A tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 11 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 14 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Danny Glover | ... |
Albert
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| Whoopi Goldberg | ... |
Celie Johnson
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| Margaret Avery | ... |
Shug Avery
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| Oprah Winfrey | ... |
Sofia
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| Willard E. Pugh | ... |
Harpo Johnson
(as Willard Pugh)
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| Akosua Busia | ... |
Nettie Harris
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Desreta Jackson | ... |
Young Celie Harris
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| Adolph Caesar | ... |
Old Mister Johnson
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| Rae Dawn Chong | ... |
Squeak
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| Dana Ivey | ... |
Miss Millie
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| Leonard Jackson | ... |
Pa Harris
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| Bennet Guillory | ... |
Grady
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John Patton Jr. | ... |
Preacher
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| Carl Anderson | ... |
Reverend Samuel
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| Susan Beaubian | ... |
Corrine
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James Tillis | ... |
Buster
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Phillip Strong | ... |
Mayor
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| Laurence Fishburne | ... |
Swain
(as Larry Fishburne)
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Peto Kinsaka | ... |
Adam
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Lelo Masamba | ... |
Olivia
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Margaret Freeman | ... |
Odessa
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Howard Starr | ... |
Young Harpo
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Daphaine Oliver | ... |
Young Olivia
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Jadili Johnson | ... |
Young Adam
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Lillian Njoki Distefano | ... |
Young Tashi
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Donna Buie | ... |
Daisy
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| Leon Rippy | ... |
Store Clerk
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| John Ratch Hart | ... |
Mailman
(as John R. Hart)
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David Thomas | ... |
Road Gang Leader
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Carrie Murray | ... |
Loretta
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Juliet Poe | ... |
Church Sister
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Katie Simon | ... |
Church Sister
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Ethel Taylor | ... |
Church Sister
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Marcus Covington | ... |
Boy
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Marcus Liles | ... |
Boo
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April Myers | ... |
Emma
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| Maurice Moore | ... |
Child #1
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Lechanda Latharp | ... |
Child #2
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| Drew Bundini Brown | ... |
Jook Joint Patron
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| Arnold F. Turner | ... |
Jook Joint Patron
(as Arnold Turner)
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| Jeris Poindexter | ... |
Jook Joint Patron
(as Jeris Lee Poindexter)
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| Hawthorne James | ... |
Jook Joint Patron
(as James Hawthorne)
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Sonny Terry | ... |
Jook Joint Musician
(as Saunders Sonny Terry)
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| Greg Phillinganes | ... |
Jook Joint Musician
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Roy Gaines | ... |
Jook Joint Musician
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Paulinho Da Costa | ... |
African Musician
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Nana Yaw Asiedu | ... |
African Musician
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| Clarence Avant | ... |
African Musician
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Bayo Martin | ... |
African Musician
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| Ndugu Chancler | ... |
African Musician
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Jeffrey Kwashi | ... |
African Musician
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Pete Munzhi | ... |
African Musician
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Aniijia Rae Schockley | ... |
African Musician
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Maria Howell | ... |
Church Choir Soloist (uncredited)
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| Gayle King | ... |
Churchgoer (uncredited)
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| Kenneth LeGrand | ... |
Johnson Family Friend (uncredited)
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Alex Martin | ... |
Little Girl (uncredited)
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Joni Palmer | ... |
Self - Junk Joint (uncredited)
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Madison T. Shockley Sr. | ... |
African Chief (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Steven Spielberg | ||
Written by
| Menno Meyjes | ... | (screenplay) |
| Alice Walker | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Peter Guber | ... | executive producer |
| Carole Isenberg | ... | associate producer (as Carol Isenberg) |
| Quincy Jones | ... | producer |
| Kathleen Kennedy | ... | producer |
| Frank Marshall | ... | producer |
| Jon Peters | ... | executive producer |
| Steven Spielberg | ... | producer |
| Lori Weintraub | ... | executive in charge of production |
Music by
| Quincy Jones | ||
Cinematography by
| Allen Daviau | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Michael Kahn | ||
Editorial Department
| Connie Abellera | ... | assistant film editor |
| Craig Bassett | ... | assistant film editor |
| Martin Cohen | ... | assistant film editor |
| Patrick Crane | ... | post-production assistant |
| Jim Passon | ... | color timer |
| Jim Schurmann | ... | color timer |
Casting By
| Reuben Cannon | ||
Production Design by
| J. Michael Riva | ||
Art Direction by
| Bo Welch | ... | (as Robert W. Welch) |
Set Decoration by
| Linda DeScenna | ||
Costume Design by
| Aggie Guerard Rodgers | ||
Makeup Department
| Richard Alonzo | ... | makeup artist |
| William Butler | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Ken Chase | ... | makeup designer |
| Lola Kemp | ... | hair stylist |
| Leila Khan | ... | hairdresser: Kenya |
| Steve LaPorte | ... | makeup artist (as Steve La Porte) |
| Michael Laudati | ... | makeup artist |
| Robert L. Stevenson | ... | supervising hair stylist (as Robert Stevenson) |
Production Management
| Gerald R. Molen | ... | unit production manager |
| Arthur F. Repola | ... | post-production supervisor (as Arthur Repola) |
| Vincent Winter | ... | production supervisor: Kenya |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Bruce Cohen | ... | dga trainee |
| Pat Kehoe | ... | first assistant director |
| Frank Marshall | ... | second unit director: Kenya |
| Victoria E. Rhodes | ... | second assistant director (as Victoria Elizabeth Rhodes) |
| Richard A. Wells | ... | first assistant director (as Richard Alexander Wells) |
Art Department
| Ron Ashmore | ... | painter gangboss |
| Jack Johnson | ... | illustrator (as John C. Johnson Jr.) |
| Tom McCown | ... | set dresser |
| Ric McElvin | ... | lead man |
| Erik L. Nelson | ... | property master |
| Joseph C. Nemec III | ... | assistant art director |
| Dan Ondrejko | ... | greensman (as Daniel L. Ondrejko) |
| Ernest Phillips | ... | stand-by painter |
| Virginia L. Randolph | ... | set designer |
| Robert Scaife | ... | construction coordinator (as Robert E. Scaife) |
| Ed Verreaux | ... | illustrator |
| John Alvin | ... | poster artist (uncredited) |
| Howard Armstrong | ... | set design consultant (uncredited) |
| Ken Chocolate | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Anthony Klaiman | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Mark Konkel | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| David Russell | ... | storyboard artist (uncredited) |
| Ken Scaife | ... | general foreman (uncredited) |
| John Villarino | ... | foreman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Richard L. Anderson | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Michael J. Benavente | ... | sound editor |
| Willie D. Burton | ... | production sound mixer (as Willie Burton) |
| James Christopher | ... | sound editor |
| Don Digirolamo | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Dean Drabin | ... | foley mixer |
| Teresa Eckton | ... | sound editor |
| Robert Glass | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Gil Haimsohn | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Robert W. Harris | ... | cable person (as Robert Harris) |
| Robert Knudson | ... | re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson) |
| Marvin E. Lewis | ... | boom operator (as Marvin Lewis) |
| Peter Lonsdale | ... | assistant adr editor |
| Matthew C. May | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Sarah Monat | ... | foley artist |
| Alan L. Nineberg | ... | adr editor (as Alan Nineberg) |
| Mark Pappas | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Rod Rogers | ... | assistant adr editor |
| Solange S. Schwalbe | ... | supervising foley editor (as Solange) |
| Larry Singer | ... | supervising adr editor |
| John W. Singleton | ... | foley editor |
| Edward M. Steidele | ... | foley artist (as Ed Steidele) |
| Sherman Waze | ... | sound editor |
| Burton Weinstein | ... | sound editor (as Burton M. Weinstein) |
| J.R. Westen | ... | adr mixer |
| David A. Whittaker | ... | sound editor (as David Whittaker) |
| David Williams | ... | foley editor |
| Paul Pavelka | ... | re-recording engineer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Greg C. Jensen Sr. | ... | special effects assistant (as Greg Jensen) |
| Bob Stoker | ... | special effects assistant |
| Lucinda Strub | ... | special effects assistant |
| Matt Sweeney | ... | special effects supervisor |
Stunts
| Alex Brown | ... | stunt double |
| Greg Wayne Elam | ... | stunt coordinator (as Greg W. Elam) |
| John Ashby | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Tony Brubaker | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Dana Dru Evenson | ... | stunt double (uncredited) |
| Kym Washington Longino | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Rick Sawaya | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Eric Engler | ... | camera operator (as William Eric Engler) |
| John Flemming | ... | grip: Kenya |
| Phil Gries | ... | camera: press junket interviews |
| Norman Harris | ... | lighting gaffer (as Norm Harris) |
| Donald L. Hartley | ... | dolly grip (as Donald Hartley) |
| M. Todd Henry | ... | first assistant camera |
| Gene Kearney | ... | key grip |
| Ron Kenyon | ... | electrical best boy |
| Martin Kenzie | ... | focus puller: Kenya |
| Norman G. Langley | ... | camera operator |
| Michael McDermott | ... | electrician: Kenya |
| Bob Munoz | ... | grip best boy |
| Reggie Newkirk | ... | first assistant camera (as Reginold Newkirk) |
| Nigel Seal | ... | camera loader: Kenya / gaffer: Kenya |
| John R. Shannon | ... | still photographer (as John Shannon) |
| Simon Trevor | ... | camera operator: Kenya |
| Rob McCarthy | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Casey Nelson | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Bruton Peterson | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Robert Samuels | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Phelt M. Saucier | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Jo Doster | ... | location casting (as Jo Ann Doster) |
| Job Seda | ... | casting: Kenya |
| Peg Halligan | ... | casting assistant (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Francine Jamison-Tanchuck | ... | costume supervisor: women (as Francine Jamison) |
| Joanna Johnston | ... | wardrobe: Kenya |
| Betty Jean Slater | ... | set costumer: women |
| Bill Tiegs | ... | set costumer: men |
| Don Vargas | ... | costume supervisor: men |
| Robert Blackman | ... | assistant costume designer (uncredited) |
| Haleen K. Holt | ... | costume illustrator (uncredited) |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
| Tina Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
| Annalisa Strickland | ... | costumer (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Kokayi Ampah | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Brian Banks | ... | music scoring preproduction |
| Else Blangsted | ... | supervising music editor |
| Chris Boardman | ... | music adaptor |
| Bruce Botnick | ... | music scoring |
| Lyle J. Burbridge | ... | music scoring associate (as Lyle Burbridge) |
| Tom Bähler | ... | music supervisor (as Tom Bahler) |
| Jorge Calandrelli | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Andraé Crouch | ... | music arranger and conductor: Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ Choir (as Andrae Crouch) |
| Sandra Crouch | ... | music arranger and conductor: Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ Choir |
| James Flamberg | ... | supervising music editor (as Jim Flamberg) |
| Humberto Gatica | ... | pre-recorded music mixer |
| Jimmie Haskell | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Jack Hayes | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Richard Hazard | ... | orchestrator (as Dick Hazard) |
| Helaine Head | ... | music department assistant |
| Jerry Hey | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Randy Kerber | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Tom Kramer | ... | music editor |
| Michael A. Levine | ... | Synthesizer Programmer (as Michael Levine) |
| Anthony Marinelli | ... | music scoring preproduction |
| A. David Marshall | ... | music editor (as David Marshall) |
| Harvey W. Mason | ... | music adaptor (as Harvey Mason) / orchestrator (as Harvey Mason) |
| Greig McRitchie | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Sam Nestico | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Jeff Porcaro | ... | musician: percussion |
| Steve Ray | ... | music department assistant |
| Raoul Roach | ... | music department assistant |
| Joel Rosenbaum | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Mark Ross | ... | music department assistant |
| Nathan Scott | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Pam Small | ... | music department assistant |
| Fred Steiner | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Bill Summers | ... | music adaptor / orchestrator |
| Táta Vega | ... | performer |
| Ernie Watts | ... | musician: clarinet |
| Israel Baker | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Michael Boddicker | ... | keyboards (uncredited) |
| Tom Boyd | ... | oboe soloist (uncredited) |
| Tom Brown | ... | music preparation (uncredited) |
| Larry Bunker | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Ry Cooder | ... | mandolin (uncredited) |
| Andy D'Addario | ... | Music Scoring Recordist (uncredited) |
| Paulinho Da Costa | ... | percussion (uncredited) |
| Vince De Rosa | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Kevin Dorsey | ... | vocalist (uncredited) |
| Harris Goldman | ... | french horn (uncredited) |
| Daniel J. Johnson | ... | co-music editor (uncredited) |
| Tommy Johnson | ... | musician: tuba (uncredited) |
| Alan Kaplan | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Steve Livingston | ... | music editor (uncredited) |
| Lisa Donovan Lukas | ... | music preparation (uncredited) |
| Clay Mitchell | ... | musical consultant (uncredited) |
| Jeff Porcaro | ... | percussion (uncredited) |
| Joe Porcaro | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Tom Raney | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Emil Richards | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| David Schwartz | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Haim Shtrum | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| James Thatcher | ... | musician: French horn (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Alice Jean Witherspoon | ... | singer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Anne Rapp | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Robert Amon | ... | antique picture cars |
| John Feinblatt | ... | transportation captain |
| Eugene Schwartz | ... | transportation coordinator (as Gene Schwartz) |
| Gregory Dultz | ... | driver: Steven Spielberg (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Julie Adams | ... | dialect coach |
| Kate Barker | ... | assistant: Ms. Kennedy |
| Bethany Brown | ... | production accountant |
| Ken Burton | ... | projectionist |
| Dave Clark | ... | researcher |
| Jeffrey R. Coates | ... | production associate |
| Michael Crane | ... | lab consultant |
| Con Cremins | ... | location accountant: Kenya |
| Niegel Dundas | ... | animal consultant: Kenya / camp manager: Kenya |
| Jim Ealy | ... | first aid |
| Mitchell El Mahdy | ... | first aid (as Mitch Elmahdy) |
| William R. Ferris | ... | researcher (as Bill Ferris) |
| Jason Gould | ... | production associate |
| Barbara Harley | ... | london contact: Kenya |
| Iris Hedrick | ... | assistant accountant |
| Phyllis Gardner Hirsen | ... | unit publicist |
| Robin Hollister | ... | production associate: Kenya |
| Dorothy Hungerford | ... | production associate |
| Judith Jennings | ... | teacher |
| Mark Marshall | ... | production associate |
| Regina McLeod | ... | stand-in |
| Kathleen Miranda | ... | secretary: Mr. Spielberg |
| Julie Moskowitz | ... | assistant: Mr. Spielberg |
| Ramon Pahoyo | ... | craft service |
| Richard Pryor Jr. | ... | production associate |
| Bonne Radford | ... | production controller (as Bonnie Radford) |
| Mary T. Radford | ... | assistant: Mr. Marshall |
| Madeline Randolph | ... | assistant: Mr. Jones |
| James Robertson | ... | assistant camp manager: Kenya |
| Bobbi Ross | ... | teacher |
| Harry Rotz | ... | hat maker |
| Marshal Royal | ... | researcher |
| Monty Ruben | ... | production consultant: Kenya |
| Lata Ryan | ... | production coordinator |
| George Sims | ... | researcher |
| Phil Smith | ... | wrangler |
| Don Spinney | ... | animal trainer |
| Steven Talmy | ... | production associate |
| Claude Thompson | ... | choreographer |
| Mike Villarino | ... | special set effects |
| Alice Walker | ... | project consultant |
| Rebecca Walker | ... | production assistant / production associate (as Rebecca Leventhal) |
| Laurel Walter | ... | production secretary |
| Snooky Young | ... | researcher |
| Kevin Berman | ... | consultant (uncredited) |
| Beverly Robinson | ... | consultant (uncredited) |
| Beverly J. Robinson | ... | consultant (uncredited) |
Thanks
| David Dykis | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1985) (United States) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1985) (France) (theatrical)
- Daekyung Films (1986) (South Korea) (theatrical)
- Elliniki Kinimatografiki Enosi (ELKE) (1986) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Produzione Intercontinentale Cinematografica (PIC) (1986) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1986) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. Pictures (1986) (Argentina) (theatrical) (through Warner-Columbia Films)
- Warner Bros. Pictures (1986) (India) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros F. E. Inc.)
- Warner Bros. (1986) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1986) (Argentina) (theatrical) (through)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1986) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (1986) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
- Fazer Musiikki Oy/Fazer Video (1987) (Finland) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1987) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1988) (United States) (tv) (Network Television Premiere)
- CBS (1990) (United States) (tv)
- Warner Bros. Television (1990) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (1997) (United States) (DVD) (widescreen)
- Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Sandrews (1998) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (1998) (Finland) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
- Warner Home Video (1998) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Vídeo (1998) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2000) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2000) (Hong Kong) (video) (Video Compact Disc)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc edition)
- Sandrews (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- Turner International India (2009) (India) (tv)
- UTV Entertainment Television (2009) (India) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2011) (Hong Kong) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2011) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Warner Home Video (2011) (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2011) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Warner Bros. Pictures Mexico (1986) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment (camera dollies)
- Deluxe Entertainment Services (color by)
- Descriptive Video Works (descriptive video)
- Directors Sound & Editorial Services (adr recorded at)
- For Stars Catering (catering)
- Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing (special thanks) (vintage clothing rentals)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- K!SSPROOF Entertainment (cast bookings)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (music recorded at)
- Murray Weissman and Associates (marketing and promotion)
- North Carolina Film Office (filmed in)
- Pacific Title (titles and opticals)
- Panavision (camera equipment provided by)
- Post Logic Studios (digital film mastering)
- Reuben Cannon & Associates (casting)
- Sunrise Films (negative cutting)
- The Anson County Historical Society (special thanks)
- The Citizens of Anson and Union Counties, North Carolina (special thanks)
- The Huntley Family (special thanks)
- The North Carolina Film Commission (special thanks)
- The Record Plant (pre-recorded music recorded at)
- Weddington Productions (post-production sound services)
Storyline
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $15,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $1,710,333, 22 Dec 1985 |
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $146,292,009 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Sofia's speech at the dinner table was an ad-lib prompted by Steven Spielberg, in the middle of filming the scene. He asked Winfrey to express to Celie how she felt that day when she saw Celie in the store, as Sofia was shopping for Miss Millie. See more » |
| Goofs | When she is returning from Memphis on the train, Celie is sipping wine in the dining car. An African-American person could not eat in the dining car in the late 1930s, especially on a Southern run. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Enemy Mine/The Color Purple/Out of Africa/Spies Like Us (1985). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Miss Celie's Blues (Sister) See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The credits are all colored purple. See more » |
| Quotes |
Sophia:
All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my brothers. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men, but I ain't never thought I'd have to fight in my own house! See more » |