As one of the most popular artists of the 1980s, Prince dominated not just the airwaves but the big screen as well. He starred in two movies that decade—his star-making debut Purple Rain and the underappreciated Under the Cherry Moon. Tonight, grab your raspberry beret and your best puffy shirt for a celebration to the joy fantastic in honor of the Purple One.
Purple Rain. 1984. 111 m. dir. Albert Magnoli. Park Circus. US. English. Rated . Screening on 35mm.
Prince was already a bona fide hitmaker when he starred in the loosely autobiographical musical film Purple Rain, launching him into that next stratosphere of fame with a box office hit, Grammys, and an Oscar to follow. In the film, Prince plays the Kid, a mysterious front man of the Revolution at Minneapolis’ famous First Avenue club. While local bands battle for the top spot at the club, Prince must also cope with a tumultuous home life and develop a budding new romance with an ambitious new singer in town, Apollonia. Since Prince’s feature debut in 1984, Purple Rain has unquestionably been a part of his unforgettable legacy.
Under the Cherry Moon. 1986. 100 m. dir. Prince, Michael Ballhaus. Park Circus. US. English. Rated PG-13. Screening on 35mm.
Created in the afterglow of Purple Rain’s success, Under the Cherry Moon was a far departure from its grittier predecessor. Prince’s 1986 movie is an opulent black-and-white film where he plays Christopher Tracy, one half of a pair of brothers and con men (Tricky, the other brother, is played by Purple Rain alum Jerome Benton) falls in love with a rich heiress (Kristin Scott Thomas), much to his detriment. The film was unfairly maligned in its day, but time has been a little kinder to this decadent and playful movie about forbidden love in the South of France that doubles as a showcase for how quickly and drastically Prince could refashion his sound and style. Shot by legendary cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, Under the Cherry Moon has the visual aesthetic to match its sumptuous costumes, exquisite locations, and of course, catchy music.
The program will begin with Under the Cherry Moon and will include a 15 minute intermission prior to the start of Purple Rain.
Total Runtime: 266 minutes
