The Color Purple (1985)

VHS COVER/SIDE

MPPA Certifcate Number: 27996

Length of film:  154 Minutes

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Drama

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey, Willard E. Pugh, Akosua Busia, Dona Ivey

IMDB Rank: 7.8/10

Part 1 Time: 96 Minutes

Part 2 Time:  58 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Miss Millie (Dana Ivey) and Sofia (Oprah Winfrey) drive away.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “I don’t know her either.” Miss Millie states to Sofia. Sofia is forced to leave missing her Christmas family celebration.

First line of dialogue on the second part:  “Shug” Albert (Danny Glover) states to aloud as he awakes to the sound of a car horn. Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) responds smiling “Shug.”

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal, the final scene of part one shows the devastating impacts of salve ownership, where Sofia is forced to leave her family at Christmas because the owner cannot drive a manual car.

Which part is better? Both parts have many redeemable qualities, showing the emotional truths of early 20th century America. Hats off to part two as we see Celie finally gaining her independence.

Academy Awards:Best Picture (Nominated), Best Leading Actress (Nominated-Whoopi Goldberg), Best Supporting Actress (Nominated Margaret Avery), Best Supporting Actress (Nominated-Oprah Winfrey). Best Writing-Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Nominated), Best Cinematography (Nominated), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Nominated), Best Costume Design (Nominated), Best Music-Original Song (Nominated- “Miss Celie’s Blues”), Best Music-Original Score (Nominated),Best Makeup (Nominated).