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.

Book on Goodreads

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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