Steven Spielberg was a risky choice. People forget that. In 1985, he was the "blockbuster guy" who did aliens and sharks, not the heavy, soulful weight of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. But when he started assembling the cast of the Color Purple 1985, something clicked. He didn't just find actors; he found people who lived the skin of these characters. It’s been decades, but if you sit down and watch it right now, the raw nerve of those performances hasn't dulled a bit.
Most films from the mid-eighties feel dated. The hair is too big, the synths are too loud, or the acting feels like it belongs in a theater, not on a screen. This movie is different. Honestly, it’s mostly because of the faces. You’ve got a group of performers who, at the time, were mostly unknowns or seen as "just" comedians. They turned a brutal story about trauma, sisterhood, and the Jim Crow South into a masterpiece that grabbed eleven Oscar nominations. Even though it famously won zero of them—a snub that still irritates film buffs to this day—the legacy of the cast is untouchable.
Who really was Celie?
Whoopi Goldberg wasn't a movie star then. She was a stand-up comic with a one-woman show on Broadway. When she got the role of Celie, it was her film debut. Think about that for a second. You’re a newcomer, and your first job is carrying a massive period drama directed by the biggest filmmaker in the world.
Whoopi’s performance is mostly in her eyes. She spends so much of the movie being told she’s "ugly" or "nothing," and her ability to shrink into herself is heartbreaking. But the transition—that slow-burn realization that she has a voice—is where the magic happens. When she finally tells Mister, "I'm poor, Black, I may even be ugly, but dear God, I'm here," it isn't just a line. It’s a roar.
It’s interesting to note that Alice Walker herself was involved in the casting process. She actually saw Whoopi’s stand-up and knew there was a depth there that went beyond jokes. If they had cast a traditional "Hollywood" beauty for Celie, the movie would have collapsed. It needed that grounded, real-world grit.
The Oprah effect before she was "Oprah"
Before the talk show empire and the "You get a car!" memes, Oprah Winfrey was a local news anchor in Chicago who desperately wanted to be in this movie. She has talked openly about how she literally prayed for the role of Sofia. She was terrified she’d be too "big" or too "much" for the screen, but Spielberg saw exactly what the character needed: an unbreakable spirit that eventually gets broken by a cruel system.
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Sofia is the foil to Celie. Where Celie is quiet, Sofia is loud. Where Celie submits, Sofia fights.
The scene where Sofia is struck by the mayor after refusing to be his maid is one of the most jarring moments in 80s cinema. Seeing Oprah—who we now associate with power and wealth—portray a woman who is physically and mentally shattered by the police and the jail system is a gut punch. Her "Hell No" isn't just a catchphrase; it’s a manifesto.
Danny Glover and the complexity of Mister
Danny Glover had a tough job. Albert, or "Mister," is a monster for 90% of the film. He’s abusive, he’s cold, and he separates Celie from the only person she loves—her sister Nettie. Glover played him with a sort of pathetic cruelty. He wasn't a mustache-twirling villain; he was a man trapped in his own cycle of misery and learned toxicity.
Wait, did you know Glover was actually quite hesitant about the role? He was worried about how Black men were being portrayed on screen. He and Spielberg had long talks about how to make Mister feel like a human being who eventually finds a shred of redemption, rather than just a cardboard cutout of an abuser. That final scene where he helps Nettie return? It only works because Glover showed us the cracks in Mister’s armor earlier on.
The musical soul of Shug Avery
Margaret Avery brought a specific kind of elegance to Shug. In the book, Shug is a bit more jagged, but in the 1985 film, she’s the "glamour." She represents the world outside the farm—the world of jazz, juke joints, and independence.
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The chemistry between Margaret Avery and Whoopi Goldberg is the heartbeat of the film. Their relationship is tender, and for 1985, it was incredibly bold. While the movie toned down the explicit lesbian relationship found in the book (a point of contention for many fans), the intimacy is still there. When Shug sings "Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)," it’s a love letter.
It’s also worth mentioning the singing. While Margaret Avery is a talented performer, her singing voice in the film was actually dubbed by Tata Vega. That’s a common Hollywood trick, but Vega’s raspy, soulful belt matched Avery’s physical performance so perfectly that most people never realized it wasn't her.
Other key players you might have forgotten
The cast of the Color Purple 1985 was deep. It wasn't just the main four.
- Akosua Busia as Nettie: She had to play the "hope" of the movie. Her letters are the only thing keeping Celie going. Busia brought a scholarly, gentle energy that made the eventual reunion feel earned.
- Adolph Caesar as Old Mister: Caesar died shortly after the film was released. He played Albert’s father with a terrifying, cynical bitterness. He’s the one who taught Mister how to be cruel.
- Willard Pugh as Harpo: Harpo provided the much-needed "beta male" energy. He wanted to be a tough guy like his dad, but he actually loved Sofia and just wanted to build his juke joint. His comedic timing helped balance the heavy drama.
- Rae Dawn Chong as Squeak: Her character arc is small but vital. She goes from being the "other woman" to finding her own voice (literally) and leaving to pursue a life of her own.
The controversy of the lens
We have to talk about the "Spielberg-ness" of it all. At the time, critics like Ishmael Reed were vocal about the film. They felt the cast of the Color Purple 1985 was being used to tell a story that was "too soft" or too "Disney-fied" compared to the book. They argued that the cinematography was too beautiful for such a grim subject.
But looking back, that beauty is what made the medicine go down for a global audience. By casting people like Whoopi and Oprah, Spielberg made the characters relatable. He used his "magic" to ensure that a story about poor Black women in the South reached people who would have otherwise never looked in that direction. Is it perfect? No. Is it powerful? Absolutely.
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Why the 1985 cast still wins
Recently, we got a new version of The Color Purple—the 2023 musical film. It’s great. Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks are powerhouses. But there is a specific, lightning-in-a-bottle energy about the 1985 group.
Maybe it’s because they were "first."
Maybe it’s because they didn't have the "musical" element to hide behind; they just had the dialogue and the dirt.
When you look at the cast of the Color Purple 1985, you’re looking at the launchpad for several of the most influential careers in entertainment history. Without this movie, Whoopi doesn't get Ghost. Oprah might have stayed in local news. Danny Glover might not have become the quintessential 80s action hero in Lethal Weapon.
Key facts about the production:
- The movie was filmed primarily in Anson County, North Carolina.
- The famous purple flowers were actually silk because the real ones weren't in bloom during filming.
- Quincy Jones produced the score, which is why the music feels so integrated into the soul of the characters.
Taking it all in
If you’re looking to revisit this classic or you’re diving in for the first time because you saw the new one, pay attention to the silence. Pay attention to the moments where Celie isn't talking, but her face is telling a whole story.
The cast of the Color Purple 1985 taught a generation about resilience. They showed that you can be "stepped on" and still find a way to bloom. It’s a masterclass in ensemble acting.
Next Steps for the Movie Buff:
- Watch the 1985 film and the 2023 musical back-to-back. It’s fascinating to see how Danielle Brooks (2023) interprets Sofia compared to Oprah (1985). Both were Oscar-nominated for the same role!
- Read Alice Walker’s original novel. The movie is a "version" of the truth, but the book is much more internal and experimental.
- Check out the documentary 'Five Takes' or various "Making of" features on the Blu-ray. Hearing Whoopi Goldberg talk about her first day on set is genuinely inspiring for any aspiring artist.