- 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.Running Time: 98 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG Age: 085393197421 UPC: 085393197421 Manufacturer No: 31974
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.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
March 18, 2008
#1
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.”
March 18, 2008
#2
Sorry folks, I know this is considered a 70s classic, but I couldn’t get into this one.
The story has been described already, so here goes.
I saw it when I was 13 (circa 1978-79) and it put me to sleep in the theater. I finally saw the rest of it on DVD this weekend. I didn’t miss much.
First of all, none of the characters are well-drawn enough to make you feel much sympathy for them. We don’t get enough about them to understand why they do what they do. This is especially true of the Lonette McKee character “Sister,” who looks pretty, but strikes you as being really shallow and stupid for making the choices that she did.
The singing leaves much to be desired. One finds it easy to understand why the record company had Aretha Franklin rerecord the songs for the soundtrack album. Aside from the girls looking cute and showing off some serious pulchritude in the tight dresses, the performances just aren’t that compelling.
Overall, the tale is quite dreary and almost unrelentigly grim as a whole. Little or no humor (some really cornball stuff from Don “Bubba” Bexley as a low-rate MC) or moments to make you smile (other than some of the opening talent show-the guys who sing “Love potion #9 and the early love scene with Irene Cara & Philip Michael Thomas). This aside, the film is really unappealing except for those who saw it in the 70s and are nostaligic about it.
This film has often been considered as a predecessor to “Dreamgirls.” Such comparisons are valid. In spite of the similar stories, DG succeeds with more zesty and appealing performances and characters, better songs, and a proper mix of drama, music, and comedy.
This thing, on the other hand, drags like lead with sappy songs (“Something He Can Feel” aside) and unrelenting tales of drug addiction, domestic violence, mafia hit men, ghetto poverty, etc. with no comic relief or well-done light moments to balance this. (for example, we never learn what happens to the bitter daughter who leaves home or what caused her to be as angry as she was or why her mother was such a saint under these conditions, etc).
No thanks folks. Give me DG any day and use this DVD as a coaster, frisbee, or for target practice. It IS interesting out of curiousity to see soon-to-be’s such as a very young Phillip Michael Thomas and Irene Cara going through some early motions and Mary Alice before she was a staple in Black television shows of the 1980s.
March 18, 2008
#3
I was disappointed with this movie. It certainly showed the seedier side of trying to make the “big time” in early rock and roll, however the performances were unconvincing and rather shallow. The music was repetitive; I would have liked shorter versions and different songs. Irene Cara was probably the best actor of the lot and even she struggled with the material. Two weeks after viewing the movie, I am left with a vague impression of the story-line. So, in essence, forgettable and not worth buying.
March 19, 2008
#4
Now that we have Sparkle on DVD we now have the stage play, Dream Girls made into a movie after what 30 years staring, Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce’ Knowles and Anika Noni Rose playing the updated roles of these women and which seems to be based on the life of one of the most famous girl groups of our time, The Supremes. I don’t know if the movie Dream Girls will live up to the movie version of Sparkle or the stage play of Dream Girls, but one thing is for sure, the reviews have all been mixed. It has been nominated for golden glove awards and has opened newer doors for some of the actors involved. Me personally, I loved the movie Sparkle and it is an African American Collector’s Item that every movie buff should have in their collection. Time will tell if Dream Girls can live up to being a classic like Sparkle and the stage play Dream Girls.
March 19, 2008
#5
This is a classic!!!!! I must say that I’m a little bias because I’m named after the title character. Too bad I can’t sing like her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!