I always wondered about this.

Apollonia looks like Vanity from some angles, and in certain shots, but I always wondered if he mentally considered her (Apollonia) an outsider. She auditioned for the role, for heaven's sake. It's not like Prince "discovered" her, as is kinda sorta the story regarding how he met Vanity in '82.

Prince has always seemingly fluidly moved from woman to woman. I just wonder if not having Vanity in the role disrupted his perfect vision for the film, or if he was just as happy to have Apollonia play the role.

I've never heard Prince speak of "losing" Vanity, or any feelings one way or the other.

His groups were like one big happy (or not) family. lol I believe she was the first MAJOR defector from his vision.

I don't think so, apples was way more voluptuous

...

Perhaps.

But I think Apollonia did a good job in the movie. And of course, the scene where she takes a dip in the lake will always stay dear to me.

peter430044 said:

Yeah, I think that scene brought about an early adolescence for me.

I've never really considered how Vanity's absence effected the movie. The role didn't seem tailor made to one specific person. I mean, just about any girl who looked the part and had half descent acting skills could've pulled it off, imo. However, I've never seen prince and vanity interact. So maybe there was some chemistry between them that I'm not aware of?
[Edited 2/1/10 21:26pm]

He was pissed.

Apollonia....

xpertluva said:

Apollonia did okay in the film,but it was like she was just "filling" in for the real thing.Her entire look and image was inspired by Vanity.I think Vanity would have been amazing in this film! She and Prince definitely had a stronger chemistry.

SoulAlive said:

i have to disagree with u on that one. i've seen films that had vanity in them and i must say, apollonia "saved" purple rain (acting-ability wise) vanity's acting skills would've been dull. according to me anyway.

cinnamongal said:

Apollonia "saved" Purple Rain? Her acting is atrocious,and while neither lady can sing,Vanity was actually a decent actress.

I honestly think Vanity would have been better in the role.

I think she's sexier, and that her eyes spoke more.

Looking back, I realize that Apollonia was just "hired", whereas Vanity is who Prince clearly wanted, and expected to have in the role.

I also believe that the chemistry was better between Prince and Vanity.

I was curious to know if when she defected, he saw that as a setback.

I think Apollonia helped to appeal to a larger... more caucasian audience because she clearly wasn't African-American. So actually, in my opinion, Apollonia helped the film.

But back to Vanity's departure, I never recall Prince speaking about the matter. We all know though, that that's not his style.

It would have been so cool if he did a commentary on the 25th anniversary of Purple Rain. His humor, along with Jerome and Morris, and even Lisa and Wendy would have made it a riot!

... but that's a different topic.
[Edited 2/2/10 9:08am]

It's hard to say what "Purple Rain," would have been with Denise in the part...

I Love the movie the way it is.

Tame said:

I wouldn't want Denise. I'd want VANITY!

Denise would be all... "PRAISING JESUS" throughout the movie, and she definitely wouldn't have participated in the basement bedroom scene.

Heck, Denise would have ruined the movie from the start because she would have insisted on paying the taxi cab driver instead of running out!

I can hear the director now...

Director: "CUT... CUT... Denise, just RUN OUT of the cab, for God's sake!!!"

Denise: "But WWJD... What Would Jesus Do?????"

You know... pretty much what Prince would be saying now!
[Edited 2/2/10 9:22am]

I think Vanity would've given the role more spunk, she was pretty vampy. That's great for what the early drafts of the movie were, but the end product, I think Apollonia brought a softer touch to it that it probably needed for the audience to relate the characters, since Prince's character is a total douchebag and Morris is a pimp who has women tossed in dumpsters.

I'd much rather had seen Vanity in Purple Rain..She's better lookin.

Appolonia's just a knock off of Vanity.

Tame said:

True ... It's difficult for me to picture Vanity (Denise M.) doing Apples' part.

MantuaPharoah said:

it may have added to the "realness" of the story line.

MantuaPharoah said:

I remember having this conversation in 1985.

cinnamongal said:

I've seen sitcoms with Morris in them and they weren't good. If those performances would have come 1st, I probably would have never cast him for PR. But he was perfect for PR. Vanity might have been in her element doing PR surrounded by people she knew whereas other films might have been a stretch and revealed her poor acting skills.

DOES ANYONE KNOW OR REMEMBER WHY SHE BAILED OUT? WAS IT EVER DICUSSED?

daingermouz2020 said:

I heard several reasons.Supposedly,she wanted more money than they were willing to pay her.She also had a romantic fall-out with Prince."I needed one person to love me,but Prince needed more",she told People magazine.

She would have been a breakout star, much like morris who as i can recall was being considered for more comedic roles and even did some sitcom work. The whole movie would have been more intense and even credible because of prince and vanity's chemistry-these were two young people with a torrid relationship and the screen would have brought that out. She would have played the Morris angle in the film a little different, and not so innocent rememember the line "what's the matter? are you jealous?". It took a lot for apples to Go there but Vanity would have dropped that shit like a cunning bitch lol. She would even have chemistry with Morris, maybe a little street shit going on. All in All the inexperience and bad fashion make it unwatchable today, only the music scenes survive. Vanity would have added one more charismatic force ( morris comedic, prince musical) and the movie would be much more viable today.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE ABOVE POINT!

It's fun to imagine.

Probably a better actress? Possibilities...

SoulAlive said:

I think this was about the time that Susannah came into the picture...not to mention Vanity's love of crack cocaine!

StonedImmaculate said:

I agree with you. I've always thought drugs played a big part in it. Morris was barely able to keep it together during the filming.

squirrelgrease said:

LMAO!!

cinnamongal said:

StonedImmaculate said:

Also,I heard that Vanity was sleeping with the director,Al Magnoli Perhaps Prince found out about this and fired her?

He was probably disappointed until he seen her in Action Jackson.