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Is ‘The Color Purple’ a flop? Twitter says no

1985: Steven Spielberg -- then known for "E.T.," "Jaws" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" -- introduces Whoopi Goldberg as Celie and a virtually unknown Oprah Winfrey as Sofia. The film's violent portrayal of black men stirs controversy. "Spielberg takes a ghoulish delight in presenting trauma, which occupies fully 90 percent of the movie," said the AJC.

Credit: Warner Brothers

Credit: Warner Brothers

1985: Steven Spielberg -- then known for "E.T.," "Jaws" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" -- introduces Whoopi Goldberg as Celie and a virtually unknown Oprah Winfrey as Sofia. The film's violent portrayal of black men stirs controversy. "Spielberg takes a ghoulish delight in presenting trauma, which occupies fully 90 percent of the movie," said the AJC.
By Kimeko McCoy
June 15, 2017

Until you do right by me…

“Hunger Games” actress Elizabeth Banks found herself in hot water Thursday for accusing one famed filmmaker of excluding women from his projects.

Explore»RELATED: Actual Factual Georgia: ‘Color Purple’ author born here 

According to entertainment website thewrap.com, the entertainer expressed her frustration with the lack of female representation in the industry starting with Steven Spielberg.

“I went to see ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Jaws’ and every movie Steven Spielberg ever made, and by the way, he’s never made a movie with a female lead,” she said while accepting an award from non-profit group Women in Film.

Banks’ comments were followed by a storm of tweets from people who reminded her about his Oscar-nominated and critically acclaimed flick “The Color Purple,” which featured a nearly all female cast including Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg and Margaret Avery.

»RELATED: Photos: Oprah gives inspiring speech at Agnes Scott

»RELATED: It’s official! Netflix nabs Lupita Nyong’o, Rihanna film created by #BlackTwitter

Adding to the flames, columnist Anne Thompson claimed “The Color Purple,” which made it to Broadway, was one the earliest flops in Spielberg’s career.

Many tweeps, who seemed to be unfamiliar with Bank’s and Thompson’s careers, weren’t having the cult classic slander and questioned Bank’s definition of female representation.

»RECOMMENDED VIDEO: AJC staff talks 2017 Oscars

AJC staff talks 2017 Oscars 

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