One Night Only: ‘Purple Rain’ Heads Back To Theaters
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The movie that launched Prince to superstardom is back in theaters in the U.S. and U.K., but only for one night. Purple Rain is heading back to theaters for special screenings on March 6. The iconic movie, first released in 1984 brought the 13x platinum-selling soundtrack to life, and is considered among Prince’s most commercially successful works.
Prince won an Oscar for Best Original Song Score for the soundtrack (an award they no longer offer) accepting with bandmates Wendy and Lisa while dressed in a sparkly purple hood. The movie would become a defining moment in his career taking him from a cult-like figure to a full-fledged superstar. The singles ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ and ‘When Doves Cry’ both went #1, ‘Take Me With You’ was a top ten single, and the title track became a radio staple and Prince’s signature song.
He and the Revolution also won a Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special.
The story of a struggling musician named The Kid, Purple Rain starred Prince and then-newcomer Apollonia Kotero. Shot in and around Minneapolis and on a Los Angeles soundstage, it featured Prince’s band The Revolution and The Time, the group Prince created and recorded an album on under the pseudonym Jamie Starr before the musicians were even chosen. (Friend and collaborator Morris Day was soon pressed into service as the Time’s frontman. It worked out for him.)
Purple Rain returned to theaters briefly in 2016 after Prince’s untimely death at the age of 57 at his Paisley Park entertainment complex. The movie turned 40 last year and there were a few special screenings, but this year, AMC locations in the U.S. will offer it on the big screen for just that one day.
The newly restored version was digitally restored from an 8K scan of the 35mm original camera negative, per Deadline. It was color-graded for Dolby Vision and the original recording was upgraded to Dolby Atmos.
“Purple Rain reimagined in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for Dolby Cinema is a celebration of Prince’s genius and enduring legacy,” Jed Harmsen, Dolby Head of Cinema and Group Entertainment said in a statement. “Devoted and new fans alike prepare to be exhilarated by an unforgettable and unparalleled performance from one of music’s greatest of all time.”
