Sparkle
Actor(s):
Philip Michael Thomas, Irene Cara, Lonette McKee, Dwan Smith, Mary Alice
Director(s):
Sam O'Steen
Label: Warner Home Video
Publisher(s):
Warner Home Video
Studio: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
MPN: WARD31974D
Format(s): Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $9.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Editorial Reviews
Description
Irene Cara (Fame) and Lonette McKee (Round Midnight) sing and struggle their way to show-business glory in a Supremes-like girl group. Dynamite Curtis Mayfield soundtrack.
Amazon.com
Before Dreamgirls hit cineplexes in 2006, there was Sparkle. Released in 1976, the low-budget movie (which is also loosely based on the story of Diana Ross and the Supremes) achieved somewhat of a cult following among fans that enjoy a good cry along with their kitsch. Sparkle tells the rags-to-riches (and rags again, for some of the characters) tale of three sisters with gorgeous voices. There's Sister (Lonette McKee), Sparkle (Irene Cara, Fame), and Delores (Dwan Smith), who team up with a couple of players (including a very young Philip Michael Thomas, pre-Miami Vice) to form a singing group. Because the men add little oomph to the outfit, the quintet becomes an all-girl trio and is renamed the redundant (and hysterical) Sister and the Sisters. But because this movie is called Sparkle and not Sister, we know that Irene Cara's character is the one to watch. Cara is a joy to listen to when she unleashes her powerful pipes. And as the much put-upon Sister, McKee is convincing and earns the viewer's sympathy. Set in the 1950's, the movie tackles racism, sexism, jealousy, and both chemical and physical abuse. While it is overly dramatic and liberally serves up sloppy doses of soap opera clichés, the film also is highly watchable because of its over-the-top campiness. --Jae-Ha Kim
Customer Reviews
SUCH A GREAT MOVIE!!!
I thought this was going to be one of those boring movies where the characters would break out in a song for no reason at all, but this was beyond perfect. If you haven't seen it, you're seriously missing out on one of the greatest movies done.
Excellent B movie!
Aspirations of success can either break you down or make you believer. This movie still holds true 30+ years later.
All powerful & artistic thespians who played there part accordingly. Regardless of race,nationality, age & gender, this is a must see flick.
Yes, I strongly recommend!
WORST MOVIE STICK WITH DREAMGIRLS!!!!
I just bought this movie and was excited to see it, and by the time it ended (which was very abruptly) I was mad and highly dissapointed. I couldn't believe how God-awful this movie was. I'm thinking that it's about "Sister" who is the lead singer and it's not, I found out that "Sparkle" isn't the group's name, but it's one of the singer's name, not only that but they hardly showed the character "Sparkle" until after her sister died, and after that you get maybe 30 minutes of her before the movie ends. It's terrible. They only showed some of her fame which was maybe 10-15 minutes long. If you LOVE high energy classy, sassy, sex appeal, glitz and glam of show business stick with Dreamgirls, if you love drama and backstabbing manager of show business stick with Dreamgirls, if you love beautiful voices, stick with Dreamgirls, if you want to waste time and think you have it bad, watch "Sparkle."
Sparkle
This DVD arrived in a timely fashion and I will enjoy having it in my collection of DVD's.
Sparkle is still all that
I rented Sparkle back in the early 90s on videotape and immediately fell in love with the story and the music, if not the quality of the video. It didn't matter, though. I had to have a copy of this movie! I ended up with my own video of Sparkle, which I lent to a friend, and never saw it again.
Was I glad to see this DVD version! I wish the producers would have taken the time to clean up the video quality, if they could have, and made the sound better, done some special features. . .
but again, Sparkle, the story overcomes all the technical difficulties. It's almost like a home movie that captures a miracle in a remote corner of the room.
Curtis Mayfield's genius is on full display in this one. It has just enough music for a music lover, just enough action for an action lover. It is that perfect balance for my husband and me.
And even in that poor video quality, the beauty of the three main characters in particular just shines through. It is a rare movie that shows such diversity of black beauty.
It is hard to believe that this is Lonnette McKee's first movie--she shines so brightly throughout, and the earnestness and innocence of Irene Cara just pulls you in.
This DVD is a must have.
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