Purple Rain: Cruise — Rewatch Index

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Podcast episode#359No. 371 overall

Movie year19841980s release

Tomatometer74%No. 71 of 128 tracked

Metacritic55View score

Roger Ebert—No review recorded

State of the raceHanks led by 212–10 · 0 ties

FROM THE CONVERSATION

What they said about the movie

The episode treats Purple Rain as a singular pop-culture event: a movie-musical hybrid that captured Prince at an apex moment, fused album and film into one phenomenon, and produced unforgettable stage performances. The hosts praise the film’s energy, music, and myth-making while also noting its rough acting, sexual politics, and strange narrative logic.

Based only on this episode’s transcriptTimes approximateSpeakers were clearly identifiedExplore the connections

In this conversation

Bill SimmonsWesley MorrisCraig Horlbeck

WHY IT WORKS

What made it rewatchable

01The opening 'Dearly Beloved' into 'Let's Go Crazy' and 'Jungle Love' sequence is described as an all-time stage-performance opening. About 8 min
02Prince’s live-performance aura is the movie’s main attraction, especially in 'Beautiful Ones' and the finale. About 32 min
03The film uniquely syncs the album’s songs to the plot, making the movie and soundtrack feel fused together. About 8 min
04Morris Day and The Time provide an electrifying foil and major comic/performative energy. About 8 min
05The finale functions as a full concert payoff, with 'Purple Rain,' 'I Would Die 4 U,' and 'Baby I’m a Star' serving as a huge release. About 48 min

WHAT DID NOT WORK

Their main criticisms

moderateThe acting outside the musical performances is often weak or awkward. About 1:04
majorThe movie’s treatment of women is troubling, including violence, humiliation, and objectification. About 1:04
moderateSome plot points and character behavior are hard to justify, including the dad’s storyline and the Lake Minnetonka scene. About 8 min
minorThe final concert sequence arguably goes longer than necessary after 'Purple Rain.' About 48 min

SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO

Standout moments

Favorite

Opening 'Dearly Beloved' into 'Let's Go Crazy' / 'Jungle Love'

The opening concert sequence and immediate cut to The Time are treated as an electrifying statement of purpose.

About 8 min

Favorite

Lake Minnetonka initiation scene

The infamous lake sequence is discussed as absurd, sexy, and memorable, with great facial expressions from Apollonia and Prince.

About 8 min

Favorite

'Beautiful Ones' performance

Prince’s performance here is singled out as a towering, angry, emotionally charged highlight.

About 32 min

positive

'When Doves Cry' montage / father subplot

The montage and father material are admired for how they move the plot and intensify the movie’s mood.

About 40 min

Favorite

'Darling Nikki' performance

Seen as insane, thrilling, and historically provocative, with major sexual shock value.

About 48 min

positive

Computer Blue / Wendy and Prince stage interplay

The synchronized band choreography and erotic performance dynamics are praised.

About 48 min

Favorite

'Purple Rain' finale

The title-song performance is framed as the emotional and artistic payoff of the film.

About 48 min

WHERE THEY DISAGREED

The biggest debates

They partly agreed About 48 min

Should the movie have ended at 'Purple Rain'?

Wesley Morris
It could have ended there; the last two songs are a bonus rather than a necessity.

Bill Simmons
The ending needs the extra songs and backstage emotional release.

No final agreement About 1:12

Prince vs. Michael Jackson

Bill Simmons
Prince is the better overall performer and perhaps artist.

Wesley Morris
Prince has stronger guitar and stage-band instincts, while Michael may have the better voice.

They partly agreed About 8 min

How much of the film is actually a musical

Wesley Morris
It behaves like a musical, but also like a movie built around staged performance and MTV editing.

Bill Simmons
It’s not a traditional musical, but it is fundamentally about the live-performance experience.

They partly agreed About 1:04

How dark or abusive the film’s character behavior should be read

Bill Simmons
The film’s violence and meanness are troubling and part of its legacy.

Wesley Morris
The behavior fits the movie’s psychological logic and the character pathology.

12 People discussedActors, directors, writers, and producers

very favorablePrinceBill Simmons: Praised as an all-time performer, creative force, and singular movie star vehicle. Opening minutes

favorableMorris DayWesley Morris: Celebrated as charismatic, funny, and a great stage foil, even if not a great singer. About 24 min

very favorableWendy MelvoinWesley Morris: Described as electric, sexy, and an excellent performer who clicks with Prince on stage. About 40 min

favorableLisa ColemanWesley Morris: Praised as part of the crucial Wendy and Lisa partnership and the onstage chemistry around Prince. About 40 min

mixedApollonia KoteroBill Simmons: Her look and reactions are admired, but her acting is seen as limited and the role is more about vibe. About 8 min

favorableJill JonesWesley Morris: Liked as a waitress and Prince protégée with a striking screen presence. About 8 min · medium confidence

neutralClarence Williams IIIWesley Morris: Described as fine and rough-looking as Prince’s father. About 40 min

favorableBilly SparksWesley Morris: The club owner is seen as likable, practical, and increasingly central to the film’s world. About 8 min

neutralDes DickersonBill Simmons: Mentioned as an important but underappreciated part of the Prince ecosystem and offshoot projects. About 32 min · medium confidence

neutralQuestloveBill Simmons: Cited for arguing that Purple Rain helped launch hip-hop culture in a broad sense. About 16 min · medium confidence

favorableMichael JacksonBill Simmons: Used as the main comparison point for Prince’s stardom and stage greatness. Opening minutes neutralEddie MurphyBill Simmons: Included in the broader early-1980s Black-stardom context. Opening minutes · medium confidence

10 Conversation takesSpeakers shown only where the transcript identifies them

Bill SimmonsLoved it

Purple Rain as a movie-star vehicle

Says it may be the best movie vehicle ever for a music star and unlike ordinary music films.

About 8 min

Wesley MorrisLoved it

Purple Rain as myth and self-presentation

Argues the film turns Prince’s persona into a fable, while still showing every inch of his artistry.

About 8 min

Bill SimmonsLoved it

Prince’s stage performance

Says Prince is one of the greatest live performers ever and recalls seeing him in person.

About 8 min

Wesley MorrisLoved it

Opening 'Let's Go Crazy' / 'Jungle Love' sequence

Calls the opening run one of the best cases for live performance ever put on film.

About 8 min

Bill SimmonsLoved it

'Beautiful Ones' performance

Says this may be Prince’s greatest performance in the movie and one of the great movie performances ever.

About 32 min

Wesley MorrisLoved it

Final Purple Rain run

Admits the movie could have ended earlier but still values the final concert payoff.

About 48 min

Bill SimmonsLoved it

The Time

Treats Morris Day and The Time as an inspired rival act and a major part of the movie’s appeal.

About 8 min

Wesley MorrisLiked it

1984 editing and music-video style

Says the film’s MTV-era cutting and performance editing are a defining part of its 1984 feel.

About 56 min

Bill SimmonsLiked it

Michael Jackson vs. Prince

Leans toward Prince as the better performer and artist overall, though not without nuance.

About 1:12

Wesley MorrisLiked it

Michael Jackson vs. Prince

Says Prince is more talented in key ways, especially guitar and band leadership, while Michael may have the greater voice.

About 1:12

5 ThemesThe larger ideas in the discussion

Apex Prince

The episode frames the film as Prince at his absolute peak—musically, visually, and as a stage performer.

About 8 min

Album-film fusion

The movie is praised for turning an existing album into a coherent narrative and performance experience.

About 8 min

Mythmaking and persona

Prince’s performance is discussed as self-mythologizing, with the film turning personal style and conflict into legend.

About 8 min

Black pop-cultural inflection point

The hosts connect the film to a broader 1980s shift in Black stardom across music, film, and TV.

Opening minutes

Gender and sexuality

They discuss Prince’s gender presentation, sexual charisma, and the movie’s intense but messy eroticism.

Opening minutes

17 Facts and referencesProduction notes and other movies mentioned

Production note

The album sold 15 million U.S. copies and 25 million worldwide.

About 16 min

Production note

'Purple Rain' won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score, and the category was eliminated the next year.

About 16 min

Production note

The film was shot at First Avenue, which was closed down for about 25 days and given about $100,000.

About 16 min

Production note

Wendy and Lisa were a couple for years, though that was not public in 1984.

About 40 min

Production note

Prince’s birth name is Francis L.

About 32 min

Production note

The movie reportedly had darker deleted material, including barn sex and more conflict with the Time.

About 56 min · medium confidence

Production note

'Darling Nikki' is described as the trigger for the PMRC backlash and parental warning labels.

About 56 min

Cabaret

Used as a structural comparison for the opening nightclub performance sequence.

About 8 min

Hard Day's Night

Mentioned as the closest earlier model for a star-driven music film.

About 8 min

Desperately Seeking Susan

Referenced as a vibe-based Madonna film that is not as expansive as Purple Rain.

About 8 min · medium confidence

8 Mile

Cited as a later film with a similar mythic structure around a music persona.

About 8 min

Thriller

Used as the main Michael Jackson comparison point for album era dominance and video-era spectacle.

About 8 min

The Cosby Show

Mentioned as part of the broader 1980s Black-pop-culture breakthrough context.

Opening minutes

First Avenue

The nightclub is discussed as the central performance setting and a character-like space.

About 8 min

Tipper Gore / PMRC

Referenced through the reaction to 'Darling Nikki' and its explicit lyrics.

About 48 min

Siskel and Ebert

Prince’s fear that they would hate the film is recounted, with the opposite outcome.

About 24 min · medium confidence

Questlove quote

Bill cites Questlove’s claim that Purple Rain helped start hip-hop culture.

About 16 min · medium confidence

10 Running jokes and short linesRecurring bits captured from the conversation

Prince smile bit

They repeatedly imitate or discuss Prince’s distinctive sly smile as a recurring visual signature.

About 8 min

The Time as near-equal rivals

The hosts keep returning to Morris Day and the Time as a rival act that almost matches Prince’s electricity.

About 8 min

Lake Minnetonka joke

The fake-initiation lake scene becomes a recurring comic shorthand for the movie’s absurdity and sex appeal.

About 8 min

Guitar 'cumshot' / masturbation imagery

The hosts jokingly describe Prince’s guitar playing as erotic, especially in the finale and 'Let's Go Crazy.'

About 40 min

First Avenue as a character

The club is treated as more than a set; they keep returning to it as a vital part of the movie’s identity.

About 8 min

Bill Simmons

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today”

Opening minutes

Bill Simmons

“purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka”

About 8 min

Wesley Morris

“I find that moment during Let's Go Crazy”

About 40 min · medium confidence

Bill Simmons

“this guy is singing this song to me”

About 32 min

Bill Simmons

“Wendy and Lisa left something for you”

About 1:28 · medium confidence

MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT

Where to watch

UNITED STATES

Checking where Purple Rain is available…

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

Movies to watch before and after.

Three movies to watch before Purple Rain, and three to watch next.

Finding six movies…Three to watch first and three to watch next.

ON THE MIC

2 voices made the call

Bill Simmons125 tracked appearances · 56 H / 64 C / 5 ties

Wesley Morris4 tracked appearances · 0 H / 4 C

CATEGORY CONTEXT

How its genres lean

Musical2 movies1 H · 1 C

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