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The Color Purple
The Color Purple
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.
rating
7.728
runtime
154 min

Release

1985-12-18

Cast

Danny Glover
Danny Glover
as Albert
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
as Celie
Margaret Avery
Margaret Avery
as Shug Avery
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
as Sofia
Willard E. Pugh
Willard E. Pugh
as Harpo
Akosua Busia
Akosua Busia
as Nettie
Desreta Jackson
Desreta Jackson
as Young Celie
Adolph Caesar
Adolph Caesar
as Old Mr.
Rae Dawn Chong
Rae Dawn Chong
as Squeak
Dana Ivey
Dana Ivey
as Miss Millie
Leonard Jackson
Leonard Jackson
as Pa
Bennet Guillory
Bennet Guillory
as Grady
John Patton Jr.
John Patton Jr.
as Preacher
Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson
as Reverend Samuel
Susan Beaubian
Susan Beaubian
as Corrine
James Tillis
James Tillis
as Buster
Phillip Strong
Phillip Strong
as Mayor
Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne
as Swain
Peto Kinsaka
Peto Kinsaka
as Adam
Lelo Masamba
Lelo Masamba
as Olivia
Margaret Freeman
Margaret Freeman
as Odessa
Howard Starr
Howard Starr
as Young Harpo
Daphaine Oliver
Daphaine Oliver
as Young Olivia
Jadili Johnson
Jadili Johnson
as Young Adam
Lillian Njoki Distefano
Lillian Njoki Distefano
as Young Tashi
Donna Buie
Donna Buie
as Daisy
Leon Rippy
Leon Rippy
as Store Clerk
John R. Hart
John R. Hart
as Mailman
David Thomas
David Thomas
as Road Gang Leader
Carrie Murphy
Carrie Murphy
as Loretta
Juliet Poe
Juliet Poe
as Church Sister
Katie Simon
Katie Simon
as Church Sister
Ethel Taylor
Ethel Taylor
as Church Sister
Marcus Covington
Marcus Covington
as Boy
Marcus Liles
Marcus Liles
as Boo
April Myers
April Myers
as Emma
Maurice Moore
Maurice Moore
as Child #1
Lechanda Latharp
Lechanda Latharp
as Child #2
Drew Bundini Brown
Drew Bundini Brown
as Jook Joint Patron
Arnold F. Turner
Arnold F. Turner
as Jook Joint Patron
Jeris Poindexter
Jeris Poindexter
as Jook Joint Patron
Hawthorne James
Hawthorne James
as Jook Joint Patron
Sonny Terry
Sonny Terry
as Jook Joint Musician
Greg Phillinganes
Greg Phillinganes
as Jook Joint Musician
Roy Gaines
Roy Gaines
as Jook Joint Musician
Paulinho da Costa
Paulinho da Costa
as African Musician
Nana Yaw Asiedu
Nana Yaw Asiedu
as African Musician
Clarence Avant
Clarence Avant
as African Musician
Bayo Martin
Bayo Martin
as African Musician
Ndugu Chandler
Ndugu Chandler
as African Musician
Jeffrey Kwashi
Jeffrey Kwashi
as African Musician
Pete Munzhi
Pete Munzhi
as African Musician
Aniijia Rae Schockley
Aniijia Rae Schockley
as African Musician
Maria Howell
Maria Howell
as Church Choir Soloist (uncredited)
Gayle King
Gayle King
as Church-goer (uncredited)
REVIEWS
NA

GenerationofSwine

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.