Sign o' the Times (film)

Sign o' the Times
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Produced by
  • Robert Cavallo
  • Joseph Ruffalo
  • Steven Fargnoli
StarringPrince
CinematographyPeter Sinclair
Edited bySteve Purcell
Music byPrince
Production
companies
  • Paisley Park Films
  • Purple Films
Distributed byCineplex-Odeon Films (Universal Pictures)
Release dates
  • October 29, 1987 (1987-10-29) (Detroit)
  • November 20, 1987 (1987-11-20)
Running time
85 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3 million[2]

Sign o' the Times (styled Sign "☮" the Times) is a 1987 American concert film directed, scored and starring Prince.[3]

In 1987, to capitalize on his growing success in Europe, Prince toured extensively to promote the album of the same name and sales increased accordingly. However, the United States remained resistant to his latest album, and sales began to drop; it was at this point that Prince decided to film a live concert promoting the new material, for eventual North American theatrical distribution. Despite critical acclaim, it was a box office bomb.

The film features the band that accompanied Prince on the 1987 Sign o' the Times Tour: dancer Cat Glover, keyboardist Boni Boyer, bassist Levi Seacer Jr., guitarist Miko Weaver, drummer Sheila E., keyboardist Doctor Fink, and the horn section of Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss; Wally Safford and Greg Brooks (of The Bodyguards from the Revolution era) reprised their roles as dancers, vocalists and comic foils. The documentary sees the group perform live onstage; although "U Got the Look", featuring Sheena Easton, is represented by its promotional music video.

  1. ^ "Sign o' the Times (15)". British Board of Film Classification. June 15, 1988. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  2. ^ Sign O' the Times (1987) at Box Office Mojo
  3. ^ Maslin, Janet (November 20, 1987). "Film: Prince in 'Sign o' the Times'". The New York Times.