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The Color Purple
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Steven Spielberg
Produced by	Steven Spielberg Kathleen Kennedy Quincy Jones Frank Marshall
Written by	Alice Walker Menno Meyjes
Starring	Whoopi Goldberg Danny Glover Oprah Winfrey Margaret Avery Akosua Busia Willard Pugh
Music by	Quincy Jones
Cinematography	Allen Daviau
Editing by	Michael Kahn
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Amblin Entertainment
Release date(s)	December 20, 1985 (limited) February 7, 1986
Running time	154 min.
Country
Language	English
Budget	$15 million
Gross revenue	$98,467,863
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

The Color Purple is a 1985 drama film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the eighth film directed by Spielberg and is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker. The film tells the story of a young African American girl named Celie and shows the problems faced by African American women during the early 1900s; including poverty, racism and sex discrimination. The character Celie is transformed as she finds her self-worth through the help of two strong female companions. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... The Color Purple can refer to: The Color Purple, the 1982 novel by Alice Walker. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (500x755, 65 KB) Licensing This image is of a movie poster or title card, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the movie or the studio which produced the movie in question. ... Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. ... Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. ... Kathleen Kennedy (b. ... This article is about the producer and songwriter. ... Frank Marshall (born September 13, 1946) is an American movie producer and director, often working in collaboration with Kathleen Kennedy. ... Alice Malsenior Walker (born February 9, 1944) is an American author and feminist. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Whoopi Goldberg (born November 13, 1955) is an American actress, comedian, radio presenter, host, and author. ... Danny Lebern Glover[1] (born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, film director, and political activist. ... Oprah Winfrey, (born January 29, 1954) is a multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest rated talk show in television history. ... Margaret Avery is a singer and actress. ... Akosua Busia (born December 30, 1966) is a Ghanaian actress based in the U.S.. The daughter of Kofi Abrefa Busia, the ex-prime minister of the Republic of Ghana, Akosua is a princess of the royal family of Wenchi, a subgroup of the Ashanti. ... Willard E. Pugh is an American actor with numerous film and television credits. ... This article is about the producer and songwriter. ... Allen Daviau (born June 14, 1942 in New Orleans) is a five-time Academy Award nominated American cinematographer. ... This article is about Michael Kahn the film editor. ... “WB” redirects here. ... Amblin Entertainment logo. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson Rambo: First Blood Part II, starring Sylvester Stallone Rocky IV, starring Sylvester Stallone The Color Purple, starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong, Adolph Caesar Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep and... Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country (typically in cities such as New York and Los Angeles). ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... // April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Gos Belinda Carlisle Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... // Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson Rambo: First Blood Part II, starring Sylvester Stallone Rocky IV, starring Sylvester Stallone The Color Purple, starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong, Adolph Caesar Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep and... A drama film is a film that depends mostly on in-depth character development, interaction, and highly emotional themes. ... Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. ... The Pulitzer Prize is an American award regarded as the highest national honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musical composition. ... This article is about about the novel. ... Alice Malsenior Walker (born February 9, 1944) is an American author and feminist. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... A boy from an East Cipinang trash dump slum in Jakarta, Indonesia shows what he found. ... Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Ethnocracy Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial quota... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sexism. ...

Plot

Taking place in the Southern United States during the early- to mid-1900s, the film follows the life of a poor African American girl, Celie Harris (Whoopi Goldberg), whose abuse begins when she is young. By the time she is fourteen, she has already had two children by her father (later discovered to be her stepfather), who takes them away from her at childbirth and forces Celie to marry a local widower whom she calls "Mister" (Danny Glover), but his name is Albert Johnson. Mister, who had his eyes on Celie's younger, more attractive sister Nettie (Akosua Busia), treats Celie like a slave, making her clean up his disorderly household and take care of his unruly children. Mister beats and rapes her often, intimidating Celie into near silence and submission. Nettie comes to live with them, and there is a brief period of happiness as the sisters spend time together and Nettie begins to teach Celie how to read. This is short-lived, however; after Nettie refuses Mister's predatory affections once too often, he kicks her out. An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Whoopi Goldberg (born November 13, 1955) is an American actress, comedian, radio presenter, host, and author. ... Danny Lebern Glover[1] (born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, film director, and political activist. ... Akosua Busia (born December 30, 1966) is a Ghanaian actress based in the U.S.. The daughter of Kofi Abrefa Busia, the ex-prime minister of the Republic of Ghana, Akosua is a princess of the royal family of Wenchi, a subgroup of the Ashanti. ...

Mister's old flame, the jazz singer Shug Avery (Margaret Avery), for whom Mister has carried a torch for many years, comes to live with him and Celie. Delirious with sickness, Shug initially insults Celie by saying "you sure is ugly" on their first meeting, but they eventually become close friends and Shug helps Celie begin to see her worth as a human being. Shug and Celie also entertain a lesbian affair; this was more pronounced in the book, and is only hinted at in the film. Celie also finds strength in Sofia (Oprah Winfrey), who marries Mister's son Harpo (Willard E. Pugh). Sofia has also suffered abuse from the men in her family, but unlike Celie, she refuses to tolerate it. This high-spiritedness proves to be her downfall, however, as a rude remark to the town mayor's wife ends with Sofia in jail. Margaret Avery is a singer and actress. ... This article is about same-sex desire and sexuality among women. ... Oprah Winfrey, (born January 29, 1954) is a multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest rated talk show in television history. ... Willard E. Pugh is an American actor with numerous film and television credits. ...

Nettie, meanwhile, has been living with missionaries in Africa and writing Celie often. Mister confiscates Nettie's letters, telling Celie that she will never hear from her sister again. During a visit from Shug and her new husband, Celie and Shug discover many years' worth of Nettie's correspondence. Reconnecting with her sister and the assurance that she is still alive helps give Celie the strength to stand up to Mister, threatening his life and then leaving him permanently.

Celie opens up a haberdashery selling "one size fits all" slacks. Upon the death of her father, she learns that he was, in fact, her stepfather, and that she has inherited a house from her real father. Meanwhile, Mister's fields languish as he slips into alcohol-fueled idleness. The film ends when Nettie and Celie's children, Adam and Olivia (raised in Africa), are reunited with Celie at last. A haberdasher is a person who sells small items via retail, commonly items used in clothing, such as ribbons and buttons, or completed accessories, such as hats or gloves. ...

Cast

• Whoopi Goldberg as Celie Harris Johnson
• Danny Glover as Mr. Albert Johnson
• Oprah Winfrey as Sofia
• Margaret Avery as Shug Avery
• Akosua Busia as Nettie Harris
• Willard Pugh as Harpo Johnson
• Adolph Caesar as Old Mr. Albert Johnson
• Rae Dawn Chong as Squeak
• Dana Ivey as Miss Millie
• Larry Fishburne as Swain

Whoopi Goldberg (born November 13, 1955) is an American actress, comedian, radio presenter, host, and author. ... Danny Lebern Glover[1] (born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, film director, and political activist. ... Oprah Winfrey, (born January 29, 1954) is a multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest rated talk show in television history. ... Margaret Avery is a singer and actress. ... Akosua Busia (born December 30, 1966) is a Ghanaian actress based in the U.S.. The daughter of Kofi Abrefa Busia, the ex-prime minister of the Republic of Ghana, Akosua is a princess of the royal family of Wenchi, a subgroup of the Ashanti. ... Willard E. Pugh is an American actor with numerous film and television credits. ... Adolph Caesar (born December 5, 1933; died March 6, 1986) was an African American actor. ... Rae Dawn Chong (born February 28, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian born actress and daughter of Tommy Chong. ... Dana Ivey (born August 14, 1942) is an American actress. ... Laurence John Fishburne III[1] (born July 30, 1961) is an American Academy Award-nominated, Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor of screen and stage, as well as playwright, director, and producer. ...

Reception

Awards

Though the film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Goldberg and Best Supporting Actress for both Avery and Winfrey, it did not win any. Some critics pointed to the controversy that occurred during the production of the film as the reason for it getting snubbed by the Academy.^{[citation needed]} The Color Purple is the most nominated film (tied with The Turning Point) in history to not receive any Oscars.^{[citation needed]} Some African American civil rights leaders were upset that a film about a disadvantaged and abused black woman was being directed by Spielberg, who was better known for his fantasy and adventure films rather than a filmmaker of serious dramas even though Alice Walker herself insisted on him directing.^{[citation needed]} Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... ©A.M.P.A.S.® The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to artists working in the motion picture industry. ... Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. ... Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. ... The Turning Point (1977) was written by Arthur Laurents and directed by Herbert Ross. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

The Color Purple was also nominated for five Golden Globes, including Best Picture (Drama), Best Director for Spielberg, and Best Supporting Acress for Winfrey. Its only win went to Goldberg for Best Actress (Drama).

Differences from the novel

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• "Mister" is not given a full name in the novel. In fact, a blank is in place where his name would be. In the film, he is called "Albert" by Shug and others, and the "Johnson" surname is clearly seen on the mailbox and mail he receives.
• The scene where Mister separates Celie and Nettie, then throws Nettie off his farm, did not happen in the novel. Instead, Nettie runs away before Mister had the chance. The reason for her sudden departure is the same as it was in the movie (with Nettie hitting Mister), but it isn't revealed until later on in the novel when Celie is reading her letters
• The novel goes into more details concerning Nettie's time in Africa, including her subsequent marriage to the Reverend after Corrine dies.
• The novel also reveals that Corrine thought that Olivia and Adam were Nettie's children (not Celie's) because they look like her. This is the reason they allowed Nettie to join them for the missionary trip to Africa.
• The scene where Celie meets Corrine and Olivia in the store, Olivia is a baby. In the novel she is six years old.
• The novel details the relationship between Grady (Shug's husband) and Squeak (Harpo's girlfriend). They get together and move to Panama where he grows marijuana. Eventually Squeak leaves him and returns to the US.
• In the book Shug runs off with a young man named Germaine, then returns back to Celie.
• In the novel, Mister did not have anything to do with Nettie's return to the US.
• In the novel, Mister is actually with Celie and company when Celie is reunited with Nettie and her children, while in the movie, he watches the reunion from a distance, noticed only by Shug.
• In the novel, Mister's father only appears in the scene on the porch, whereas in the movie, he also appears in the Thanksgiving Dinner scene, and once more in the scene where Mister has fallen into an alcoholic haze after Celie leaves him.
• In the novel, Celie's sexual development towards bisexuality and her lesbian relationship with Shug Avery are given much more prominence. Where as they are almost non-existent in the film.
• In the novel, Celie's religious development from a patriarchal belief system to the more nature-oriented pantheism is given more prominence.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Prose is writing distinguished from poetry by its greater variety of rhythm and its closer resemblance to everyday speech. ... Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Bisexual redirects here. ... A patriarch (from Greek: patria means father; arché means rule, beginning, origin) is a male head of an extended family exercising autocratic authority, or, by extension, a member of the ruling class or government of a society controlled by senior men. ... Pantheism (Greek: πάν ( pan ) = all and θεός ( theos ) = God) literally means God is All and All is God. It is the view that everything is of an all-encompassing immanent abstract God; or that the universe, or nature, and God are equivalent. ...

See also

• List of films portraying paedophilia or sexual abuse of minors
• The Color Purple: The Musical

The Color Purple is a Broadway musical based upon the novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker. ...

References

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

The Color Purple (film)

• The Color Purple at the Internet Movie Database
• The Color Purple at Allmovie
• The Color Purple at Box Office Mojo
• Roger Ebert's original review of The Color Purple (He gave it 4/4 stars)