The Color Purple( 1985)

TV-MADramaHistory

78%

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Score

It's about life. It's about love. It's about us.

Overview

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.

Top Billed 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
Pa
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)

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Review 1Discussion

A review by GenerationofSwine

Written by GenerationofSwine on Thu Jan 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 ...