'Purple Rain'
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to rewatch a movie called 'Purple Rain.' The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Wesley Morris dive deep into Prince's 1984 acting debut, staring Prince, Apollonia, and Morris Day.
Cast
Prince as The Kid
Apollonia Kotero as Apollonia
Morris Day as Morris Day
Clarence Williams III as Francis L.
Directed by: Albert Magnoli
Written by: William Blinn, Albert Magnoli
Notes
- The 'Purple Rain' album sold 25 million worldwide, stayed #1 for 24 straight weeks. Prince won an Academy Award for Best Original Score (the category was eliminated the following year).
- $7.2 million budget, $70 million box office – only three of the top 40 movies in 1984 had non-white stars: 'Purple Rain', 'Beverly Hills Cop', and Breaking.
- Bill's hottest take: Prince was better than Michael Jackson. 'Purple Rain' > Thriller. Prince was a better performer and more talented musically.
- Warner Brothers initially wanted to replace Prince with John Travolta. Vanity was originally cast as the girlfriend but left for unclear reasons.
- Prince later called the film 'my albatross' and said it 'pigeonholed me' – the extreme fame fractured his relationships, particularly with Wendy and Lisa.
- Darling Nikki started Tipper Gore's explicit lyrics campaign after her 11-year-old daughter was listening to it, which led to warning labels on music.
Categories
Quote from Rog's review:
“The result is one of the best combinations I've seen of music and drama. Prince and Apollonia come across with really exciting romantic chemistry.”
Prince had a nightmare before the premiere that Siskel and Ebert would hate the film
- The last 20 minutes – Purple Rain dedication through I Would Die 4 U and Baby I'm a Star
- The Beautiful Ones intercut with the Morris/Apollonia date
- The first 11 minutes – Let's Go Crazy into Jungle Love
- Boom boxes playing cassettes
- Domestic violence as a plot device in the 11th biggest movie of 1984
- Wendy and Lisa – 'Wendy's Meryl Streep in this movie'
- The Time as a band remain underrated
- Morris and Jerome's mirror gimmick
- Dave Chappelle's Prince sketch
- Treatment of women – Jerome throws a girl in a dumpster, The Kid hits Apollonia
- Prince's subsequent movie career (Under the Cherry Moon, Graffiti Bridge)
- Prince and Apollonia's acting during dialogue scenes
The slow swoop zoom on Apollonia during the Beautiful Ones performance
- When Doves Cry kicking in during the montage
- Take Me With You as a transition/bike ride
Bill: Prince was better than Michael Jackson. Purple Rain > Thriller. Peak Prince > peak Michael.
- Warner Brothers initially wanted John Travolta
- Vanity was originally cast as the girlfriend
- Jennifer Beals was offered the role but chose to go to Yale
- Prince wanted Gina Gershon but she declined over the sex scene
The girl who gets thrown into the dumpster – 'the worst actress' in the movie
Billy Sparks as the First Avenue club owner – one IMDb credit, likeable, timeless tracksuit look
- Prince – 'maybe the all-time example of Apex Mountain'
- Apollonia – no question
- The Time – no question
- First Avenue nightclub – yes
Hanks as the Kid 'would be the weirdest fucking movie of all time'
- Why does The Kid live at home when he's crushing it at First Avenue?
- How did they play Purple Rain without rehearsing it? The band never heard lyrics or arrangement.
- How would you describe Jerome's actual job?
- Did The Kid have a thing with Jill the waitress?
- What does it really sound like when doves cry?
The jacket from the Purple Rain scene
'Never get married' – the movie's intended profound lesson from The Kid's father
Purple Rain + Eight Mile – 'you can't end on anything other than Purple Rain'
Prince, in an absolute, unequivocal landslide
Craig: 'I understand why this movie is important. I'm not sure it's good.' Found musical performances compelling but struggled with everything else. 'This movie is more interesting to talk about than it is to actually watch.'