The Color Purple

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Cast & Crew

Whoopi Goldberg
Celie

Danny Glover
Albert

Margaret Avery
Shug Avery

Oprah Winfrey
Sofia

Willard E. Pugh
Harpo

Adolph Caesar
Old Mister

Akosua Busia
Nettie

Desreta Jackson
Young Celie

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

Steven Spielberg
Director

Alice Walker
Writer

Menno Meyjes
Writer

Peter Guber
Executive Producer

Jon Peters
Executive Producer

Steven Spielberg
Producer

Frank Marshall
Producer

Kathleen Kennedy
Producer

Quincy Jones
Producer

Andraé Crouch
Original Music

Quincy Jones
Original Music

Jeremy Lubbock
Original Music

Caiphus Semenya
Original Music

Rod Temperton
Original Music

Allen Daviau
Cinematography

Michael Kahn
Film Editing

J. Michael Riva
Production Design

Bo Welch
Art Director

Linda DeScenna
Set Decoration

Aggie Guerard Rodgers
Costume Design

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Audience Reviews for The Color Purple

• Jan 12, 2021

  This is a rollercoaster - in terms of sweeping emotional impact, but also in terms of approach. Ultimately worth seeing as both a harrowing and tender look at many deep-rooted, everlasting ways that African-Americans - particularly women - were the glue in each other's lives, even if it leaves you longing for deeper dives at times. Though I have yet to read Walker's novel, I experienced some whiplash during the film, and while Spielberg's playful touch was at times tragically effective in establishing contrasts, I felt his influence more than the material demanded (Quincy Jones also assumes some responsibility with his score). I justly asked myself if this would've occurred to me if I didn't know who the director was and the answer was still yes. There are still several sequences throughout that cut like a knife. Yes, a grittier take could've fleshed out some more raw and vital emotions, free of manipulation, but I was still swept up in ‘Purple' on the power of the performances alone. Holy hell, Goldberg, Winfrey, Glover, and Avery are alllll undeniable.
  Marisol M Super Reviewer
• Dec 09, 2011

  This was the first time Spielberg made a serious picture about serious issues of American History. Everything about this film is wonderful, production design, script acting, cast, direction; It just captures your heart! It was first film for Whoopi Goldberg whoose performace is direct stardom. Its a shame this got No Academy Awards, then again theres plenty of films that have that result, but this will always remain a classic!
  Luke E Super Reviewer
• Dec 02, 2011

  The Color Purple is a beautiful and strong film that is driven by great performances and a incredible script. Whoopi Goldberg's first acting credit is phenomenal and watching her just puts a smile on our face, and the iconic dinner scene where she finally yells as Danny Glover is possibly the finest acting in her career to this day. Danny Glover is also great, he is cruel and really plays an evil role very well. The story has so many conflicts and yet we still see the film as beautiful, but with so many conflicts why do we see it as beautiful? It's because the main character is a beautiful woman on the inside and never loses hope, and her relationship with her sister is a truly beautiful character study. I see beauty in this film and the characters, and the actors fill the characters perfectly and make them their own. I loved the setting and the costumes, it really all had an innocent feel to it. The Color Purple is one of Steven Spielberg's most personal films as he shows cruelty and racism at its worst, and its just another reminder that Spielberg is one of cinema's greatest visionary's.
  Bradley W Super Reviewer
• Aug 22, 2011

  The Color Purple is a very touching and lovingly-made film from Steven Spielberg that captures the life of Southern black women in the years 1909 through 1949 and is both poignant and emotionally moving as well as disturbing at times. The film follow Whoopi Goldberg's character Celie who is basically a servant and sex slave to her abusive (emotionally and physically) husband who separates her from her sister who was her rock. Over the course of the film we see Celie grow from a scared and timid girl to a strong and independent woman and one who is filled with passion and perseverance! The film is a little over 2 and a half hours but is filled with such great performances from Glover, Goldberg and Winfrey as well as the supporting cast that there is no wasted screen time and while it falters in a few moments, makes up for it with such loving care in the way it is filmed and enacted that you simply forgive it's faults.
  

  Chris B Super Reviewer

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