| | | | Purple Rain
(1984) |
inneapolis Minnesota doesn't sound like a very exciting place, does it?
Wrong! It is a very exciting place, especially if you are an aspiring musician or singer who would like to try their hand at making their dreams a reality at "First Avenue and 7th Street Entry"...
First Avenue is one of, if not the, most famous clubs in Minneapolis, known for it's cutting edge music and sensual performers. It's also the club where the band, The Revolution, performs. The band is headed by the iconoclastic Prince, who backs up the title of his band wearing costumery and hair styles which look like jazzed up versions of the outfits soldiers wore during the Revolutionary war.
Although on the outside stylish Prince, refered to as "The Kid" in the movie, seems to have it all together, his life is falling apart. He's a bi-racial young man from a low income side of town, and his father is constantly physically abusing his mother. "The Kid" tries numerous times to fend for his mother, but the arguments only continue.
Aside from his home life, trouble is brewing in his band because he refuses to perform a song penned by his fellow bandmates Lisa and Wendy, titled "Purple Rain". His band seems on the edge of breaking up and other bands, such as The Time headed by Morris Day, are trying to edge themselves in.
Things seem tough in "The Kids" life, but he does have a saving grace. A sexy siren by the name of Apollonia who moved from New Orleans to Minnesota to try to make it big at the club. Prince is immediatly attracted to her dark exotic looks, as is everybody else who sees her, and starts up a relationship with her.
As the relationship escalates he finds himself falling in love with Apollonia, especially after she pawned her ankle bracelet to buy him the white guitar he'd been eyeing. Afterwards she tells his she's going to be in a band created by Morris from 'The Time', and "The Kid" slaps her across the face, his father has rubbed off on him. He tries to apologize but Apollonia leaves in tears.
Can Prince get Apollonia back? Will there be a happy ending? The only way to find out is to watch this movie which has a killer soundtrack. Songs include: "Let's Go Crazy", "When Doves Cry", "I Would Die 4 U", and much more! Have fun "dancing in the Purple Rain" to this awesome, music-filled 80s movie!
 Don't forget that Purple Rain is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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Purple Rain is truly an 80's classic and definitly one of the greatest movies ever which starred an actual performer. I have a feeling Mariah Carey tried to capture Purple Rain when she made the movie "Glitter", but her film just didn't have the magic that Prince's film had.
I think Prince is a very gifted man who doesn't get half the credit he deserves. A true original, most male musicians would give their right eye to be as talented, and as sexy.
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Prince is the only artist since The Beatles to have a number one movie (Purple Rain), album (it's soundtrack) and single (When Doves Cry) all at the same time! What an accomplishment!  -Thanks to Matt
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Prince is one of the few artists who will not let "Weird Al" parody his songs.
Morris Day and the Time appeared in the movie "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." The director Kevin Smith is a big fan of "Purple Rain," which is why the main characters love the Time. -Thanks to Ben
Apollonia was born as Patricia Kotero on August 2, 1961 in Santa Monica, California.
In 1988 Apollonia released her debut album as a singer and continued to star in other movies, such as "Back To Back" with Bill Paxton and "Black Magic Woman" with Mark Hamill.
The first assistant director of the movie, Britt Lomond, used to be in the 1950's t.v. show 'Zorro'. -Thanks to PurpleRainer
Some people say that "Purple Rain" was the first movie to be given the PG13 Rating. In fact, the first was "The Flamingo Kid" and the first to make it to theaters was "Red Dawn"...
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Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Purple Rain DVD.
Rediscover your favorites! If you like
Purple Rain or 80's Dance / Musical classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Dirty Dancing ..... Pink Floyd: The Wall ..... Breakin' ..... Footloose ..... Xanadu ..... Stop Making Sense ..... Times Square ..... Fame ..... Pennies From Heaven ..... Earth Girls Are Easy ..... Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo ..... Girls Just Want to Have Fun ..... Best Little Wh*rehouse In Texas ..... Back To The Beach ..... One From The Heart .....[More]
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Throughout his "Triple Threat" Tour, Prince was often seen writing in, what legend has it, was a purple notebook. In the spring of 1983, he and William Blinn began work on a screenplay entitled "Dreams". Blinn and Prince would send their revisions back and forth to each other while Prince was on tour. One of the things that Prince wanted was that the word "purple" be in the title and the seeds that would one day become "Purple Rain" were planted. The original script was a much darker story revolving around The Kid who was torn between life (i.e; gratuitous sex scenes and dynamic live performances) and death (in this version of the film, The Kid’s father murders his wife and then commits suicide). As a result, the original version of the script had to be lightened up some to get the "R" rating from the X rating they would have given the original version.
The fight scences had to be taken out as the censors said they were too violent.
The part played by Apollonia was allegedly written for Prince's ex-girlfriend Vanity, lead singer of group Vanity 6 and star of such 80's classics as "The Last Dragon" and "Action Jackson". She is actually listed by name in the script. Legend states that, after a fall-out between them, Vanity was replaced for the part with Apollonia Kotero. Truth is, that Vanity was not his girlfriend ever. It simply made for good publicity. Vanity was let go allegedly because of her rampant drug use at the time. Appolonia also stated years later that she was asked not to date anyone during the time of Purple Rain so that a relationship with Price could be speculated upon. And may even have been asked to break up with her boyfriend (allegedly David Lee Roth). -Thanks to Queen
In regards to Vanity being Prince's ex-girlfriend. Indeed she and Prince dated prior to Purple Rain, but due to her new found fame as an actress the relationship failed. Prince's only real girlfriend from Purple Rain was Susan Moonsie (Vanity 6 and Apollonia 6 fame) they dated in junior high when she was just 13. She reportedly started dating one of his cohorts and that gentleman brought her back to Prince's attention, to put her with the girl group. During production the 2 had nothing to do with one another due to their past relationship. That is why The Time took credit for putting Apollonia 6 together. VH1 tried to do a 'Where are they now' on Apollonia 6 but Susan (who is now a housewife) chose not to participate. -Thanks to Lisa
Jennifer Beals (from "Flashdance" was offered the part eventually played by Apollonia, but turned down the role because the movie clashed with her schedule at yale.
Apollonia was actually married at the time of Purple Rain, but was sworn to secrecy about it, so that people would really think she and Prince were a couple.
Prince did most of his own bike riding next to a camera truck.
Most of Prince's dance moves are his own personal tribute to James Brown.
The cabin used in "Purple Rain" was also allegedly used in "Evil Dead."
Wendy Melvoin, guitarist for The Revolution was 19 at the time of filming, Brown Mark, the bassist was 20. -Thanks to Radiance
By the time Purple Rain was released in 1984 Morris Day and Prince were not even speaking to each other due to disagreements over "creative differences". Many people don't know that Jesse Johnson (of The Time) and Prince used to argue ALL the time! -Thanks to Bryant Corbitt
When Prince and Apollonia first arrive at the lake, you can hear them talking, but their mouths are not moving.
After Apollonia jumps in the lake, she is soaking wet. After she gets back on the motorcycle, her hair and clothes are dry.
In the original trailer that appeared in the theaters it was Vanity and not Appolonia who Prince grabbed from Morris to make his daring escape. But Vanity and Prince didn't finish the movie as they had a falling out of sorts.
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|  |  |  | | Purple Rain
Locations |
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 Featured Movie Location: First Avenue and 7th Street Entry
Wanna see the real life filming location used for First Avenue and 7th Street Entry in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at First Avenue, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [New! Show Google Map]
The club is still in existence today and many popular bands play there. It's an old Greyhound Bus Depot that was converted to a concert club (originally called The Depot) in 1970. [Thanks to John]
The movie was also filmed at other locations in Minneapolis and Eagan, Minnesota as well as allegedly some work in Los Angeles when the weather in Minneapolis turned bad. [Thanks to Sean Harrington]
The interiors were filmed in LA on sets.
The hotel where Appolonia resided in the movie was actually filmed at the Huntington Hotel on Main Street in Downtown, Los Angeles. The hotel still exists. [Thanks to Jennifer]
Featured Link: First Avenue history & official site
Can you help? Do you know any of the Minneapolis, Minnesota (or any other) filming locations used for Purple Rain, particularly The lake, Prince's house? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette |
| Our
Comments: Also includes the following music videos: Let's go Crazy, Take me With U, When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U/Baby I'm a Star, Purple Rain, Jungle Love, The Bird and Sex Shooter. |
| | | | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette |
| Our
Comments: Also includes the following music videos: Let's go Crazy, Take me With U, When Doves Cry, I Would Die 4 U/Baby I'm a Star, Purple Rain, Jungle Love, The Bird and Sex Shooter. |
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Excellent multiple platinum soundtrack!! Not one bad track! Every song was a hit! Also, every song Prince performed in the movie is on the CD. My personal favorite is "When Doves Cry", but I love them all!
The original music score comes from Michel Colombier, but really you would not know it is there at all as the whole film's purpose is to highlight the songs from Prince.
Jesse Johnson and Morris Day from the group The Time both went on to record solo albums. -Thanks to Bryant
I was a dj of a radio station during the time of "Purple Rain"..Several radio stations received actual "purple vinyl" promotional albums of Purple Rain by Warner Bros. I personally have 2 of them! Purple Rain only cost 7 million dollars to produce and of course was a international smash. -Thanks to Bryant Corbitt
The Purple Rain tour (which I attended in Atlanta) was very successful in 1985. Prince sold out 7 shows in Detroit and 5 shows in Atlanta. When Dove's Cry was the biggest single of 1984 and at that time Prince was Warner Bros. biggest artist on the label! -Thanks to Bryant Corbitt
On the cassette and vinyl versions of the Song "Darling Nikki", the last 35 seconds of this song contains backwards messages. At the end is a sound reminiscent of rain or bacon frying and wind sounds. When played backwards the message says "Hello, how are you? I'm fine, 'cause I know that the Lord is coming soon. Coming, coming soon." -Thanks to Poohbear
Prince actually wrote every song in the movie, in fact he played every instrument on most of the songs of the Time's first three albums, which basically made the Time, who were only there for performing live, unnecessary. Also, two or three members of the Time in this movie (and on the album cover of "Ice Cream Castles", which came out around this time) were not actual members of the band. The original members, who actually played on Ice Cream Castles, but only on the last song, were fired by Prince several days before filming for missing a tour date. -Thanks to M
Prince wanted the Purple Rain Soundtrack to be a double album containing longer full length versions of "Let's Go Crazy", "The Beatiful Ones", and "Darling Nikki", plus the Dez Dickerson, Apollonia 6 and The Time songs from the film. Warner Brothers balked at the idea because double albums rarely sell as much as single ones and the previous Prince album (1999) was a double album. So Prince removed the songs from the movie not performed by himself and edited down the other songs to form a single album. -Thanks to Jamie Bridges
Prince won the Oscar for Best Song Score at the 1985 Oscars for the 1984 voting year. His award was presented to him by the stars of "Romancing The Stone", Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. The two movies "Purple Rain" was competing against were the Willie Nelson musical drama "Songwriter" and the 3rd Muppet movie, "The Muppets Take Manhattan". Prince, oddly enough, would later make a rare television appearance on The Muppets' short-lived mid-90s variety series "Muppets Tonight". -Thanks to John Edward Kilduff
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