The Color Purple (1985)

Starring:

• Danny Glover
• Whoopi Goldberg
• Margaret Avery
• Oprah Winfrey
• Willard E. Pugh
• Akosua Busia
• Desreta Jackson
• Adolph Caesar
• Rae Dawn Chong
• Dana Ivey
• Leonard Jackson
• Bennet Guillory
• John Patton Jr.
• Carl Anderson

Storyline

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.

Waiting to Exhale (1995)

Starring:

• Whitney Houston
• Angela Bassett
• Loretta Devine
• Lela Rochon
• Gregory Hines
• Dennis Haysbert
• Mykelti Williamson
• Michael Beach
• Leon
• Wendell Pierce
• Donald Faison
• Jeffrey D. Sams
• Jazz Raycole
• Brandon Hammond
• Kenya Moore
• Wesley Snipes

Storyline

Navigating through careers, family, and romance, four friends bond over the shortcomings in their love lives -- namely, the scarcity of good men. Both as the "other woman," Savannah (Whitney Houston) and Robin (Lela Rochon) carry on relationships with married men, each believing their lovers will leave their wives for them. On the flip side, Bernadine (Angela Bassett) ends up alone when her husband divorces her for his mistress. Meanwhile, Gloria (Loretta Devine) finds love with a new neighbor.