Purple Rain (1984)

A loosely autobiographical account of Prince's rise in the Minneapolis music scene, the Purple Rain film is a wild, messy, silly, uneven, and idiosyncratic time capsule. While one could argue that Purple Rain is a bit slight as a movie, its soundtrack was a juggernaut that sold millions of copies, was played endlessly on Top 40 radio, captured the essence of an era, and even spurred congressional hearings due to horny song lyrics. As such, Purple Rain has become a generational touchstone like few other hit movies of the 1980's. Ryan is joined by Cheryl for an in depth look at this singular movie. Discussion topics include the movie's lightning-in-a-bottle appeal, how the filmmakers emphasized the mystique of Prince as a pop star, and the story's subtextual gestures towards perpetuating abuse and finding solace in art. Ryan, in a rare bit of restraint, waits until the last third of the episode to compare Purple Rain to A Hard Day's Night (1964).