The Color Purple **** (1985, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey) – Classic Movie Review 5760

For his 1985 movie, producer-director Steven Spielberg looks through rose-coloured glasses at Alice Walker’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel about a young African American woman, separated from her sister, who endures a life of men’s oppression until she finally frees herself. It is the epic, three-decade-long story of Celie, growing up in the early 1900s, pregnant at 14 by her abusive father.

It is an honourable film from Spielberg without whom this film probably would not have been made. But he seems an outsider trying hard to understand the point of view of women, African Americans and lesbians. And Spielberg’s usual flaws of prettiness and sentimentality are a dead weight here, at least in this screenplay by Menno Meyjes.

However, the material is riveting anyway, with the power of Walker’s novel shining through, and there are some outstanding performances. Winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress, Whoopi Goldberg is excellent as Celie Johnson, as is Margaret Avery as Shug Avery, and Oprah Winfrey makes her mark as Sofia. All three were Oscar nominated, Goldberg as Best Actress, Avery and Winfrey as Best Supporting Actress. And Danny Glover is excellent as Albert.

Allen Daviau’s widescreen cinematography, Quincy Jones’s score and J Michael Riva’s production designs are all impeccable pieces of work. As ever, Spielberg turns in a lovingly crafted movie.

There were 11 Oscar nominations, but unexpectedly, and controversially, no wins. There were no Bafta awards, and just one nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Also in the cast are Willard Pugh, Adolph Caesar, Rae Dawn Chong, Akosua Busia, Desreta Jackson, Adolph Caesar, Dana Ivey, Leonard Jackson, Bennet Guillory, John Patton Jr, Carl Anderson, Susan Beaubian, James Tillis, Phillip Strong, Laurence Fishburne, Petio Kinsaka, Lelo Masamba, Margaret Freeman and Howard Starr.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5760

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