The Color Purple

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

THE COLOR PURPLE (15)

D: Steven Spielberg

Warner Bros./Amblin (Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Quincy Jones, Jon Peter & Peter Gubers)

USA 🇺🇸 1985

152 mins

Drama

W: Menno Meyjes [based on the novel by Alice Walker]

DP: Allen Davieu

Ed: Michael Kahn

Mus: Quincy Jones

PD: J. Michael Riva

Cos: Aggie Guarard-Rodgers

Whoopi Goldberg (Celie), Danny Glover (Albert), Margaret Avery (Shug Avery), Oprah Winfrey (Sofia), Willard Pugh (Harpo), Akosua Busia (Nettie), Adolph Caesar (Old Mister), Rae Dawn Chong (Squeak)

Steven Spielberg's first 'mature' film, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker tells the life story of an African-American woman during the early part of the 1900's, as she face struggles from both society and within her own family.

All the performances are absolutely fantastic and director Spielberg presents the story incredibly well, though it isn't what you would come to expect from a director whose previous films would be described as far more fun than they would be serious. Some might say that he wasn't the obvious choice to direct this film, but producer Quincy Jones is said to have insisted upon it.

The film was nominated for 11 Oscars and went away empty-handed, making it the biggest 'Oscar loser' of all time. It's unfortunate, it really deserved something, as the screenplay and cast ensemble are excellent.

A very well made piece of work.

8/10

Danny Glover & Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple