The Color Purple
Movie, 1985, The '80s, Set in Rural Georgia
The Color Purple is #9 of 35 in release order and #9 of 35 in chronological order in the Steven Spielberg.
The story
An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing 'Mister' Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa.
The Color Purple recap
The Color Purple (1985) follows Celie, a Black girl in rural Georgia in the early 1900s, through decades of abuse toward independence. Steven Spielberg adapts Alice Walker's 1982 novel. Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), who has borne two children by the man she calls her father, both taken from her, is married off to Albert Johnson, known as Mister (Danny Glover), who beats her and drives off her younger sister Nettie (Akosua Busia) when she resists his advances. Nettie promises to write, but no letters come. Mister's son Harpo (Willard Pugh) marries the defiant Sofia (Oprah Winfrey), who is later jailed for hitting the mayor and forced to work as his wife's maid. Mister brings home his ailing lover, the blues singer Shug Avery (Margaret Avery), and Celie nurses her; Shug becomes her friend, then more, and teaches her to see her own worth. The Color Purple comes after Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and before Empire of the Sun in Spielberg's career.
The Color Purple ending explained
The Color Purple ends with Celie reunited with Nettie and her grown children. Shug and Celie find decades of Nettie's letters that Mister hid, revealing Nettie has been in Africa with the missionaries who adopted Celie's children. At a family dinner Celie stands up to Mister and leaves with Shug. When her stepfather dies she inherits her real father's house and shop and opens a tailoring business. A broken Mister quietly arranges Nettie's return, and the sisters play their childhood clapping game in a field of purple flowers. The film received 11 Oscar nominations and won none.
Post-credits scenes
No. The Color Purple has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Color Purple
The Color Purple is streaming on Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 73%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, before Empire of the Sun.
- Chronological order: after Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, before Empire of the Sun.
Cast
- Danny Glover as Albert
- Whoopi Goldberg as Celie
- Margaret Avery as Shug Avery
- Oprah Winfrey as Sofia
- Willard E. Pugh as Harpo
- Akosua Busia as Nettie
- Desreta Jackson as Young Celie
- Adolph Caesar as Old Mr.
- Rae Dawn Chong as Squeak
- Dana Ivey as Miss Millie
- Leonard Jackson as Pa
- Bennet Guillory as Grady
Directed by Steven Spielberg.