Film Snail

7.8

The Color Purple

PG-13·1985·154m

Drama

History

Drama

History

Summary

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing 'Mister' Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa.

Cast

Danny Glover

Albert

Whoopi Goldberg

Celie

Margaret Avery

Shug Avery

Oprah Winfrey

Sofia

Willard E. Pugh

Harpo

Akosua Busia

Nettie

Desreta Jackson

Young Celie

Adolph Caesar

Old Mr.

Rae Dawn Chong

Squeak

Dana Ivey

Miss Millie

Leonard Jackson

Bennet Guillory

Grady

John Patton Jr.

Preacher

Carl Anderson

Reverend Samuel

Susan Beaubian

Corrine

James Tillis

Buster

Phillip Strong

Mayor

Laurence Fishburne

Swain

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 Murphy

Loretta

Juliet Poe

Church Sister

Katie Simon

Church Sister

Ethel Taylor

Church Sister

Marcus Covington

Boy

Marcus Liles

Boo

April Myers

Emma

Maurice Moore

Child #1

Lechanda Latharp

Child #2

Drew Bundini Brown

Jook Joint Patron

Arnold F. Turner

Jook Joint Patron

Jeris Poindexter

Jook Joint Patron

Hawthorne James

Jook Joint Patron

Sonny Terry

Jook Joint Musician

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 Chandler

African Musician

Jeffrey Kwashi

African Musician

Pete Munzhi

African Musician

Aniijia Rae Schockley

African Musician

Maria Howell

Church Choir Soloist (uncredited)

Gayle King

Church-goer (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Steven Spielberg

Lyricist

Quincy Jones

Lyricist

Lionel Richie

Lyricist

Rod Temperton

Novel

Alice Walker

Screenplay

Menno Meyjes

Reviews

GenerationofSwine

January 12, 2023

Well, this is one of those movies that hinges on a singular performance. In this case it's Danny Glover who is absolutely amazing in his role, probably the best performance of his career, and one of the best that came out of the 80s.

But Goldberg and Oprah really stink. I don't know what was going on there but they were all over the place.

However, despite them, Glover does carry the role, and Spielberg realized that this was a film adapted from a play. He kind of took that and ran with it, so the performances (minus two notable ones) were as earnest as you would get in live theater, the set designs, the camera movements, it all felt less like a movie and a lot more like, well, like you were seeing it live on Broadway.

And, honestly, I think that worked. It was a unique approach and it made it wonderful to watch.