Purlie (1981): Cast
Purlie is a 1981 music drama directed by Rudi Goldman, starring Robert Guillaume as Purlie, Don Scardino and Sherman Hemsley. It runs 2 hours 22 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 22m (142 min)
- Director
- Rudi Goldman
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- CBS Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Purlie About?
The premise of Purlie without spoilers.
Purlie, a charismatic preacher, returns to his Southern hometown during the early civil‑rights era, where the plantation owner keeps sharecroppers in slavery. Determined to free his community, Purlie’s bold plan challenges the oppressive system. Adapted from Ossie Davis’s 1961 play Purlie Victorious, the 1981 televised musical won a CableACE Award.
Purlie Themes & Keywords
· 11 tags- preacher
- sharecropper
- minister
- black american
- based on stage musical
- based on stage musical based on stage play
- american south
- cotton
- african american
- cotton field
- based on play
Purlie Cast & Characters
Robert Guillaume leads the cast as Purlie, with Don Scardino as Charlie and Sherman Hemsley as Gitlow. Directed by Rudi Goldman; 33 actors are credited in all.
- Director Rudi Goldman
- Robert Guillaume as Purlie
-
Don Scardino as Charlie - Sherman Hemsley as Gitlow
- Suzzanne Douglas as Ensemble
Also Starring in Purlie
· 29 more- Clarice Taylor Idella
- Melba Moore Lutiebelle
- Brandon Maggart Ol' Cap'n
- Ted Ross Ensemble
- Linda Hopkins Sister Hopkins
- Rhetta Hughes Missy
- P.L. Brown Ensemble
- Pauletta Washington Ensemble
- Jeffery V. Thompson Ensemble
- Brenda Braxton Ensemble
- Otis Sallid Ensemble
- Valerie Smith Ensemble
- Loretta Abbott Ensemble
- Olivia Detante Ensemble
- Cisco Drayton Ensemble
- Tanya Gibson Ensemble
Show all 33 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Michael Goring Ensemble
- Milt Grayson Ensemble
- Lawrence Hamilton Ensemble
- Clinton King Keen Ensemble
- Mildred Lane Ensemble
- Judy Leak Ensemble
- Eugene Little Ensemble
- Lou Ann Pickett Ensemble
- Herbert Rawlings Ensemble
- Renee Rose Ensemble
- Henry Shaw Ensemble
- Denessa Tobin Ensemble
- David Weatherspoon Ensemble
More from Rudi Goldman
One more film directed by Rudi Goldman: Purlie.
Seen Purlie?
Movies Like Purlie
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Purlie, Porgy and Bess and The Color Purple.
Purlie FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Purlie, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Purlie?
Purlie runs 2 hours 22 minutes (142 minutes).
When was Purlie released?
Purlie was released on October 12, 1981.
Who directed Purlie?
Purlie was directed by Rudi Goldman.
More films by Rudi Goldman Who is in the cast of Purlie?
Purlie stars Robert Guillaume as Purlie, Don Scardino as Charlie and Sherman Hemsley as Gitlow, among 33 credited actors.
Does Purlie have a post-credit scene?
No. Purlie has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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