Maps of Movies

The Color Purple (1985)

Where The Color Purple says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A Georgia farm story shot in North Carolina, with the Africa scenes filmed in Kenya

Scenes and places

Celie's childhood home (1985)

Celie is a teenager who has already borne two children taken from her, and she holds on to her younger sister Nettie. The sisters promise to write if they are ever separated.

Set in Celie's family home, rural Georgia — The farm house where Celie lives with her sister Nettie and the man she calls her father.

A rural Georgia setting that the film shot in North Carolina instead.

Filmed at James C. Bennett house, Lilesville, Anson County, NC — The film was shot mainly in this house; the coordinate is the Lilesville town value, not the house itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Mister's farm (1985)

Celie is given to Mister as a wife and keeps house under his roof, where she is mistreated. Years pass and she grows quiet and meek.

Set in Mister's house and farm, Georgia — The house and fields where Celie works after Mister takes her as a wife.

Sets were built on a plantation outside Wadesboro; the town value is shown, not a building.

Filmed at Plantation outside Wadesboro, Anson County, NC — Sets for the film were built on an Antebellum-era plantation outside Wadesboro; exact site not given. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Harpo's juke joint (1985)

Shug, nursed back to health by Celie, writes and performs a song about her at Harpo's newly opened juke joint. It is the first time anyone has made Celie feel seen.

Set in Harpo's juke joint, Georgia — The roadside bar Harpo opens, where Shug Avery performs.

A set built for the film on the same plantation.

Filmed at Plantation set, Anson County, NC — Plantation sets were built outside Wadesboro. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Shug's road to Memphis (1985)

Shug tells Celie she is moving to Memphis, and Celie confides that Mister beats her. Celie packs to follow, but Mister catches her.

Set in Memphis, Tennessee — The city Shug leaves for. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The place the story points to; no scenes were shot in Memphis.

Sofia and the mayor (1985)

Sofia is jailed for striking the town's mayor after he slaps her for speaking back to his wife. She comes out years later a shell of her former self.

Set in Town street, Georgia — The street of a small Georgia town.

Marshville's paved roads were covered in mud and clay for the film.

Filmed at Marshville, Union County, NC — The town's paved roads were covered in mud and clay to look like the early 20th century; which scene was shot where is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Nettie's letters from Africa (1985)

Celie learns Nettie is working for the couple who adopted her children, and with Shug finds the hidden letters Mister kept from her. Africa lives in the film through Nettie's letters.

Set in Nettie's mission in Africa — Where Nettie works with the couple who adopted Celie's children.

Filmed by a second unit in Kenya, not in the story's own country (the film does not name one in the plot summary).

Filmed at Maasai regions, Kenya — A second unit shot scenes in the Maasai regions; the point is a Kenya-wide value, not a site. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Nairobi, Kenya — The second unit also shot scenes in Nairobi. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Filmed at Baptist chapel moved to the plantation, Anson County, NC — The church Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood backlot, Los Angeles — Studio scenes Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Celie — A teenager in early 20th-century rural Georgia who is given away as a wife to Mister.
• Nettie — Celie's loving younger sister, who writes to her from Africa.
• Shug Avery — A showgirl and Mister's long-time mistress who befriends Celie.
• Mister — The man who takes Celie as his wife.
• Sofia — Harpo's strong-willed wife.