"The Color Purple (1985)" Movie Review | The BlackBusters Podcast Ep.72

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This week's special guest ‪@JaeTheFade‬
The Color Purple is a 1985 American epic coming-of-age period drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Menno Meyjes, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel of the same name by Alice Walker. It was Spielberg's eighth film as a director, marking a turning point in his career as it was a departure from the summer blockbusters for which he had become known. It was also the first feature film directed by Spielberg for which John Williams did not compose the music. The film instead featuring a score by Quincy Jones, who also produced. The cast stars Whoopi Goldberg in her breakthrough role, with Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey (in her film debut), Margaret Avery, and Adolph Caesar.
An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), 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 (Danny Glover), 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. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.
BlackBusters
BlackBusters is a podcast focused on reviewing, celebrating, re-living and critiquing Black film. From the movies we all know and love to those hidden gems, there is no movie too big or small to be praised or roasted.
Join our hosts Director/Comedia/Actor ‪@biggjah‬ and movie/podcast connoisseur Tony Price as they explore the legacy, impact and influence of Black cinema.
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[@amethyst3139]

On the topic of the age difference back then, younger girls were often married off to older men. My grandparents were married in 1919; my grandmother was 15 and my grandfather was 25. Their marriage was based on him being a provider for her not like the movie.

[@VictoriousMoe]

Agreed. This was a practice that originated from Africa. Once the girl became child bearing age, 13,14ish, she was married off to an established grown man.

[@thegumbonetwork1421]

Glad yall has a woman on this one. Makes me want to watch this one with my mom and women in my family. Brings alot of discussion.

[@yosheeyawbogan9286]

Thank you Jah!!! I saw this movie TOTALLY different as an adult vs a child! Messed me up! Especially when he said, “You better not tell nobody but God.” That hit so hard because I understood what that meant!

[@therealmarlonbellamy]

This is one of my favorite movies & it was in heavy rotation in my household. Fun Fact: Robert Townsend auditioned for the role of Harpo. After not getting the role he began working on Hollywood Shuffle. Can we please get Blackbusters on the following movies: Purple Rain A Soldier’s Story Krush Groove Wild Style Beat Street JoJo Dancer Your Life Is Calling She’s Gotta Have It Hollywood Shuffle School Daze Do The Right Thing Harlem Nights Glory Movin

[@dikiasmartt399]

especially school daze it’s a kind of it’s own rarely talked about

[@therealmarlonbellamy]

@@dikiasmartt399It’s the blueprint for college movies.

[@Madein67]

I agree with your nominations and I would like to add Which Way is Up Bad Asss (Melvin Or Mario Van People’s version) Claudine and Proud Mary

[@therealmarlonbellamy]

@@Madein67 I would love to see those during Black History Month.

[@SM-yn2wj]

I 1000% agree with Jae..this film would not at all be the same with any other race.

[@jait7578]

Switching the race would def give a different movie. I was actually thinking The Joy Luck Club (Chinese women) comes to mind

[@DaSpeakaBoxx]

This was soooo good y’all. One of the best if not the best break down. I’m talking to my tv like y’all can hear me lol. I can’t wait for the breakdown of the updated version.

[@johnlewis195]

Its called Power Guys....About the Letters Mister was keeping from Celie....

[@restartmma]

Y’all should do a review on the movie “Idlewild”

[@fashizzle78]

And A Soldier's Story

[@mr.ifeoluwa4591]

Booooy Jah was cooking on this episode!!! Y’all all three unpacked this very well!!!! I can’t wait to see the continuation.

[@eargasm65]

Anytime you have JaeTheFade on, it is golden! Absolutely love her contributions! Get a wider shot and make her the third member, PLEAESE! This episode was sooooo dope. I'm a bit older than you guys, by at least 10 years. So I saw this, when it came out, in my late teens. I, like Tone, have seen this movie at least 150 times and my kids have too. We quote the lines, discuss the scenes, and it's almost like a family activity because there is so much in the film. Can't wait for part two.

[@fashizzle78]

The Color Purple was nominated for 12 Oscars and got 0 ..str8 messed up

[@briancobbs9454]

You know why that happened, right? It was because it was not only a Black film with a predominantly Black cast & a Black executive producer but it was a STEVEN SPIELBERG directed Black film with all of the above & Hollywood wasn’t ready for this type of film. They’re only starting to recognize it now, especially with release of the remake. Hollywood expected this movie to fail & it didn’t. I love this film & was reading Alice Walker really heavy @ that time. I’m from NC & The Color Purple was filmed down around the cities of Monroe, Salisbury, & Rowan, & Mecklenburg County areas. I was in high school when it was released & one of my music teachers from Dudley High School was a part of the cast. S/O to Mr. Kurtis Guild who was the light-skinned brother in the tan pin-striped suit playing the trumpet in the ‘God’s Trying to Tell You Something’ scene in the original! So, this movie resonates with me. I just saw the remake last night & I like it but not as much as this one. S/O to Mrs. Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, Ms. Danielle Brook, Ms. Taraji P. Henson, & the rest of the cast who did the damn thing! However, the the original movie is the GOAT for me! IJS!

[@00ghostcobra]

Way too many Black people on the screen for it to win anything..

[@clentonhenderson9647]

This is a great podcast breaking down a legendary movie. You guys made me thing of things I didn't even realize until now. Great job my peeps!! 👍🏾👍🏾

[@badseedent4827]

Good

[@Horroractress]

@@briancobbs9454 I agree.

[@VictoriousMoe]

This break down was so good…which is on brand for this podcast. Can’t wait for part two!

[@joyjoy730]

Love this break down!! I’m not sure if you all have read the book but it would be interesting to hear your breakdown of the movies after the read.

[@yosheeyawbogan9286]

That was a reach Tone. This was for our community. The African montages alone cannot be replaced.

[@delilah7818]

One of my favorite movies and Oprah was correct when she said ...A girl isn't safe in a house full of men..

[@marcuswest6177]

Growing up is realizing this movie is an indictment on black men. There is not a good black man in this entire movie

[@Newportnews98]

🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@overtheropeswrestlingpodcast--]

Yall shoulda had Big Fade for Best Man Holiday lol

[@theonlystorm4656]

These breakdowns are always top tier and having Jae The Fade to add the female perspective truly makes it perfect. The Color Purple is immeasurably heavier watching as an adult compared to seeing it as a kid, really a hard watch nowadays. Can’t wait for the follow up after the new one.

[@ItzMeAtlee]

I love watching these movies after y'all discuss them. It's usually been awhile since I've even thought about these films, let alone watched them. But going back, whether for nostalgia, or the simple entertainment having these conversations and commentaries make the viewing experience stay with me longer and with much deeper context. What you call entertaining us, I would call it enhancing perspectives. Stay blessed! #ToTheMaxxx

[@MsPhylie]

I read the comments and see some are still triggered by reality. A refusal to see what was/is (then and now) a reality for women and children. The punching down due to patriarchy. The tendency to villianize women (even today) if they don't shut up and deal with abuse. The reluctance to take any accountability for self, hence the reason for the state of affairs today. Study biology, sociology & psychology then revisit.....

[@colstonlchinese]

Sophia was the most mentally liberated and courageous of all the characters, in my opinion. The ensemble acting was exceptional!

[@MayaAsIam]

Women’s suffrage wasn’t just about the right to vote, they also pushed to move the age of consent from 10 to 12 to 14 (around the time the movie is set) to 16/17…its cliche now but it used to be common that so many people accepted that it’s not rape as long as the man marries her ( which often led to a cycle of poverty and abuse) so many old tv shows/ movies try and make the May December relationship a love story

[@j.d.wilson2523]

Jae the Fade is worth her weight in GOLD!! 💯💯🙌🏿

[@jackleg2007]

It's been a while since I have this movie. Read the book, before I saw the movie. I remember before the movie was released; a big discussion on my HBCU was on Spielberg directing this 'Black' movie. Good movie.

[@kenjiedavis5238]

You all made me very proud hearing you talk about this wonderful work of art! The only thing that I don't agree with is that Celie wasn't a people pleaser. She was the nurturer.

[@Tonycole]

Yoooo… I love this podcast. In my 41yrs of living I’ve never heard anyone describe characters in a film like y’all do. This man said “Hoe Ass Harpo” 😂😂😂

[@Jubalsart]

I love this movie. A great episode however 2 things were missed imo. 1. The music for the film was by Quincy Jones. I would just revisit the comments on the music with that in mind and 2. Not to make any excuse but remember we learn later that Celie and Nettie's dad is actually (unknown to them) their stepfather. I think it was easier to abuse them because they weren't his blood.

[@jaywright1413]

I never thought about it before but I can completely understand the take on how this story could be retold in any culture. It's more than just an black movie it's an feminist movie. It's not like a movie about slavery an issue that has been predominantly/exclusively black one in this country it's about feminism and S/A. Every culture has dealt with this on some level and I think Alice Walker chose black culture as the vehicle to tell her story because that's where she comes from, but that being said this ain't Roots! They could've been Irish, Italian or Mexican and gotten the writers message across it just wouldn't the same for our culture but the greater point of the movie would've still been presented.

[@taylenzz]

Me and my friends have decided to watch it again in every decade of my life…..as the perspective changes……

[@shawncooper2913]

Minister Farrakhan did a really good lecture on this movie in 1985. It's on youtube.

[@StoneyJames]

I appreciate y’all breakdown. I also hate this movie 🍿

[@millenialbroadcast]

Y’all got very deep and unearthed some aspects of the film that didn’t hit me until I heard you. But I would just like to remind Jae, especially, and the others that the book and the film are works of FICTION! The film is remarkable but it ain’t real life.

[@VictoriousMoe]

Granted it’s fiction, but this type of dysfunction did exist within black culture which is what inspired Alice Walker to write this story.

[@MsPhylie]

This story is real life but the names have been changed to protect the guilty 🫢

[@millenialbroadcast]

@@VictoriousMoe- kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2OXoJSEi9ZgfMksi=ZplAcSvsYKTPLoNQ

[@millenialbroadcast]

@@MsPhylie- kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2OXoJSEi9ZgfMksi=ZplAcSvsYKTPLoNQ

[@MayaAsIam]

Watching as an adult, so many subtle things that are implied that you don’t pick up on until later…I didn’t think Suge’s father didn’t love her, he gave I’m practicing tough love … like a lot of preachers kids, she ran to the streets and looked for unconditional love as she was once she felt she could meet his high standards… from Albert’s convo w/ his dad he mentioned being able to account for one of Suge’s kids…so I thought maybe Suge wanted to runaway with him as young girl and pursue their dreams but he stayed to work his father’s land and she left the baby with her parents. Suge is the one who got away… he thinks he may have had a different/ better life with her. And I always thought the girl in the choir at the end was their daughter… The book is about Ms. Ceily but I always wanted to know more of Suge’s story. The musical is Color Purple lite

[@joshuacarter3843]

Yall did the damn thing with this 1. Yall hit the mental portion of it all quite beautifully.

[@SammyD89]

It was hard to watch this movie. Great movieand it should have won all the he oscars and awards. but i have watched this movie twice and that's all I could take. It was so rough stuff in this movie.

[@matthewperkins5382]

ya'll should just make janae a third host

[@thatguy1928]

@BigJah I was watching Henry Danger with my son nd seen you had a role in an episode…I was like that’s my boi!!!

[@ijuscant]

1/1/24🌊🔥 1 for 1 already

[@brettthomas6327]

Whoppi Goldberg may have done the greatest performance in movie history

[@alexallen1884]

Gotta do Beloved next

[@noblemcclurkin6381]

Jah look like Grimace 😅😂😅

[@rashonx]

THIS WAS HAPPENING WELL INTO THE 40S, I HAD A COUSIN WHO GAVE HIS DAUGHTER TO MAN THEY WERE SHARE CROPPING FOR, AND THIS WAS NORMAL, IN THE 40S, AT LEAST IN sOUTH CAROLINA IT WAS

[@millenialbroadcast]

BlackBusters did a great job with this review. Here is another one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2OXoJSEi9ZgfMksi=ZplAcSvsYKTPLoNQ

[@Mr.Jones41]

If y’all had to Choose a third person for the show, she should be it…

[@MR-DESHON-R]

What happened to Selma?

[@pcfool13]

They more than likely saving it for MLK day which makes sense

[@RyanKeels]

Hope yall see this lmaooo idk what Jae is doing, but all this cooking looks like a permanent 3rd chair campaign

[@charlesarnesworld]

That movie made black men look bad😢

[@Newportnews98]

No it didn’t

[@delilah7818]

Black men don't want to be held accountable

[@donnyouttheway4091]

I agree with tone on this one. This movie , as black as it was, could’ve most definitely been race swapped. Look at Forrest Gump. Was Jenny’s dad not abusive, a child predator and a potential r-- of his own child? Even when shug called celie ugly. None of that is really a black thing or a black woman thing , imo. The one and only thing that was really specific to us as a black people is that back then, no matter your gender, you could easily get put back in slavery for getting into it with a white person. That was the only thing that was specific to us. I understand the actual struggles but man we gotta stop trying to separate from each other when it comes to pain. We’re all black, we are all going to suffer. I don’t go out my way to try and make a black man’s life more depressing and harder than a black woman’s. Mainly because a black person, I can’t think like no down on my luck, care for me ass human. Cause since I’m black till I leave this earth, I can’t live or think like a victim. And I’m equal and fair of my race. I don’t give nobody more than the other cause that’s not how God works. God ain’t rationing out problems and splitting up races of people and sayin who’s life is more of this than the other. But I get it , but that doesn’t help shit in the long run. That’s why as a people, we’re still in the same position. We spend too much time hating each other, trying to make one life more important or more sad than the other’s and we treat everybody else with the upmost respect and love etc. I can’t wait till we do that for each other one day. I hope we become actually equal and care for each other one day. Because every other race is, even if they deal with little shit, they don’t each other like how we do us.

[@danielgreen9968]

For these older movies…. You need older women… it was a lot of I feel… emotional prospective from Jade… smh 🤦🏾‍♂️… we need more logical, analytical view that the men do…. Breaking down the movie instead what the director was “trying to” portray. Women are professionals at reason in between the lines… that usually miss what was said… 😂 has a mans hair cut but can’t really see the males point of view… ironic…

[@Madein67]

Jah. Bring your wife too!

[@marckristian81]

Im only here as a supporter of the podcast. This movie is an African American horror story. Why does our community need to perpetuate the lie that black women's struggle is so much larger than men's? After a rewatch, I agree with Minister Farrakhan's assessment and dont understand what the purpose of this book/movie is supposed to be outside of telling our women that the black man is an obstacle to your success .

[@mrworkowt5419]

Terrible movie for us

[@delilah7818]

​@@mrworkowt5419black men don't want to see black men behaving bad.

[@simmyautomatik4436]

What is the matriarchy system that works? The patriarchy is based off God's design.

[@Newportnews98]

🫵🤡🤡🤡

[@DelanoEl]

Oh Lordt!! You got that crazy little boy, for this crazy man hatin movie. This movie made me feel like being a Black male was BAD when I was a child.

[@Newportnews98]

🤡🤡🫵🫵🫵🫵buy y’all support these rappers and movies like boyz n the hood and menace to society

[@DelanoEl]

KZbin needs the Fred Sanford "YOU BIG DUMMY" emoticon. Cause you don't know how I feel about Boyz N The Hood or any OTHER movie.. Do you??

[@badseedent4827]

I look at any black American man promoting color purple hella sideways .. i last two minutes watching this 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@Newportnews98]

🤡🤡🫵🫵🫵but y’all support menace 2 society , boys n the hood . But color purple is where you draw the line???

[@tagz3924]

@@Newportnews98those movies hold black men accountable for their actions. Color purple just make women feel like everything wrong in their life is cause of a man

[@mrworkowt5419]

I got older I realized how terrible this movie was for the black community!