Sparkle (1976)

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. June 8, 2008

Sparkle simply sparkles

I enjoyed this thoroughly. The story of three sisters one the classic beauty who falls for an ominous Mr. Bad Guy and goes to rack & ruin. Which leaves her siblings (whom she used to guide) ruderless in a cruel world. A story of growing up and finding a way out of what seems to be no way. Great story great songs, the original of dream girls and Mamma I want to Sing! June 6, 2008

GREAT CLASSIC

This is one of my favorite movies of all time as well. It is truly a classic. Love it May 16, 2008

As a trashy compendium of rags-to-riches cliches, SPARKLE is going for the gold

The rags-to-riches saga of '60s girl group The Supremes is such an over-the-top true-life soap opera it inspired a whole trio of Bad Motown Musicals We Love. On Broadway (and now Hollyood) there was DREAMGIRLS, on TV there was DIVAS and, best of all, on-screen there was SPARKLE. DREAMGIRLS and DIVAS surely did more than their part for bitching and sequins, but only the spectacularly bad 1976 Sparkle boasts an unintentionally hilarious screenplay that keeps you giggling from first frame to last.

The "fictional" yarn of three Harlem sisters -- one sexy (Lonette McKee), one sweet (Irene Cara), one sour (Dwan Smith) -- who long for a better life, Sparkle dutifully dramatizes the obstacles that poverty throws in front of three purportedly talented young black women. Early on, Cara (the sweet one) is being wooed by neighborhood hustler Philip Michael Thomas on the roof of her run-down apartment building. "Don't!" she gasps when the future star of "Miami Vice" kisses her. "It's a sin!" "Does it feel like a sin?" he asks. "Feels so good it must be a sin," she answers, reassuring us that, as a trashy compendium of rags-to-riches cliches, Sparkle is going for the gold.

Older sibling McKee (the slut) warns sweet Cara and sour Smith not to go all the way till they find a sugar daddy: "Pick out somebody nice with enough money in his pocket so he can stop down to the jeweler on 125th street and buy you something." Amazingly, she then flashes a miniscule ring and proudly announces, "Real diamond chip. It cost $17." The movie isn't called Sparkle because of jewels. Meanwhile, Thomas and a pal team up with the girls in a singing group called "The Hearts." Even though the emcee of the talent night at a local strip joint introduces them as "The Farts," this group -- well, let sweet Cara tell it: "First prize! Who woulda thought?" And, this being a trashy compendium of rags-to-riches cliches, the three gals are soon headlining on their own in skintight gowns, false eyelashes and big, big hair.

Just as you'd predicted, slut sister McKee takes up with a pimp right after he beats up his previous "girlfriend" and retrieves the fur coat right off her back. When McKee appears badly bruised before a show one night, claiming she was in an accident, sister Smith snarls, "You had an accident of the brain when you started running around with that low-life, no-good trash!" At this McKee tosses her out of the dressing room and nose-dives into a pile of cocaine, confiding to sweet sibling Cara, "Your sister can't fly on one wing." Smith is so sour, however, she's soon asking McKee, "What else is that nigger pushing into you besides his fist?" The girls' old mother has worries about McKee, too. "Baby, he's gonna drag you to the gutter. I've lived in Harlem all my life -- I do know a rat when I see one." Proving mother knows best, McKee's pimp boyfriend punches her and growls, "I want you to crawl for me, bitch! Crawl! Crawl!" This subplot soon threatens to turn Sparkle into Lady Sings the Black and Blues, as the battered, drugged McKee does such a bad nightspot impersonation of Billie Holiday that she finally keels over and dies. Then, clearing the way for a much-needed explanation of why SPARKLE is named "SPARKLE" instead of Nod or Bitch, sour sister Smith runs away from home and good-guy Thomas convinces sweet sister Cara to step out as a solo performer with backup singers. When Cara makes the charts, Thomas, overwhelmed by the opportunity for yet another cliche, gleefully booms, "Next stop, Carnegie Hall!"

Just as you'd predicted, thugs who lent Thomas $10,000 now want to own Cara! But, being the good boyfriend of the sweet sister, he refuses, whereupon he is kidnapped and tortured by the mob. Nevertheless, good triumphs over evil here, as it so often does in impoverished, mob-controlled milieus, making for one of the most remarkable plot twists ever: when Thomas won't give an inch no matter what the gangsters do to him, they just let him go! And so, Thomas and Cara are reunited for a happy-ever-after life of gold, platinum and other things that sparkle.

Astoundingly, this film's screenwriter was heard from again. After penning the even worse THE WIZ for the real Diana Ross, Joel Schumacher changed careers to become the director of such other Bad Movies We Love as FLATLINERS,DYING YOUNG, and A TIME TO KILL.
March 23, 2008

Sparkle

This is an excellent movie!As they say, "before Dreamgirls there was "Sparkle" and it's a must to see movie before Dreamgirls.Dreamgirls is a #2 movie. Sparkle is absolutely #1! March 4, 2008

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