Purple Rain

Purple Rain, Prince’s self-mythologizing 1984 rock opera about an aspiring musician who struggles with daddy issues and sexual insecurity, remains just as interesting for what’s on screen as for what was left off. The film was originally slapped down by the MPAA with an X rating for a sex scene between Prince and Apollonia—one that has never been featured in a commercial release of the film. The rest of Purple Rain, however, is dripping with its star’s usual sex appeal and full of his best music—though it’s censored, watching him perform “Darling Nikki” remains a highlight of this surreal musical.

Updated 03/07/2011