Purple Rain

Lore & Background

Development on Purple Rain began in 1982, stemming from Prince's desire to star in a film: his manager, Robert Cavallo, commissioned Blinn to adapt plot points written by Prince into a screenplay. Magnoli was hired as director and changed several elements of Blinn's initial screenplay. Casting for Purple Rain was extensive, with studio executives attempting to replace Prince as the film's lead. Principal photography began in October 1983 and lasted until that December, with filming primarily taking place across Minneapolis. Production faced delays or schedule alterations due to a feud between Day and Prince.

Reader's Guide

The film's original working title was 'Dreams', not 'Purple Rain'. The film was theatrically released in the United States on July 27, 1984, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It grossed $70.3 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Prince's score and its soundtrack but criticism for its depiction of its female characters. The film won for Best Original Score at the 57th Academy Awards and its songs 'When Doves Cry', 'Let's Go Crazy', and 'Purple Rain' went platinum in the United States. In 2019, the film was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant'.

Did You Know?

• The role of Apollonia was originally intended for Vanity, but she left before filming began.
• Almost every character in the movie is named after the actor who plays them, excluding Prince and his onscreen parents.

Origins and Production Challenges

After the success of his album 1999, Prince confronted his then-manager Robert Cavallo and told him he would not renew his contract with him unless he got to star in a studio film. Every studio they had met with rejected the premise of a musician-led film, leading Cavallo to produce the film himself. David Geffen and Richard Pryor were among those who passed on the film. Prince spent months writing down the basic plot points of the film.

Impressed with his work on Fame, Cavallo commissioned William Blinn to write the script. Blinn's original script, titled Dreams, was much darker. Reckless director James Foley was offered to direct the film, but was not interested and instead passed it on to his editor Albert Magnoli, who disliked Blinn's script for lacking 'truth', and was then hired to direct and edit after delivering a pitch on the spot to Cavallo. Allegedly during the first meeting with Warner Bros., the studio executives asked Cavallo if John Travolta could replace Prince as the film's lead.

Principal photography began on October 31, 1983, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and spanned 42 days. According to Alan Leeds, several days of shooting were altered due to Day refusing to show up to set due to a rivalry with Prince.

Narrative Arc of The Kid

The film follows the turbulent life of 'The Kid,' a gifted but troubled musician fronting the band The Revolution in Minneapolis. To escape an abusive household, he immerses himself in music at First Avenue nightclub, where he competes with rival Morris Day and his group, The Time. Tensions escalate when Morris attempts to poach The Kid's girlfriend, Apollonia, for a new girl group called Apollonia 6, leading to a physical altercation between the lovers. Following a disastrous performance of 'Darling Nikki' that alienates the club owner and humiliates Apollonia, The Kid returns home to find his father attempting suicide. Discovering a box of his father's old compositions amidst the chaos, he finds redemption by composing new music based on a rhythm track written by his bandmates Wendy and Lisa.

Cinematic Climax and Resolution

The narrative reaches its emotional zenith during a pivotal performance at First Avenue. After being taunted by rival musicians, The Kid takes the stage to perform 'Purple Rain,' a song dedicated to his father and composed from the work of his female bandmates. Initially intending to flee the venue on his motorcycle immediately after the set, he is compelled to return upon realizing the profound impact the song has had on the audience. This moment marks a turning point where he reconciles with Apollonia and earns the respect of both his band and his rival Morris Day. The film concludes with a montage showing The Kid visiting his parents in the hospital and sorting through his father's musical legacy, accompanied by encores of 'I Would Die 4 U' and 'Baby I'm a Star,' symbolizing his healing and artistic triumph.