Prince’s Magnum Opus Celebrates 40th Anniversary at Circle Cinema
I have seen “Purple Rain” many times over the years, starting with its premiere in 1984. There was a fever going on for the Purple One back then that really took off with his breakout album “1999.”
Loaded with bangers like “1999”, “Little Red Corvette,” and “Delirious,” his inspired takes on pop funk set a bar, with a sexy boost from the advent of MTV, essentially creating his image, and differentiating itself from anything else on the airwaves. I was almost exclusively a metalhead back then, and this was revelatory. Hence, my ass was in a seat when “Purple Rain” came out in theaters.
Honestly, I cannot remember if the album, or the movie came first, but that hardly matters.
The Kid (Prince, essentially playing himself) is the frontman for his band The Revolution, who are the cream of the Minneapolis music crop. Their main competition is The Time, headed by singer Morris (Morris Day, also playing himself). Both strike up a mutual rivalry over not just who rules the First Avenue nightclub for the top spot, but also Apollonia (portrayed by Apollonia Kotero, go figure), an up-and-coming singer, whose sex appeal Morris wants to exploit for personal and business games—playing producer to her ready-made band, Apollonia 6. Meanwhile, Prince, who wants to straight up possess her, gets more and more grumpy. There are reasons. You should see them.
While almost every actor in this is literally playing themselves, they all have their uncut charms, and director/writer Albert Magnoli genuinely accentuates them. Morris Day, along with his hype man Jerome (Jerome Benton, obviously), kinda steal the comedy side of the show, between their riffs on Abbott and Costello jokes, and intimate comedic chemistry. A strange combination of annoyance and respect exists between all the main players, though. And they definitely are players.
Apollonia emotes as much as one could expect, in what amounts to a somewhat thankless role. Prince, sometimes playful though mostly brooding, is the dark star. He is a hyper-talented, obstinate performer, and a nightmare to work with, driven by his own musical vision.
As a lover, he is manipulative, controlling, and ultimately abusive. Sure, he has an abused past, and he is trying to reconcile it, but forgiveness comes too quickly, in this regard. Despite that, when he is on-stage, Prince is pure fire. So, I guess that is an excuse.
And while Magnoli directs the melodrama with precision, accentuating some fairly deep emotional beats (Clarence Williams, as The Kid’s talented, alcoholic father, comes to mind), where Purple Rain really excels is in the energetic, and visually magnetic, all-timer, live performances from the bands—which often serve to forward the story and emotional conflicts.
I cannot stress this enough. This soundtrack rules. A front to backer, loaded with hits like “When Doves Cry,” “Take Me with U,” and “The Beautiful Ones.” To this day “Purple Rain,” the emotional capper to it all, will make me cry. Like. Every. Damn. Time. It is a shame it does not include “The Bird” and “Jungle Love” from Morris Day and The Time. Two great songs that inspired Kevin Smith to reunite Morris and Jerome in 2001’s “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” Nerds.
Aside from that, I do not want to wax too nostalgic. If I have learned anything it is that nostalgia for a movie does not always translate 4O years later. But music is a different animal. Integrity is a test of time. And by that measure, the music of Prince, and of “Purple Rain,” aces the test.
“Purple Rain” enjoys a one-night only screening at Circle Cinema on Sun., July 21. For tickets, visit www.circlecinema.com.
