Popcorn in the Pages - Episode 5: The Color Purple
Welcome, readers. We are so excited to continue this new content from the creators of Currently Reading Podcast! This spin-off podcast series will tackle book to screen adaptations in a spoiler-FILLED format. Be sure you’ve read the book and watched the film version before listening to the episode, because we don’t shy away from strong opinions OR from all the spoilers, unlike our regular episodes.
Show notes for this series will not be time-stamped, but will still include links to Bookshop dot org or Amazon for any books or resources referenced in the episode. These are affiliate links, so they kick back a small percentage to us if you buy through them, and help support the work we do on Currently Reading.
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The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Content warning for listeners and young listeners for this episode!
1:28 - Here’s the Setup
3:41 - Previews
Book Name and release date. Sales info and awards.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Movie name and release date. Box office and awards.
The Color Purple (1985)
The Color Purple (2023)
7:34 - The Cutting Room
Pivotal Book scenes and how they translated to the screen.
Sisters being separated
Celie first showing up at Mister’s house
Setting up the story
Anything left out that shouldn’t have been.
African continent
Celie and Shug’s relationship
Shug’s life events
Voiceover narration
Setting on the coast of Georgia
Celie’s discovery of herself
Mister’s redemption arc
Casting and mis-casting
Directors
Harpo
Shug
Mister
Problematic elements.
Continuity issues: dock and boat access to juke joint
Sophia having a potential traumatic brain injury?
Mailbox focus
42:52 - Award Season
Worst and best parts of the adaptation.
Mister’s redemption arc
Shug’s redemption arc
Shug singing down the choir
Title line incorporation
Shug singing at the juke joint
The Fancy Pants song (“I’m so Pretty” from West Side Story)
Worst and best actors.
The Mailbox
Squeak/H.E.R.
Adult Nettie/Ciara
Celie/Whoopie
Sophia/Oprah
Mister/Danny Glover
Celie/Fantasia Barrino
Sophia/Danielle Brooks
Young Celie & Young Nettie
Worst and best book characters.
Ol’ Mister
Mister
Shug
The Three Musketeers: Shug/Sophia/Nettie
56:40 - Book/Flick Energy
Book scored on a 5 star scale.
Movie scored on a 10 point scale.
Movie on Rotten Tomatoes - 1985
Movie on Rotten Tomatoes - 2023
1:02:25 - A Leftover Popcorn Kernel
Which of the movies that we’ve already reviewed would you most like to see as a musical?
Jurassic Park by Michael Chricton - Popcorn Episode
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Popcorn Episode
Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - Popcorn Episode
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
If you were to cast yourself as one of these characters, which would you be?
If you were sentenced to 12 years in prison, what would it be for?
Murder
Drinking and driving
1:05:46 - End Credits
The Dry by Jane Harper
Available for rent (we’re using the library!)
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