Graffiti Bridge

A standalone sequel to Purple Rain, Graffiti Bridge follows The Kid and Morris in a battle for club ownership, with an angelic visitor and a music showdown.

Graffiti Bridge is a 1990 American rock musical drama film written, directed by, and starring Prince in his third and final major theatrical film role. It is a standalone sequel to his 1984 film Purple Rain. Like its predecessor, it was accompanied by a soundtrack album of the same name.

Quick Facts

Artist

Prince and other artists

Released

August 20, 1990

Recorded

1981–1990

Genre

Rock
funk
R&B
hip hop

Length

68:32

Label

Paisley Park; Warner Bros.

Producer

Prince

Lore & Background

The plot continues with The Kid, living a future life as an upbeat performer and co-owner of a club, Glam Slam, which was willed to him from Billy, who owned the First Avenue Club in the first film. Solitary and lovelorn, he spends his personal time composing songs, and writing letters to his deceased father. The other co-owner who was included in the will is Morris, his rival who now also owns his own club, Pandemonium, while desiring to control the other two clubs in the Seven Corners area, which are Melody Cool and the Clinton Club.

Needing to pay the mayor of Seven Corners $10,000, Morris attempts to extort The Kid – by threatening to take full ownership of Glam Slam. Making matters more interesting is the arrival of Aura, an angel sent from Heaven to sway both Morris and The Kid into leading more righteous lives – while dealing with their attraction to her. As The Kid continues to resist him, Morris begins to embarrass him via performances with his band, to steal The Kid's customers.

Losing clientele and having his club defamed by Morris's henchmen, The Kid decides to challenge Morris to a music battle for ownership of Glam Slam. After Aura gets hit by a car, the two rivals settle their dispute and join forces.

Reader's Guide

Cast includes Prince as The Kid, Morris Day as Morris, Jerome Benton as Jerome, Jill Jones as Jill, The Time as Themselves, Jimmy Jam as Himself, Jellybean Johnson as Himself, Jesse Johnson as Himself, Terry Lewis as Himself, Monte Moir as Himself, Mavis Staples as Melody Cool, George Clinton as George, Ingrid Chavez as Aura, Elisa Fiorillo as Aura's singing voice (uncredited), Tevin Campbell as Tevin, New Power Generation as Themselves, Michael Bland as Himself, Rosie Gaines as Herself, Levi Seacer Jr. as Himself, Miko Weaver as Himself, Robin Power as Robin, Jevetta Steele as Melody Cool Choir, George Clinton's Funkestra as Themselves, Patrick Adams as Himself, Atlanta Bliss as Himself, Mallia Franklin as Herself, and Morris Hayes as Himself.

Filming took place primarily at the soundstage inside of Paisley Park, and at locations around Minneapolis. The title Graffiti Bridge comes from a now torn-down bridge located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The bridge was torn down in the early 1990s to make way for new construction, but to this day remains a local legend.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1	Can't Stop This Feeling I Got		4:24
2	New Power Generation, Part 1		3:39
3	Release It	Prince, Levi Seacer Jr.	3:54
4	The Question of U		3:59
5	Elephants & Flowers		3:54
6	Round and Round		3:55
7	We Can Funk (featuring George Clinton)	Prince, George Clinton	5:28
8	Joy in Repetition		4:53
9	Love Machine (featuring Elisa Fiorillo)	Prince, Seacer, Morris Day	3:34
10	Tick, Tick, Bang		3:31
11	Shake!		4:01
12	Thieves in the Temple		3:19
13	The Latest Fashion (featuring Prince)		4:02
14	Melody Cool		3:39
15	Still Would Stand All Time		5:23
16	Graffiti Bridge (featuring Mavis Staples and Tevin Campbell)		3:51
17	New Power Generation, Part 2 (featuring Mavis Staples, Tevin Campbell, T.C. Ellis and Robin Power)		2:57
Total length			68:32

Did You Know?

The film was originally a vehicle for The Time, but according to Terry Lewis, 'in the end the story got lost and it became a Prince picture.'
The film was nominated for five Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Prince), Worst Director (Prince), Worst Screenplay (Prince), and Worst New Star (Ingrid Chavez).
Graffiti Bridge currently holds an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 28 reviews, with an average rating of 3.7/10.
Prince said of the film: '(It was) one of the purest, most spiritual, uplifting things I've ever done. It was non-violent, positive and had no blatant sex scenes. Maybe it will take people 30 years to get it.