Talk:The Color Purple (1985 film)

References to use

Please add to the list references that can be used for the film article.

• Weaver, John; Kreitzer, Larry (2005). "The Colour Purple: Breaking Through the Barriers of Prejudice and Violence". In Fiddes, Paul; Clarke, Anthony (eds.). Flickering Images: Theology and Film in Dialogue. Regent's Study Guides. Smyth & Helwys Publishing. ISBN 1573124583.

Lead

I added another sentence to the paragraph on plot that better explains the story. I also took off a few unnecessary words. --KatieHixson 15:30, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

Corrections and quotes

I have now made a few corrections on this page and thus input more useful information. In addition, I felt like the Quotes section that was on this page seemed to not serve much importance to the page overall, and as a result, I omitted it. I composed another section entitled "Conflicts" because I felt like this is a key component illustrated within the film and helps to emphasize its underlying theme. --Juanfo05 08:31, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

Thus far, I have added additional links onto this page. I have also uploaded a photo (jpg format) of the DVD cover of this film. However, the copyright information was not stated in the way that this site requires and will be deleted within 10 days. If anyone knows how to correctly state the copyright information correctly, could you please go ahead and do so. Thank you! --Juanfo05 03:42, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

I added a few external links because they help to strengthen the information given within this page. These links also help to provide any additional information that this page lacks. --Juanfo05 04:54, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Film article

I added a film page on The Color Purple. I feel that what I added is important to the film and is different from the original site on the novel. --KatieHixson 21:11, 17 November 2005 (UTC) I also recently added themes to this film page. I feel these themes are strongly seen in this film and benefit the page.--KatieHixson 22:03, 17 November 2005 (UTC) One minor adjustment. I re-arranged the order of the quotes. I like them better this way because it kind of follows the storyline. No Biggie!--KatieHixson 04:24, 18 November 2005 (UTC)

Title

What is the meaning of the title?

Lesbian love affair

"She becomes very close to Mr._____’s ex-lover Shug (Avery) and forms a close relationship with her. In the book this was clearly a lesbian love relationship, but the film does not make that clear."

I saw the film and have not read the book. I seem to recall that Celie and Shrug had a "lesbian" sexual relationship, that is, they engaged sexual activities even tho they were of the same sex. In fact, I remember sex between them being graphically depicted. ?? Their "lesbian" relationship seemed rather clear to me, in the movie. --Nomenclator 01:54, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

-- In the movie, They kissed intimately, that's about it. Shug places her hand on Celie's arm, and Celie places her hand on Shug's upper thigh. While the scene is intimitely romantic; it is not necessarily sexual. The movie also makes no direct explicit claim to any sexual encounter, neither in dialogue nor in the narrative, nor in the action of the film. But it does imply a high degree of sentimentality between Celie and Shug. (Why do I insist on replying to old posts?Perhaps, because future editors might take my resonse into consideration.)Wolfpeaceful (talk) 21:01, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

Trivia/Goofs

I think that these two should be seperated. Trivia and goofs should not be merged. 71.107.41.130 02:04, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

Upset African American civil rights leaders?

"Some African American civil rights leaders were upset that a film about a disadvantaged and abused black woman was being directed by Spielberg, who was better known for his fantasy and adventure films rather than a filmmaker of serious dramas even though Alice Walker herself insisted on him directing."
Can someone specify which "leaders" were upset? Evan1975 (talk) 06:43, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Bisexuality?

Where in the book did it imply that Celie was bisexual? I recall that after she started to become friends with Mr. ___, he wanted to "try again" with her, but she said she wasn't sexually attracted to men. Where does the bisexuality mention in the article come from? 199.126.166.13 (talk) 21:22, 20 April 2008 (UTC)

Is the scene with the "n-word" historically accurate?

I recall seeing a scene in this movie where a little girl says to (I believe Oprah) that "you're the nicest n----r I know!". Although she says it innocently, Oprah does tell her later that it really hurt her feelings and what the word really means. At the risk of sounding like a stupid question, I'm curious as to whether or not the n-word had quite the same impact/meaning back then (when the story takes place) as it does today. Of course the word is very offensive/taboo today, but was that still the case to the same extent back then?76.182.144.118 (talk) 15:28, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

Yes, the n-word has always been offensive. But years ago black people were less likely to confront the issue for fear of retaliation. Ward3001 (talk) 15:43, 2 August 2008 (UTC)

But in this case Oprah did see the opprotunity to educate the girl about this issue, correct?76.182.144.118 (talk) 12:35, 6 August 2008 (UTC)

An example of the word already being offensive (at least in the US) many years ago - when Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Mikado was first produced in America (in the 1880s) a reference to the "n***r serenader" (referring to the then fashionable "black-faced minstrels" or white entertainers made up to resemble black ones) was changed, as the word, even then, was not only considered offensive to blacks, but too coarse and vulgar for the stage in any case. In England the word did not have the same connotations and was retained for many years. Being elderly, and coming from a "non-American English speaking country" I can remember a time when "n***r" was still a fairly inoffensive variant of "negro" - but that is a good many years ago now. The point in the movie is that the white child uses the term quite innocently - she has heard adults use it and has no idea how offensive it really is. The black characters are sensitive enough to be aware of this, and to "educate" her lovingly. I think this is rather well done, actually.--Soundofmusicals (talk) 22:31, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

Time period

To me "early to mid 1900s" sounds like 1902 to 1906, say. In fact, it is a much longer period. Early to mid twentieth century ? -- Beardo (talk) 13:58, 15 August 2009 (UTC)

Harpo/Oprah

I was just curious if there was any relevance to Sofia's ex-husband in the Color Purple being named Harpo (as in Oprah Winfrey plays Sofia... and "Harpo" is "Oprah" spelled backwards)... or is Harpo the name used in the book? Or is it coincidental? Wolfpeaceful (talk) 20:54, 24 August 2009 (UTC)

It's likely a coincidence. Harpo the character appears in the novel published 1982, and Oprah started Harpo Productions in 1986. Wlmg (talk) 18:26, 6 June 2010 (UTC)

Women Empowerment

This movie depict women ultimately striving to be a Business Woman. EmpressIndigo (talk) 19:59, 13 September 2019 (UTC)

Carl Anderson casting is incorrect

The article has "Carl Anderson as Rev. Avery". But Carl Anderson played Rev. Samuels, the husband of Corrine who adopted Celie's children. Rev. Avery, which I do not believe is credited as such but rather as "Preacher" (presumably Shug's father, the larger man at the local church) was portrayed by John Patton Jr. A quick web search or two will make this plain from multiple sources, including IMDB. Jyg (talk) 00:48, 31 July 2023 (UTC)