the movie, this bias in the story can be very annoying.

Individually, I remember first watching this (I've seen it a couple of times) and being surprised what a good actress Oprah Winfrey was, and how appealing was Whoopi Goldberg's character "Celie." Goldberg became a star after this film (also for her comedy appearances on TV) but I always thought this role was, by far, her best or, at the least, her most appealing.

Rae Dawn Chong never looked prettier and Margaret Avery played a real charmer. Danny Glover was effectively nasty. You wanted to punch his lights out!

Overall, expect for what I mentioned above, this was good storytelling and certainly an involving, emotional story.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (157 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Color Purple (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
THE COLOR PURPLE GOT THE BIGGEST OSCAR SNUB aahobson
Question about the ending (Spoilers!!!!) artisticash
Its gonna rain on yo head Mstrish48
Anyone else despise Miss Millie? trevvymac76
The Girl in the Choir horselady@lycos.com
Favorite Line??? tubman15
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Giant Gone with the Wind The Night of the Hunter Die Blechtrommel Der Fangschuß
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.