Purple Rain 15

Developed by Prince during his 1999 tour and tied to the 1984 album of the same name, Purple Rain tells the story of the Kid (Prince, in his debut screen performance), a remarkably talented but troubled frontman of a Minneapolis band called The Revolution. Tormented by an abusive father, the Kid must contend with a rival musician, a budding romance and a frustrated band as his own star starts to rise. Purple Rain was one of the most successful films of 1984, and made an enormous profit on its relatively small budget. Prince would go on to star in four more films during his career, taking to directing just two years after Purple Rain with the release of Under the Cherry Moon.

Screening as part of BFI Musicals! The Greatest Show on Screen, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery, BFI Film Audience Network and ICO. bfimusicals.co.uk