Whoopi Goldberg grows before our eyes amidst relentless repression in Steven Spielberg's tender "The Color Purple", which gets a thoughtful DVD release.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Picture Rich in colour and looking mighty clear for a near 20-year-old film, this is a good transfer with only minor grain.

Sound The 5.1 mix does a good job of enveloping you into the feel of the countryside with effective use of the rear speakers to add atmosphere.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Disc One Special Features

On disc one you'll find a theatrical trailer, two teaser trailers, an awards list, and a cast and crew list.

Disc Two Special Features

Conversations with Ancestors Novelist Alice Walker reveals in the opening of this 26-minute programme that the characters of "The Color Purple" had been set in two different city locations before she then tried them out in the country, where they finally gelled. Assured in everything she says, she claims she was "in a state of grace" when she wrote the book. She also professes to have little interest in what critics have to say. Rather she writes for her ancestors.

A Collaboration of Spirits Spielberg talks at length here about the casting of the film. It's quite remarkable how first-timers like Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey got involved. The odds against them getting cast, especially with Oprah, seemed huge, but some incredible luck and determination got them in the project. You'll learn all about it here.

Cultivating a Classic A few problems or "snafoos" as Spielberg puts it, did crop up on the shoot as you'll find out. Spielberg's wife went into labour as he was shooting a birthing scene and when the flowers in the field bloomed ready for action, they didn't turn out purple.

The Color Purple: The Musical Spielberg claims here that he's always trying to turn his movies into musicals and talks us through some of the musical moments in "The Color Purple".

Additonal Extra Features Also on disc two are two image galleries.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Chapters: 39
Ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio Tracks: Multiple languages
Subtitles: English and multiple languages
Captions: English and Italian
Menus: Static, with music
Special Features Subtitles All of the special features come with subtitles apart from the trailers.

This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-N5 DVD player.