I'm really excited. I've never watched the movie before. What are your thoughts on the movie? How does it stack up with his other movies (Under the Cherry Moon, Graffiti Bridge, etc.)?

Best of all Prince's movies.

I saw it in theaters on July 29th ,1984 so it was an emotional experience and what turned most of us old heads into fans and super fans.

If you can overlook how the females are treated in this movie and focus on Prince's performances, then you'll be fine.

EyeSock said:

It's a really good movie and the music just ties it all together.The musical performances are excellent.

EyeSock said:

How does it stack up with his other movies (Under the Cherry Moon, Graffiti Bridge, etc.)?

In my opinion,there are two great Prince movies: 'Purple Rain' and the 'Sign O' The Times' concert film.

I hardly ever watch the other two.

I only watched it in full for the first time myself a few years ago (not having been a properly 'big' fan until then). I loved how (even though he wasn't the director) it illustrated that whole 'world' of characters that Prince helped to create in the public eye at around that time.

It might not be my personal favourite Prince 'movie' (I'd probably pick The Beautiful Experience), but it doesn't have much competition as his best 'all-round' one.

I just watched it again on DVD last weekend with a friend who hadn't seen it since the 80s. Yet she knew ALL THE WORDs to all the songs!

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QUESTION: Does anyone think Sheila E is playing some of the percussion on the soundtrack for the dramatic scenes? It's a lot of conga, even some timbales I think at some point.

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And yes, I know she is NOT credited, but in various articles I've read that she started hanging around with him during the Purple Rain era

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And yes, I already know her first official contribution is her vocal on Erotic City.

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But whoever is playing the latin percussion instruments seems pretty good; I know prince CAN play them but I dont think he was expert enough for what's on the soundtrack. And if they were indieed hanigng out by then it would make sense that she did it.

Wow, you must be young .....It's my favorite of all Prince movies, and the best one in my opinion. I've seen it so many times that I can practically recite it line for line.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Enjoy Computer Blue and Darling Nikki - "The Kid is in rare form tonight"

I never got that line. It's like Billy doesn't like Computer Blue???? WTF??

I think it has to do with the fact that Prince is using his music and the stage to air personal business, which Billy later says is not cool.

GaryMF said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

Enjoy Computer Blue and Darling Nikki - "The Kid is in rare form tonight"

I never got that line. It's like Billy doesn't like Computer Blue???? WTF??

kingricefan said:

I think it has to do with the fact that Prince is using his music and the stage to air personal business, which Billy later says is not cool.

GaryMF said:

I never got that line. It's like Billy doesn't like Computer Blue???? WTF??

Yes but he says it BEFORE Darlkng Nikki. From Billy's perspective, how is Computer Blue "personal business?" He doesn't know that he's interpolating his father's melody and he hasn't had Wendy do the faux-head thing yet when he's says it . He's just rocking out on the song.

GaryMF said:

mynameisnotsusan said:

Enjoy Computer Blue and Darling Nikki - "The Kid is in rare form tonight"

I never got that line. It's like Billy doesn't like Computer Blue???? WTF??

I think the "Computer Blue" performance is supposed to be The Kid playing some weird stuff that nobody can relate to Morris tells Billy, "the place is kinda empty tonight,but of course,money isn't everything".However,when I watch this scene,I'm thinking "the Kid is really rockin' tonight!"

SoulAlive said:

GaryMF said:

I never got that line. It's like Billy doesn't like Computer Blue???? WTF??

I think the "Computer Blue" performance is supposed to be The Kid playing some weird stuff that nobody can relate to Morris tells Billy, "the place is kinda empty tonight,but of course,money isn't everything".However,when I watch this scene,I'm thinking "the Kid is really rockin' tonight!"

Exactly!

Ooops! You're correct. Been a while since I've watched the movie. Computer Blue was definately a far cry from what The Kid's music sounded like from Billy's perspective.

GaryMF said:

kingricefan said:

I think it has to do with the fact that Prince is using his music and the stage to air personal business, which Billy later says is not cool.

Yes but he says it BEFORE Darlkng Nikki. From Billy's perspective, how is Computer Blue "personal business?" He doesn't know that he's interpolating his father's melody and he hasn't had Wendy do the faux-head thing yet when he's says it . He's just rocking out on the song.

I did the same thing as a Prince fan who never saw the movie--bought it without seeing it...

Annndd, I'm not going to spoil your experience. How was it?

kingricefan said:

databank said:

SantanaMaitreya said:

databank said:

I must admit that even at age 15 back in 1991, I was uncomfortable with the sexist aspects of the movie. This being said the reason I felt this way was because I still somehow naively needed to identify with everything Prince and clearly couldn't identify with many aspects of the characters (unlike UTCM and GB). Obviously the way the female characters are treated translate the (pathetic) way women were/are treated at the time in these lower class environments, and that's no more reason to feel uncomfortable with the movie than with, say, Once Were Warriors.

When Jerome throws that woman in the garbage can, that's the bad guys being the bad guys and I thought it was funny. When Appolonia jumps into the lake, well, Prince never told her to do that, right? But there are a lot of cases in the film where women are treated badly that can't be explained away so easily. So yeah, when you look at it like that, this film is a man's man's man's world.

And don't forget that The Kid's mother endures abuse from her husband. The movie definately shows that (at the time) women were treated as less than stellar.

databank said:

Se7en said:

databank said:

If you remove the amazing music performances, you'll be left with an unremarkable 40mn or so short film. To be honest I never really liked that movie besides the concert sequences. UTCM and GB blew my 15 year old mind when I first saw them (in 1991), but PR not so much. It probably would have blown my mind if I'd been 15 in 1984 though. The director was involved in an earlier 1984 film titled Reckless, and the 2 movies have a LOT in common.

Have you seen the movie American Anthem? Same director. It’s basically Purple Rain with a gymnast instead of a musician.

No I haven't.

Se7en said:

databank said:

If you remove the amazing music performances, you'll be left with an unremarkable 40mn or so short film. To be honest I never really liked that movie besides the concert sequences. UTCM and GB blew my 15 year old mind when I first saw them (in 1991), but PR not so much. It probably would have blown my mind if I'd been 15 in 1984 though. The director was involved in an earlier 1984 film titled Reckless, and the 2 movies have a LOT in common.

Have you seen the movie American Anthem? Same director. It’s basically Purple Rain with a gymnast instead of a musician.

"8 Mile" is also the rap version of Purple Rain. Rap battles instead of band battles, a turbulent home life, a girl pursued who then wrongs the main character, a triumphant performance at the end, etc.

The movie is genius, it transcends any storyline flaws and dodgy acting (and there's a lot of dodgy acting) with a magic that keeps you rooting for pretty much everyone involved. It might have been a fluke that Prince was never able to repeat on film, but it's definitely real. Art over logic.

None of the other films come close, but Cherry Moon at least looks great and is fun to watch, assuming you are a fan. Personally I'm not crazy about Sign o the Times film but others put it up with The Last Waltz and Stop Making sense so your mileage may vary. Graffiti Bridge is a fun challenge every few years; not kidding when I say this but the trailer for it is a better watch then the film itself.

[Edited 8/4/20 11:05am]