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Purple Rain poster

Purple Rain

year 1984decade 80sdirector Albert Magnoligenre Musicalgenre Dramagenre Romance

111 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Prince The Kid
Apollonia Kotero Apollonia
Morris Day Morris
Olga Karlatos Mother
Clarence Williams III Father / Francis L
Jerome Benton Jerome
Billy Sparks Billy
Jill Jones Jill

Purple Rain | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonsguest Wesley Morrisproducer Craig Horlbeck format Forty-year anniversary
Explore episodeClose episode

Roger Ebert's review

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:29:30Read transcript
  • Ebert three and a half stars; Siskel and Ebert both reportedly included it in1984 top ten, no ranks supplied. Praise for combining condensed emotional drama with music and romantic chemistry.
  • Prince reportedly dreamed the critics hated it, opposite of their actual response.

Picking Nits

Has Billy heard this music before?

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:13Read transcript
  • Whether Billy has heard this music before is raised as a nitpicking question for later.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Francis L’s earlier music career

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:28Read transcript
  • Francis L career imagined as late-sixties or early-seventies jazz pianist; written music and Computer Blue riff suggest musical background, not established biography.

Picking Nits

No record deal or major profile for an extraordinary band

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:58Read transcript
  • Rock journalism is indicted for a band this good having no record deal or major profile; Billy also fails to publicize them. This is explicitly raised as a nitpick and receives agreement.

Recasting Couch

Unchanged cast versus stronger Apollonia actress

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:10Read transcript
  • One would change nothing; other wonders about stronger actress as Apollonia, with Liza Minnelli, Vanity and Madonna ideas. Madonna could overwhelm movie; character own perspective underused.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Deleted scenes; Susanna relationship; minimal Kid–Morris dialogue; Darling Nikki and warning labels

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:36:49Read transcript
  • Darker deleted scenes reportedly included barn sex, band fistfight and parental dialogue; Prince relationship with Wendys twin sister reported.
  • Kid reportedly says no words to Morris, Morris18 words to Kid. Darling Nicky and Tipper Gore daughters reaction linked to warning labels.
  • Song kick-drum sexual implication and athletic stage movement admired; later medication/body-toll connection is participant inference, not verified health explanation.

Picking Nits

Living with parents; Apollonia’s move and guitar money; cold-water ride; father’s chalk outline; unrehearsed Purple Rain

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:41:59Read transcript
  • Kid living with parents despite talent questioned, Carrie-like drama rationale; Unexplained move from New Orleans to Minnesota interpreted as escape.
  • Cold-water motorcycle ride prompts health hyperbole; poor hotel versus expensive guitar purchase inconsistent.
  • Father original death reportedly changed after Star80 failure, leaving inconsistent chalk outline. Hanging-harness shot reportedly frightened Prince.
  • Playing Purple Rain without rehearsal or arrangement implausible; unseen rehearsal or musical/music-video magic possible explanations.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Jerome’s job; Kid–Jill relationship; doves’ cries; club slots; hotel-lobby behavior; earliest diss track

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:47:30Read transcript
  • Jerome understood as valet and follower, tied to Morris insecure self-presentation.
  • Kid/Jill past relationship strongly inferred; tears may be real, not established.
  • Doves sound joke; which band Billy removes debated, one would retain Modernaires over Apollonia. Hotel-magazine behavior conditional joke.
  • Darling Nicky first diss track queried. Earlier song examples include Sweet Home Alabama, How Do You Sleep and Yankee Doodle Dandy. Historical assertions and jokes are source-reported, not verified history.

Producer review

Important and compelling performances; difficult first watch outside the music

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:53:32Read transcript
  • Directly invited first-time viewer at thirty in2024 understands importance but struggles outside performances. Opening shows Prince appeal; Darling Nicky previously unknown.
  • Songs compelling on screen but not personally sticky for streaming; long music-video form and many face close-ups leave drama less engaging. Partner negative response reported.
  • More interesting to discuss than watch outside performances conceded; defense that film and album showcase complementary genius. Michael music considered better aged.
  • Risky persona construction both bold and career burden. Current young artists unlikely to repeat; Taylor Swift hypothetical opposed then her music offered as equivalent expression.