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The Color Purple
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Synopsis
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 life 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, All Movie Guide

Cast

Margaret Avery Shug Avery
Akosua Busia Nettie
Adolph Caesar Old Mister
Danny Glover Albert
Whoopi Goldberg Celie
Dana Ivey Miss Millie
Desreta Jackson Young Celie
Willard E. Pugh Harpo
Oprah Winfrey Sofia

Production Crew

Carole Isenberg Associate Producer
Alice Walker Book Author
Jo Ann Doster Casting
Allen Daviau Cinematographer
Andrae Crouch Composer (Music Score)
Caiphus Semenya Composer (Music Score)
Chris Boardman Composer (Music Score)
Fred Steiner Composer (Music Score)
Jack Hayes Composer (Music Score)
Jerry Hey Composer (Music Score)
Joel Rosenbaum Composer (Music Score)
Jorge Calandrelli Composer (Music Score)
Quincy Jones Composer (Music Score)
Randy Kerber Composer (Music Score)
Rod Temperton Composer (Music Score)
Aggie Guerard Rodgers Costume Designer
Steven Spielberg Director
Michael Kahn Editor
Michael Laudati Makeup
Richard Alonzo Makeup
Steve LaPorte Makeup
Frank Marshall Producer
Jon Peters Producer
Kathleen Kennedy Producer
Peter Guber Producer
Quincy Jones Producer
Steven Spielberg Producer
Gerald R. Molen Production Designer
J. Michael Riva Production Designer
Robert W. Welch III Production Designer
Menno Meyjes Screenwriter
Linda de Scenna Set Designer
Tom McCown Set Designer
Lionel Richie Songwriter
Greg W. Elam Stunts
Richard L. Anderson Supervising Sound Editor
Year: 1985
Runtime: 154
Country: USA
MPAA Rating: PG13
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Color type
DeLuxe Color

Produced by
Amblin Entertainment
Guber-Peters Company
Warner Brothers

Release
by Warner Brothers

Awards
1985 - Best Picture - Academy
1985 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1985 - Best Picture - Academy
1985 - Best Picture - Academy
1985 - Best Picture - Academy
1985 - Best Picture - Academy