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Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey, Willard E. Pugh ... see more see more... , Akosua Busia , Desreta Jackson , Adolph Caesar , Dana Ivey , Susan Beaubian , Drew Bundi Brown , Rae Dawn Chong , Laurence Fishburne , Bennet Guillory , Hawthorne James , Leonard Jackson , Jadili Johnson , Peto Kinsaka , Lelo Masamba , Carrie Murray , John Patton Jr. , Jeris Poindexter , Leon Rippy , Job Seda , Phillip Strong , James Tillis , Carl Anderson (II) , John Hart , Donna Buie , Marcus Covington , Lillian Njoki Distefano , Margaret Freeman , Lechanda Lathrap , Marcus Liles , Maurice Moore , April Myers , Daphaine Oliver , Juliet Poe , Katie Simon , Howard Starr , Ethel Taylor , David Thomas , Reuben Cannon , Clarence Avant , Arnold Turner , Carl Anderson

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple spans the years 1909 to 1949, relating the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), a Southern black woman virtually sold into a lif... read more read more...e of servitude to her brutal husband, sharecropper Albert (Danny Glover). Celie pours out her innermost thoughts in letter form to her sister Nettie (Akousa Busia), but Albert has been hiding the letters Nettie writes back, allowing Celie to assume that Nettie is dead. Finally, Celie finds a champion in the don't-take-no-guff Sofia (Oprah Winfrey), the wife of Glover's son from a previous marriage. Alas, Sofia is "humbled" when she is beaten into submission by angry whites. Later, Celie is able to forge a strong friendship with Albert's mistress Shug (Margaret Avery). Emboldened by this, Celie begins rifling through her husband's belongings and finds Nettie's letters. Able at last to stand up to her husband, Celie leaves him to search for a new life on her own. A major box-office hit, The Color Purple was nominated for eleven Oscars. The film was co-produced by Quincy Jones, who also wrote the score. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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93% liked it

161,037 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

26 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Release Date: December 16, 1985

Keywords: emotional

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DVD Release Date: February 18, 2003

Stats: 10,424 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (10,424)

  • spielberg00
    August 19, 2011
    spielberg00
    THE COLOR PURPLE is a depressing, poignant tale about race. It really makes you wonder why it was nominated for so many Academy Awards and did not win a single one.
  • CloudStrife84
    August 16, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    Disturbing and uncomfortable, yet also unmistakably beautiful. There are many contradicting qualities here that are in steady conflict with each other. On one side of the coin you have truly ravishing camera work, with settings so rich in light and color, that it looks like somet... read morehing out of a dream. On the other, however, there are occurences of such despicable nature, that your stomach will be left in a turmoil. Not only because of how horrific they are, but also due to the infantile fashion in which they are presented. Unspeakable crimes like incest and rape, are carelessly interweaved with lighthearted music and congrous humor. An unsavory mix that leaves a bad taste in the mouth. And why is the majority of all male characters such rotten and sadistic monsters? It only serves to place the film in disharmony, while shattering any credibility it could have had. What saves it from disaster though, is all the star-making performances coming from the ladies in the cast. Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey (here almost inrecognizable), are so terrific in their roles, that it re-directs all thoughts to what's positive about the film. Like mentioned, it's very beautiful, and Spielberg's directing is outstanding as ever. Especially towards the end where it's hard to keep the tears away. A fine drama, all things considered. Albeit sadly somewhat diminished by a less-than-plausible story.
  • fb1672039553
    August 12, 2011
    fb1672039553
    Smart, poignant, honest, subtle, and thoroughly moving. The story reminds me of The Shawshank Redemption, only we are following a southern black woman in the first 4 decades of the 20th century and her prison consists of sexually, physically, and verbally abusive men, complete is... read moreolation from the only person who cared about her, and greatest of all, her heart-breaking view of her self. But there is redemption, and it will run deep into your soul. Great cast. Oprah and Whoopi really do transcend themselves, proving they can act with the best of them.
  • imrealgod
    July 24, 2011
    imrealgod
    For me, it's a feel-good movie that's good but doesn't get any better.

    Quoting a few lines from the song towards the ending:
    "God is trying to tell you something.
    Maybe God is trying to tell you something right now....."

    Maybe He's trying to tell you to end it right now. It's a... read morel-frigging-ready enough. Amen.
  • DreamExtractor
    June 5, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A beautifully made movie that makes me smile every time I see it. This movie gives me peace whenever i see this, the fields, the flowers, the skies, ad everything are so well made and I love Spielberg for truly capturing it. The acting is truly believing and I think some Oscars... read more were stolen from them. The plot is amazing and atrue tale of bravery and love and friendship and family. I was thinking it would be another Tyler Perry movie, but this is one of the most ovie dramas ever made.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 21, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    Pretty good.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 2, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    One of the Master Piece from Steven Spielberg Movie Factory.
  • mumby1988
    November 4, 2009
    mumby1988
    Throughout his career Steven Spielberg has proved that when it comes to popcorn thrills and light-hearted entertainment, there is almost no-one better on the planet. But when he turns his hand to more serious subject matter, he has a habit of pulling his punches for the sake of a... read more sentimental cop-out, betraying an audience?s trust so that he can make us cry. That is the central problem with The Colour Purple.

    Spielberg does not seem like a natural choice for this feminist tale of oppression and humiliation in 20th century Georgia. This is especially the case when you look at his previous film, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Sure, Indiana Jones is the upmarket equivalent of a B-movie matinee idol, and hence women?s rights are not high up on the agenda. But at least both the other Indy films had the sense and decency to pair him with a strong-willed female character, rather than a damsel-in-distress.

    To give Spielberg credit, the first half of The Colour Purple is very, very good. Danny Glover gives a powerful performance as ?Mister? (Albert), reminding you that beneath the Lethal Weapon exterior lies a talented and underrated leading man. Whoopi Goldberg, who was Oscar-nominated for her performance, is a great match for him. Every single act of oppression that Mister heaps on Celie is completely believable, and as Celie retreats further inwards your heart goes out to her. You genuinely sympathise with the character rather than simply feeling as if you should: there is great depth to Goldberg?s performance, and in the shaving scenes you could cut the tension with? well, a razor.

    The art direction and cinematography are also great, really taking the audience into the heart of black culture. From the tumble-down state of Mister?s house to the juke joint on the riverbank, the sets seem to have been lifted straight out of the 1920s and 1930s. The bleak mood created by these harsh and simple surroundings further enhance the sense of despair at the heart of the story. These are people with not much to hope for, few prospects and little to cling to save their families and strict moral principles, however distorted and corrupted both things may be. Much like the opening of Saving Private Ryan, the audience feel like they are in the characters? personal hell. It?s a strange sensation, one which is simultaneously frightening and captivating.

    But sadly, like so many of Spielberg?s films, it isn?t long before The Colour Purple collapses into a soggy pit of sentimentality, never to emerge. The second that Celie discovers the backlog of letters from her long-lost sister, the film falls apart and never recovers.

    This may be a problem with the novel: it is never made clear why Mister kept the letters, rather than simply burning them and thereby permanently destroying Celie?s hope. As far as the film is concerned, this is a deus ex machina, a get-out-of-jail-free card for the director. The discovery of the letters confirms and restores Celie?s sense of hope, and allows her to stand up to her oppressors with seemingly minimal effort in the transition. This easy road to recovery cheapens the message of the film, removing the threat of retaliation and making the whole thing seem rather frivolous. There?s nothing wrong with the idea that hope overcomes all despair, but the film hasn?t earned the right to wave away the problem, at least not so flippantly.

    All of which begs the question: if the survival of Nettie is assured, why does the film need to drag out for another hour-and-a-half? Spielberg himself doesn?t seem to know the answer, as long sections of the second half are crammed full of inconsequential rubbish. Why do we need the goofy comedy sequence in which Sophia?s ditzy mistress is learning to drive? Why do we need the scene of the juke band entering the church, which seems to have escaped from 1941? And why, oh why, do we need the sequence of Sophia and Harpo trying on pants?!

    The only explanation for this is that Spielberg emphasises them to illustrate Celie?s gradual return to happiness. But as it is, these sequences only emphasise the lack of backbone in the second half of the film. Where the opening act or two was bleak and portentous, and almost as good as The Shawshank Redemption, the latter acts are shallow and inconsequential. Even when Celie and Nettie are united and the tears start rolling, you?re cross with yourself for crying because you know the film hasn?t done enough to make the tears seem genuine.

    The Colour Purple stands alongside Schindler?s List and Saving Private Ryan as one of Spielberg?s admirable failures. Each of these films have great opening acts which feel genuine, are inhabited by truthful characters and look fantastic. But each of these falls down on their inability to develop a dark storyline without resorting to over-the-top villains or unjustified special effects. The Colour Purple is not an awful film; certainly it gets away with what it does for a whole lot longer than Schindler or Ryan. It?s just a real shame that Spielberg couldn?t follow through on the promise of the first half and deliver a film about hope which wasn?t cheatingly sentimental. That is the great success of Shawshank, to which The Colour Purple cannot hold a candle.
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    Spielberg's first real drama has stood the test of time. Moving and impressive.
  • TomBowler
    August 2, 2009
    TomBowler
    an incredibly moving, no holds barred, film. whoopi goldberg is brilliant in this amazing drama.

View All The Color Purple Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It is a great, warm, hard, unforgiving, triumphant movie, and there is not a scene that does not shine with the love of the people who made it. Full Review

John J. Puccio
January 19, 2011
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...we can forgive Spielberg his indulgences when the outcome is so profoundly moving. Full Review

Randy White
January 2, 2011
Randy White, Common Sense Media

Inspiring, sentimental tale of survival. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 5, 2009
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Spielberg may not have been the best choice to direct this feminist text, making a clean, neat movie that lacks authenticity, but the movie has many touching moments and the entire female ensemble is ... Full Review

Alex Sandell
July 14, 2005
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Overrated, but still a good film.

Steve Crum
May 28, 2005
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Brilliant, disturbing storytelling by Spielberg with standout performances.

Ken Hanke
June 23, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

A far better film than is usually thought.

Dan Lybarger
February 23, 2003
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online

Spielberg's first big drama is often hokey in places but ultimately succeeds.

Bill Chambers
February 16, 2003
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central

Spielberg's classicism comes to be appreciated in a goosebumps-inducing send-off for Mister. Full Review

Christopher Null
January 23, 2003
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

It is unquestionably overwrought, but it is a truly lovely film with a lot of emotion in it. The meaning of all that emotion is unfortunately still up for grabs. Full Review

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    • Nettie: Nothing but death will keep me from it.
    • Sofia: Sat in that jail, I sat in that jail til I near about done rot to death. I know what it like to wanna go somewhere and cain't. I know what it like to wanna sing... and have it beat out 'ya. I want to thank you, Miss Celie, fo everything you done for me. I 'members that day in the store with Miss Millie - I's feelin' real down. I's feelin' mighty bad. And when I seed you - I know'd there is a God. I know'd there is a God
    • Shug Avery: You sho' is ugly!
    • Celie: Shug likes honey. And now I'm just like a bee.
    • Shug Avery: You see daddy? Sinners have soul too.
    • Celie: I'm poor, black, I might even be ugly, but dear God, I'm here. I'm here.
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The Color Purple Trivia

  • What 2 movies has the honor of being nominated for a record 11 Academy Awards and winning none?  Answer »
  • Which 1985 movie has the following cast? Danny Glover as Albert Whoopi Goldberg as Celie Margaret Avery as Shug Avery Oprah Winfrey as Sofia Laurence Fishburne as Swain   Answer »
  • Why did Sofia get thrown in jail in the Color Purple?  Answer »
  • Each of the following films were nominated for 11 Academy Awards. Which received no wins?  Answer »
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