Coming off of a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983, expectations forAlice Walker’s novelThe Color Purplewere understandably high. The epistolary novel was an essential text for feminist literature and the empowerment of African Americans. A big-screen adaptation of such an important book can alienate the source material, either due to misguided direction, an unwarranted Hollywood sheen on a weighty topic, or poor casting. The film, directed bySteven Spielbergin a drastic pivot from his previous blockbuster fare, was slightly compromised by the former two, as it is a viscerally potent, but imperfect adaptation. However, there is no denying the brilliance of the film’s casting, particularly ofWhoopi Goldberg, an on-screen rookie who hasremained a shining star in entertainmentever since the premiere ofThe Color Purplein 1985.
The Color Purple
In early 20th-century rural Georgia, The Color Purple chronicles the life of Celie, an African American woman who endures and overcomes severe adversity. Through letters and relationships, Celie finds her voice and strength amidst a backdrop of racial and gender discrimination, highlighting themes of empowerment and resilience.
‘The Color Purple’ Was a Big Artistic Step for Steven Spielberg and Whoopi Goldberg
The film adaptation of Walker’s novel was realized by an assemblage of unlikely figures, despite the rich pool of talent that the film ultimately acquired. In the mid-1980s, Steven Spielberg was many things; the most commercially viable filmmaker, the most crowd-pleasing, and the most imaginative, but what he wasn’t was a “serious filmmaker.” Despite creating the cinematicblockbuster formula withJaws, and making beloved films that still deeply resonate with audiences today, includingRaiders of the Lost ArkandE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,Spielberg vowed to mature his cinematic voice. When speaking toThe New York Timesin 1985, the director expressedapprehensive feelings about directing a “grown up” film, stating that he fears “the risk of being judged - and accused of not having the sensibility to do character studies.”
Walker, who was hesitant to sell the film rights to her novel,stipulated to Warner Brosthat she would serve as a consultant on the film and demanded that at least half of the production team be African-American, female, or “people of the Third World.” Additionally, Walker was involved in the casting process and lobbied for lesser-known stars. This is how Whoopi Goldberg, who had never starred in a film beforeThe Color Purple, landed the leading role of Celie Johnson, the young black woman growing up in Georgia in the 1900s amid abuse from her father, Albert (Danny Glover). Playing Sofia, the assertive wife of Albert’s son, Harpo (Willard E. Pugh), and the source of Celie’s envy towards an independent woman, was another first-time screen actor–you’ve probably heard of her,Oprah Winfrey. Along with the producing and scoring contributions from music iconQuincy Jones,The Color Purpleassembled an extraordinary cast of legends of the period and the future.
Whoopi Goldberg Brings Humanity and Wonder to the Role of Celie in ‘The Color Purple’
Since the film was released nearly 40 years ago,The Color Purplehas been reimagined as a musical on Broadway, with a film adaptation of the stage playreleasing in theaters on Christmas 2023. After all these years, and the mass exposure the public has had to the star, Goldberg’s performancelingers the most powerfully out of anything. The role of Celie is cumbersome, as the story chronicles from her perspective. The viewer watches Celie grow in age, but she is never inspired to break free from the ruthless oversight of Albert, who is later revealed to not be her biological father after all. For a role packed with this much dramatic weight, it would be easy to get lost in the usual showcase of misery that these kinds of performances inspire, yet Goldbergmaintains a palpable humanity–both in her moments of joy and dread.
The decision to cast an unknown and inexperienced actor to play Celie paid dividends, especially for Spielberg, as thecharacter’s wistful imagination leansright into the director’s playbook. Celie’s yearning for a brighter future, according to Spielberg, “links to my previous movies in that it portrays an urgency to fulfill a dream.” He also told theTimes, “Celie has an urgency to fulfill her own destiny, to discover the things that belong to herself.” The film was criticized by some for its stereotypical and degrading characterizations of African Americans, with Spielberg’s direction treating Celie as dimwitted. If this direction is too greatly emphasized, it’s only because Spielberg wasdetermined to enforce the bewildermentthat arises from her interactions with Sofia and the vivacious showgirl, Shug Avery (Margaret Avery). Goldberg exquisitely plays atimid and emotionally fractured woman, whilepresenting herself as an empty canvasfor other characters and the audience to easily connect to.
In aninterview with theAmerican Film Institute, Goldberg describes her bewilderment on her first day of shootingThe Color Purple. This scene, inside the jukejoint where Shug performs, shows Celie in a state of wonder and intimidation. “Thelook of wonderment that is on my face is real,” Goldberg said, “because I’m looking around, and Steven Spielberg is behind the camera.” At the time, Goldberg was a comedian who recently starred in a successful one-woman show on Broadway. Identifying her as the ideal candidate to play Celie was unconventional thinking, to say the least, but her chops on the stage boded well for her future career in Hollywood, which saw her winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 forGhostfollowingher nomination for Best ActressinThe Color Purple. In a one-person show, all the attention is naturally on the lone performer. This helped Goldbergbecome magnetic with the camera, thus allowing her performance to be even more dazzling.
Whoopi Goldberg Grounds Spielberg’s Sentimentalism in ‘The Color Purple’
Despite the majestic craft and radiant visual language at the heart ofThe Color Purple, there are discernible imperfections in the film that only become more glaring through modern sensibilities. The bursts of light-hearted comedy and pure saccharine cause the film to lose sight of its solemn themes. These sporadic tonal shifts are seen as aslight towards Spielberg, who, as a white man, lacks the proper qualifications to direct a story about race and gender in America. Luckily, in these moments when Spielberg implicitly projects his fantastical worldview into the story, Goldberg’s performance is there toground his sentimental vision.It is the minor gestures and actions that inspire Celie, such as the way Shug looks at her or receiving a letter from her lost sister, Nettie (Akosua Busia). Her breakthrough role isdialed into the “Spielberg wonder,“as she dreams of an escape from the domineering and violent behavior of Albert. Sheemphasizes the doubt and trepidationthat Celie would possess coming from an oppressive environment.
In theTimesinterview, Spielberg recognized an “ugly duckling” quality toCelie inThe Color Purple. “She’s called ugly by almost everyonewhen, in fact, she’s beautiful,'' he remarked. This attribute perfectly suited Whoopi Goldberg to play Celie Johnson and be the lead in a Steven Spielberg film. While she is often seen retreating into the background and apprehensive of her surrounding environment, Celie stillglowingly presents herself as a proud black woman.She conveys empowerment and hope through timidness, which requires an immaculate performance. Excellence in various fields of performing arts has been a mainstay throughout Goldberg’s career, andThe Color Purpleis where it all began.
