25 YEARS AGO !
Steven Spielberg's powerful drama scored 11 Oscar nods and made Whoopi and Oprah superstars
Alice Walker's novel-turned-film tackled tough topics like domestic violence and racism in the early-1900s South, but offscreen the cast-eager to let off steam-"was partying their buns off," says Quincy Jones, who composed the music (a Blu-ray version is due Jan. 25). Playing spirited Sofia "was one of the highlights of my life," recalls Oprah Winfrey, 56, who was asked to audition after Jones spotted her Chicago TV show. New to acting, "I was so unsure of myself," she says. But once the pivotal dinner-table scene wrapped, "Whoopi [Goldberg] said, 'Today you became an actress.'"
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